Here’s a quick peek in my pottingshed tonight. I’ve been having a go at begonia leaf cuttings.
I’ve never done this before. I had a look on the RHS website. Then I placed the leaves on a chopping board and, using a sharp knife, cut through the main veins. I filled a seed tray with compost, topped with perlite. Laid the leaves on top, and pinned them down with my daughter’s hair grips -the only wire I had in the house. Sometimes you just have to improvise.
I put the seed tray in my Rainbow shallow trug and left it to soak up water. I’m finding these trugs really useful in the pottingshed. I use them for collecting foliage for flower arrangements, and as a moveable potting station when I’m sowing seeds.
My cuttings were popped into a plastic bag and into my propagator. The best time to take leaf cuttings is in the summer. But when a friend gave me these leaves, I couldn’t turn down the chance to have a go. You never know- they might grow lots of new little plants. Then I’ll pot them up into 7cm pots- and display them at the shaded end of my greenhouse. I’ve always loved the foliage of begonias. This might be the start of a new collection for me.
The RHS website says leaf cuttings can be taken from streptocarpus and eucomis as well as begonia masoniana and x Begonia Rex hybrids. I also found the National Begonia society handbook a useful source of information.
It was getting dark by the time I’d finished. I just had time to look at these snowdrops on the pottingshed window. They’ve burst into flower today. Such a cheerful sight on the last day of January.
Have you tried any new gardening techniques recently, or have any collections of favourite plants? I’d love to hear about them.
Bramble Garden 
Anemone root cuttings just beginning to show new growth, very exciting, first successful attempt.
https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com/2017/02/03/root-cuttings-signs-of-life/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful. It’s so exciting isn’t it:)
LikeLike
it really is. my kids wind me up hugely about my general giddiness when something like this happens. I take the mocking, content in the knowledge that all this is waiting for them in 30-odd years!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true. That made me laugh 🙂 x
LikeLike
They are amazing those leaves aren’t they. Definitely worth having a go at this time of year. Yes I’ve got some streptocarpus which I’d like to try the technique on. Its almost magical that you can get plants that way!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is like magic! I’m eyeing up my streptocarpus leaves at the moment. We had a terrible attack by vine weevils, so they are quite diminished. I’ve treated the soil with nematodes and they have picked up quite a bit. But I am thinking of starting afresh with leaf cuttings. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. All the best with your garden.
LikeLike
I can confirm it works for streptocarpus. Good luck!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I’m going to have a go at those next 🙂 x
LikeLike
That first picture is beautiful, Karen, with the darkening sky outside your productice potting shed. Surprisingly, given that this year was the first time I had really seriously taken cuttings, I too toyed with begonia leaves in the 70s! This year as well as penstemon, salvia and diascia I have taken root cuttings of phlox and leaf cuttings of sedum (the latter after Christina mentioned it). Oh and pelargoniums too, which rooted quickly into soil in pot with no problems at all. I am really taken with the shallow trug you have used – I have a selection of other trugs for general use in the garden and find them invaluable but this shallow one is something else! Using it at you do is certainly the first thing that springs to mind. Is there a local stockist, or did you get yours mail order? And a choice of colour – how exciting! Thanks for sharing this post
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Cathy. I thought I might have a go at phlox root cuttings next. I’ve got a particularly beautiful blue one that I’d like more of. I’m finding that shallow trug really useful in the garden. It’s just the right size to carry around wherever I need a portable working space in the garden. Plus, it’s good for soaking seed trays. It’s amazing when you suddenly find something that makes every job easier in the garden. It’s British made too. I got it from http://www.rainbowtrugs.com/?gclid=CJzptpj679ECFawp0wodue8MDA . It’s very strong and well made. Good luck with your propagating. Keep me posted. xxx
LikeLike
When I came to take the phlox cuttings it was often easy to take a piece with an existing shoot as well. Oh and I took some stem cuttings as well, before I read that root stems were the way to go, and they mostly took too! Rainbow have an offer of ‘seconds’ at the moment, but it means buying 5 (or 10 or more!) – am tempted… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the info. I’ve had a little dig around at the base of the phlox. I can see bits of shoot too. Now I feel a bit more confident to have a go. I’ll report back! I’m using one of my trugs to make a mini pond on the veg plot. Must try to attract more frogs this year as natural slug killers. I shall put a big stone in the middle, then the hedgehogs can climb out if they fall in. And the birds can use it for water too. Thanks for your reply. All the best. Karen x
LikeLike
You are welcome Karen – and I have ordered 5 (clearance) trugs, so I can keep them in different places, which will be useful
LikeLike
I shall be intrigued to see what you use them for Cathy. x
LikeLike
An interesting post, and good pictures. I look forward to seeing how they fare. xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Mike. They started to curl up at the edges, so I’ve had to weight them down with little stones. Fingers crossed. Have a great day. Too wet to garden here, so I’m sorting seed today. Love Karen xxx
LikeLike
I can see why you’d want to at least try to propagate these Begonias…really interesting ones! Haven’t tried leaf cutting before, but might give it a go sometime…Still seems like one of life’s miracles that whole trees and masses of plants can grow from the tiniest seeds…
LikeLiked by 1 person
It really does, doesn’t it. Never get over that feeling of hope every time I take a cutting or sow a seed. It’s a joy. Thanks for commenting Jo. Much appreciated x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always a pleasure Karen…your comments are also always very welcome..Thank you… x
LikeLiked by 1 person
I tried putting the stem of a shrub in water and waited for some roots to appear, not really believing they would and it worked, takes a while though. Good luck with your leaves.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Christina. That’s the thing I love most about gardening. Growing something from a scrap of leaf, or twig, or tiny dust-like seed. Plus it costs nothing. All the best with your propagating. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment. It’s always appreciated. xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m trying root cuttings of Perovskia for the first time . I wasn’t sure the plant would like to be moved so thought I would try a few root cuttings, no sign of life yet though, keeping fingers crossed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, perovskia is so beautiful in late summer. Such a gorgeous blue. You are right though- it hates being moved. I do hope your cuttings take off. I often mist spray mine with seaweed extract, and that seems to kick start them. And any sign of mould, I spray them with diluted cinnamon water.Such a useful spray now there are no commercial treatments like chesthunt compound for damping off for seedlings, and mould in cuttings. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. It’s much appreciated.
LikeLike
[J] Begonia leaf cuttings were our first ever non-seed propogation, circa 1979.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s so exciting isn’t it. To think we are able to get new plants just from one leaf. Plants are amazing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am trying for the first time pelargonium cuttings on the kitchen window sill. Every one says how easy it is but mine are wilting off one at a time.☹️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have you put the pot in a plastic bag, Brian? That might help. All the best with your cuttings. Just keep trying. I never give up- even if I am a little unconventional with my techniques and timings. I find that if I fuss over something and do it by the book- it sometimes fails. When I’m in a hurry, and having to make do- it often works.
LikeLike
Hi Karen, all the experts said not to use a plastic bag with pelargoniums as they were more likely to rot!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I only use them if they start to wilt, to rescue them. I give the pots one water only when I put the cuttings in, top off the pots with grit, water only with a dilute cinnamon water to combat rot, and insert little sticks in the pots so that bags don’t touch the cuttings. As soon as they look like they are standing up and not wilting, remove the bag. Use bottom heat too if you’ve got a propagator. I take my cuttings in August, but I always take some in March if my winter ones have not survived. I do hope yours survive. Let me know how you get on. They might be too cold on the windowsill to get going. All the best. Karen
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post. I am trying to get Jade plant cuttings to take. The books says they are easy but mine are so slow I fear they won’t make it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good luck Cathy. I’m just looking up Jade plants. I love learning about new plants. All the best, and thanks for commenting. x
LikeLiked by 1 person