Home-garden expert Jim Johnson shares some tips on propagating begonias, which are native to a number of tropical and subtropical areas of the world.
Begonias can be propagated from cuttings or grown from seed. The seeds are exceptionally small: a single ounce of them numbers more than one million.
To start begonias from seed, place about 2" of rich potting mix in the bottom of a planting tray, and moisten thoroughly(if you watered after planting, you might wash away the tiny seeds). Combine 1/8 teaspoon of begonia seeds with sugar (its granules are the same size as the seeds) in a plastic bag and sprinkle uniformly over the potting mix. Cover the germination trays with large, clear plastic bags to hold in humidity (figure A).
Begonias need ample light to germinate. Place the trays in a sunny location or under grow lights. The seeds will germinate in 16 to 20 days.
To propagate begonias from cuttings, clip a stem off a favorite begonia just below a leaf node. Remove the bottom leaf from the cutting, and dip the cut end in rooting hormone. Place the prepared cutting in a pot filled with moist potting soil.
To propagate wax begonias, cut a bit of the leaf stem, or petiole. Dip the cut end of the petiole in the rooting hormone, and place the cutting in moist potting soil.
RESOURCES :
For plants from Wolf River Valley Farms
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