Start New Plants from a Begonia Leaf

Expand your houseplant collection with leaf cuttings of Rex, angel wing and other large leafed begonias.

Fill a container with a moist well-drained potting mix. It should be wide enough to accommodate a flattened leaf. Remove a healthy leaf and place it so the underside of the leaf is lying flat on the potting mix surface. Use a sharp knife to slice through several large veins. Anchor the leaf against the soil surface with small wire pins.

Set in a bright location out of direct sunlight.

Loosely cover with an open plastic bag to increase the humidity. Water the soil thoroughly with tepid water and often enough to keep the soil moist. Set it in a bright location out of direct sunlight.

New plants will eventually form where the veins were sliced and often by the leaf stem. Once the plantlets develop several true leaves, you can carefully dig, divide and replant them into their own containers.

A bit more information: Do not propagate patented plants from leaves, stem cuttings or other methods. Growers must pay the patent holder a royalty fee for the right to grow and sell these plants. This fee helps the company recoup the cost of developing new varieties for us to grow in our indoor and outside gardens.