Yeah, Begonias propagate like mad as well, I’d almost place them with succulents in terms of ease of propagation. Unfortunately, many divided tubers suffer root rot and die when they are divided. (Tissue culture was tried for several years but was never really successful). All are relatively easy, but will require the heat of a heated propagator, or at least a heated greenhouse - unless attempted indoors in the late spring or summer. Gradually reduce watering and stop fertilizing at the end of August. Store the tray in a dark room where the temperature is about 65 degrees F. (18 C.). A common way to propagate tuberous begonias is to root cuttings. Place the flats where the temperature is around 70F, and they will receive indirect light. Providing supplemental lighting or moving the plants to a brighter location will help form short, sturdy stems rather than tall, leggy ones. For me, a more sure fire way of propagating begonias is to plant those four inch (10 cm.) While professional growers use different methods for begonia propagation for each of these types, we home … In late winter or early spring, purchase tubers or start those you have stored. Try propagating your begonias to share or save. 2. Starting tuberous begonias from seed is certainly an option, but will take time and expertise to bring the seedlings to flowering plant size. For the larger leaved plants, begonia propagation can begin with a single leaf. Many gardeners prefer to create a mini hothouse when they propagate begonias to keep the soil evenly moist. Bring them back in before temperatures cool off at night. Although some growers divide begonia tubers, they must make the divisions when the plant is actively growing, and the tuber pieces often become diseased and rotten. The next day, put them out and bring them in again. Moisten the vermiculite, then fill the clay pot with water. Fill containers with fine-textured potting mix and moisten it. © Cut the stems to about five inches, and allow tubers to cure (dry) indoors at room temperature, out of direct sunlight, until the remaining stem pieces are dry and loose. (Tissue culture was tried for several years but was never really successful). Tuberous begonia flowers come in many different colors and shapes. Small tubers should have two or three stems, large tubers three to six stems, so pinch off any extras. Sign up for our newsletter. Open the plastic bag a little more each day for a few days to accustom the plants to normal humidity. Cut or pull the tuberous begonia tubers apart, making sure each tuber has a stem section or "eye" attached. Press seeds onto the surface of the medium and cover them lightly with milled sphagnum. There are drawbacks, however. Dig begonia tubers when the foliage starts to yellow, or after the first killing frost. Rooting begonias this way will give you a whole new plant grown from the roots that develop at the end of the petiole. Some varieties, such as those used in hanging baskets, are grown for quantity of flowers, not for large blooms. Fill with soil, plant, lift the sides of the bag up and secure with a plastic tie. Use mature stems for cutting, but not so old they’ve become fibrous or woody. Tuberous begonias are not hardy in Minnesota and can either be grown as annuals or their tubers can be overwintered indoors. You can try this method for rooting begonias, too. Tuberous begonias are fairly heavy "feeders", so fertilize with a dilute balanced fertilizer throughout the growing season for best bloom and growth. Otherwise, fill the flat with fresh peat moss or vermiculite. Tuberous begonias are popular for their beautiful flowers that come in a variety of colors and forms. To accustom the plants to outdoor conditions, begin hardening them off about two weeks before the last frost date. Water just enough to keep the potting mix moist. Find the upper surface of each tuber, the side with the depression or hollow. Before you take the cuttings, prepare what is called a forsythe pot in which to root them. Rooting begonias this way gives me more control over the moisture content of the container. If you are growing them in pots, use a high quality, humus-rich growing mix. Put the whole assembly into a clear plastic bag. Tuberous begonias bloom throughout the summer, thriving in shady spots where few other plants with long bloom periods and showy flowers can grow. If the stored tubers show no signs of disease, you can use the same medium in which they were stored. These should not be thinned. Cut just below a node. Place the tubers an inch (2.5 cm.) All rights reserved. It’s easy to propagate begonias with simple cuttings and every experienced gardener tweaks the basic methods to suit their own talents. Allow the soil in containers to become slightly dry before watering. You can buy tuberous begonia plants in spring at garden centers or you can start tuberous begonias from tubers (see next section). Why not try them both and see which one works best for you? The stems sometimes rot, especially if the sunlight is too direct, leaving a mushy goo in the glass; and tap water contains traces of chlorine, which can poison the young shoots. Small tubers will produce small plants; large tubers, large plants. If you don’t have any, that’s okay too. Place the tubers in a perforated plastic bag filled with peat moss or vermiculite. begonia cuttings directly into a growing medium. You certainly can, but annuals often suffer shock when brought in from the garden or the plants grow leggy after their summer outdoors. It is easier for homeowners to propagate rooting cuttings or starting from seed. Most varieties available in garden centers or though catalogs are hybrids with complex parentage, but all share the same growing requirements. Extension is expanding its online education and resources to adapt to COVID-19 restrictions. Use tuberous begonias to brighten shady spots in your yard. Roots will develop from the bottom, sides and top of the tuber, and stems will sprout from the top. Harden the plants off, then plant them in hanging baskets, in larger containers, or directly in your garden. Small tubers will produce small plants; large tubers, large plants. At this time, the plant will produce new, small tubers which shoot out of the main tuber. By September, small tubers will have formed, which you should cure and store just as you would larger tubers. Tubers started in February should begin to bloom in June; those started in March or early April should bloom in July. If you happen to have rooting hormone on hand, now is the time to dip the cut ends into the hormone. The clay pot is a water reservoir, so you will not need to water the cuttings as long as you keep it filled. They are often used as container plants on patios and porches, in hanging baskets, and as bedding plants. Fasten the top of the bag to keep the air around the cuttings humid. Lift the tuberous begonia from the soil, and shake off any loose soil that is attached to the tubers. The three most popular types of garden begonias are the tuberous types, which are large leafed and sold either growing in pots or as brown tubers for do-it-yourself planting; the rhizomatous, commonly called Rex begonias; and the old fashioned wax, which are known as fibrous rooted. Tuberous begonia plants all go dormant in the fall. There should be a 3-inch wide ring of vermiculite around the clay pot. stems and placing them in a juice glass with an inch of water. When all the leaves have … If they're growing in the shade of trees or in containers under a roof, you must pay even more attention to keeping the soil properly moist. Some gardeners may choose to remove any flower buds that form in September to encourage dormancy and the storing of energy in tuber. Once the weather has settled, the soil is warm, and all danger of frost is past (usually by late May or early June in Minnesota), transplant them to hanging baskets on the porch or out in the garden, or move containers to their permanent place on the deck or patio.