Hi,
How do I make cuttings of cane begonias?
Thank you
Anna
cuttings of cane begonias???
Hey Anna, where have we met before? LOL Just sent you another Dmail. Anyhow,
I do not know if this is the correct way of cutting cane begonias but it works for me.
I know someone has a more technical way of telling you what to do, but this is my way and as I said before it works for me.
I take a stem that has a few leaves on it and cut it so the cutting is 4 or more inches long.
I put it in water for a few days, then I transplant it with whatever kind of dip or powder you use like root tone and put it into whatever soil you use for cuttings. I strip most of the leaves off after I plant it in soil. I use cocoanut coir for most of my tropical cuttings and tender perennials. If you want to discuss any of this you can dmail me privately.
As I said, this is my way.......it may not be the way others do it, so wait to hear from more people and choose the way that you feel will work for you. Later. JB
Check Brad Thompson's site about propagation.
http://www.bradsbegoniaworld.com/prop.htm
Thank you very much JB and hcmcdole!
Hi JB,
I have the feeling that we have met before!
I am looking forward to getting my baby begonia!
I usually always have success rooting my cuttings in the soil mix they will be growing in. (I only use Tapla's formula leaving out the magnesium source.) I cut leaving about 3 nodes. Then I just stick them in immediately making sure at least one node is under the soil and water them. It usually takes no more than a couple of weeks for them to root. I have rooted them in perlite but this way skips that step and works just as well, I think.
Thank you Killdawabbit,
I will check Tapla's formula.
I just started using Tapla's formula this spring and am amazed at the results I'm getting. Everything I plant in it does way better than what I was using before. And I thought I had a pretty good mix.
Tapla's formula is in the container gardening isn't it?
Where do you get the chemicals for it?
Thank you!:o)
Yes. It can be found here:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/719569/
Excerpt:
"My Basic Soil
5 parts pine bark fines
1 part sphagnum peat (not reed or sedge peat please)
1-2 parts perlite
garden lime or gypsum
controlled release fertilizer
micronutrient powder (or other continued source of micronutrients)"
For now I am only using 4 parts pine fines, 1 part peat moss, 1 part perlite and only osmocote and gypsum.
My nursery trees and shrubs so far have gone crazy in it. I will have to repot them or I am afraid they will be rootbound by the fall when I intend to plant them. I also use the mix for everything I pot. Better results than I have ever had.
Wow, thank you very much Killdawabbit!
Where do you get pine fines from?
Thank you!
Kill,
Can you show pictures between before and after potted canes with this new mix? It might prove useful if the differences are significant.
I get the pine fines at Lowe's. It is called 'soil conditioner' and the brand is Evergreen. It is finely chopped pine bark.
hc, I can only give you an 'after'. Here is a pic of Sophie Cecile (I'm pretty sure it is, it wasn't labeled) and Eldora. I rooted 3 cuttings in each pot directly in the potting mix.
I don't think it will root them faster necessarily, but it gives you an instant plant which I like.
Oh, I forgot to say. I rooted them under fluorescent lights with no other special conditions. I don't have air conditioning though. That might make a difference. I don't know.
Thank you Kill, i am going to Lowes this afternoon to get them.:o)
Cool. I wish you success.
The plants you showed do look nice. A control group would really help prove the point.
Those are gorgeous!
Unfortunately I rarely root them. Only to make plants to overwinter for next summer. Some of them I use as bedding plants.
As far as a control group I'm not sure what you are suggesting. The way I root them as opposed to what?
In different potting mix(es).
What other potting mix do you suggest? I wasn't saying the potting mix was better than other potting mixes. I was saying that you can put cane begonia cuttings directly in your potting mix thus skipping a step.
Yes, there are many ways to root a begonia. Sometimes I do it by water, sometimes in perlite, but mostly in the potting mix. What I was referring to was your special mix - I thought you were saying cuttings rooted better in it. Two subjects in the same topic gets confusing.
The main point of my first post was rooting in potting mix and I mentioned tapla's mix. Lola asked me about the mix and I directed here to the thread with tapla's mix and then we got to talking about that.
i just returned with cuttings from this plant--my daughter had one growing in the corner of her house and it was 5 feet tall and she said she had no idea what it was, didn't really remember to give it much water -never changed the dirt, repotted etc and yet it just kept growing and flowering! we saw it later at a farmers market and were able to identify it
anyhow i broke off several peices (broke off like bamboo) and have them in water now--am glad to see your posts--
Hi PlanoLinda,
It should root soon. Best of luck!:o)
just picked up a bag of potting soil and plan to start maybe tomorrow--i have about 6 little starts and might root a few in water and the rest in the soil