Rooting Begonia luxurians cuttings - any tips?

[Chad]

I'm not a Begonia expert, and I've only had the luxurians for three years.

I take cuttings when the mood takes me. Sometimes when some one else wanted one [just done one for that recently], and whenever I cut back the top growth on the one in doors, and when a stem was blown off the one in the garden.

Adam, PM in hand!

Chad.

[Petefree]

I'll have to try your technique, Chad.
So are you taking the stem cuttings with the cut just below a node and then burying them to leave the next node just above the compost level?
Or are they internodal, with the next node just above compost surface?
Pete

[Chad]

Pete,

I'm doing 'polynodal cuttings' [if that wasn’t a term before, it is now!].

Each cutting will be trimmed to just below and above a node [so there is a node at each end], but there are several nodes on the cutting. They tend to grow a bit leggy as well, so they get re-potted or planted out several inches deeper than they started.

Leaving nodes under ground helps it to re-sprout if the top is frosted [or in Cornwall blown off in a gale].

Here is my overwintering plant.

Begonia luxurians

And here a freshly rooted one. The cutting goes 3/4 of the way down the pot, and the leaf wasn't fully expanded when the cutting was taken.

Begonia luxurians cutting.

I don't have enough 'stock' material to go into mass production!

Chad.

[weve]

Chad many thanks for the extra info and the pics! By luck, I planted my outside one deeper (by only about one node tho, hoping it would be more likely then to resprout) Anyway sorry to be really pedantically dim here, but just to make sure I totally understand your method (you'll be regretting your success after all this! ) You take a 15cm cutting with several nodes and cut just above the top and below the bottom one and pot up with just one node below the surface with the next one just above it. Once rooted you then repot (or plant) deeper, burying several nodes.

Again sorry to be so pedantic and dim, but Chad, this is life-changing info you're giving us!!!!

Metalhammer
Not suggesting you visit, but its an interesting place. Not really a specialist exotics nursery, but they have quite a few unusual species for sale not frequently seen at other outlets (by me at least!).
best
weve

Hill House Nursery: 01803 762273

Above: Begonia luxurians stock plant

[Chad]

Weve,

No.

I have successfully explained the preparation of the cutting, but it is then planted vertically with almost all of it in the soil, the upper node being just visible.

Once they start into growth they get leggy, so each re-potting or planting out buries a bit of the new stem too [removing any lower leaves that would otherwise be covered in soil].

I'm getting a bit nervous about this, three years isn't long enough to have grown it and think of myself as an expert!

Chad.

[weve]

Many thanks for clearing that up, Chad. Sorry I didn't "get it" first time. Don't worry, I don't expect guaranteed success, just a fighting chance, so please don't be nervous! Nothing lost if I fail.

I now realise your term "polynodal" cuttings is very descriptive and is exactly what you do, of course. (Now the penny has finally dropped! Duh! )

It's just that I've just asked everywhere before and to date you are the only person I found that managed to root any stem cuttings at all! So feel at least a little proud of your achievements and give your self a bit of a pat on the back!!

Its difficult to experiment with many methods by trial & error, when one has such a limited amount of stock to propagate from, so any guidlines are welcome.

Anyway I have reserved another B. luxurians from Hill House today (its really close to me) and will pick it up next week. Whilst I'm there I'll try to find out their method too.(polynodal cuttings, no doubt ................ )

Thanks again Chad for all your trouble, really appreciated!
best
weve

[weve]

Petefree

I have seen your post on GOTE ( May 1st) re suspected success rooting cuttings using Chad's method. I haven't got enough plant to try it that way myself yet. Good luck and keep us posted when you can
cheers