Propagating trout begonia: cuttings, cuttings & co

Dotted leaves and bright flowers are the distinctive flagships of Begonia maculata. How do you Trout Begonia can multiply, you will find out below using our easy-to-understand instructions.

Cuttings and cuttings - what's the difference?

For those who have not yet dealt with the topic of plant reproduction extensively, the terminology will initially sound confusingly similar. It is therefore worth taking a first look at the differences between an offshoot and a cutting:

Offshoot are naturally growing shoots through which plants such as the trout begonia reproduce, without however being dependent on pollination by insects. A shoot grows from the mother plant and forms roots when it comes into contact with the ground. After the growth there is still a connection to the mother plant, but the independence of the offshoot is fully given.

A Cutting on the other hand, any shoot that is deliberately separated from the plant by the gardener and stimulated to form roots.

The main difference lies in the fact that in the end the same process takes place once naturally and once artificially.

Trout begonia propagate by cuttings

Cultivating an offshoot is therefore particularly easy. As soon as you have identified a particularly long side shoot on your plant, prepare a planter with substrate on which to place the shoot. Sufficient soil moisture stimulates the formation of the earth's roots. After a few days to around two weeks, the shoot grows firmly in the ground and the remaining connection to the mother plant can be separated with clean scissors.

Note: Use the following information for a suitable flooring material and other maintenance Instructions for cuttings, as both species of trout begonia reproduce from the point at which they form roots same.

Gaining and pulling cuttings

The use of cuttings, on the other hand, is somewhat more complex, but not really difficult. Appropriate preparation is important so that the success of your efforts can flourish from an optimal basis:

The utensils

Any pruning you make on your plant is an injury. Bacteria, germs and other harmful pathogens penetrate the interior of the plant particularly easily and can even lead to the death of the entire plant. Make sure you use sharp and at the same time clean, ideally disinfected, tools. Well suited are:

• Garden or household scissors
• kitchenknife
• Cutter or other sharp cutting tools

You should also have the following items ready:

• Vase, capacity min. 0.5 to 1 liter
• Plant pot with drainage holes
• Coasters

Tip: Align the vase size with the dimensions of the covered cutting. This should stand securely without the vessel falling over. The mentioned minimum volume is used to counteract too rapid spoilage of the water used.

The substrate

In order to propagate the trout begonia, cuttings first need an adequate substrate before also they later get a good part of their moisture and nutrients via aerial roots from the ambient air remove. The potting soil used should have the following properties:

• loose, not too compact
• good moisture storage capacity
• permeable to waterlogging
• good supply with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as other minerals as a basic supply

Either use special succulent or cactus soil from specialist shops, or you can simply mix your substrate yourself:

• 2 parts of garden soil, ideally pre-fertilized
• 1 part sand or expanded clay

Tip: The optimal pH value of the substrate is around 5.5 to 6.5, i.e. in the slightly acidic range. To reach it safely, you can add leaves or mulch from oak or coniferous plants. However, the biomass should be well shredded so that it can be digested quickly.

Propagating trout begonia: step by step instructions

Now the time has come and you actually start to reproduce your trout begonia:

1. Cut the shoot: Choose a young shoot of your Begonia maculata that ideally already has some aerial roots and at least 2 or more leaves. Cut the shoot with scissors or a knife immediately above the next pair of leaves below so that a sufficiently long piece of the stem is available for root formation.
2. Pulling roots: Place the shoot in the vase filled with lukewarm water. Be careful not to submerge the leaves in the water to avoid rot. It is sufficient if the style is about 2-4 centimeters deep in the water. After just a few days you can see that the first fine root veins are growing out of the interface. As soon as the roots are a little stronger after about a week, your cutting is ready to move into the ground. Attention: Always make sure there is enough clean water in the vase. In the long run, bacteria can accumulate here that can kill the shoot. You should have fresh water every two to three days at the latest.
3. Planting: Fill the plant pot loosely with the prepared soil and form a planting trough in the middle that is around 2 centimeters deeper than the rooted part of the shoot. Set the shoot in the hollow and carefully press the soil into place from the sides. If you now ensure constant moisture in the soil, your new trout begonia should be firmly rooted in the soil after a few days.

Point of time

Since Begonia maculata is mainly kept inside, it can ultimately be propagated all year round. Spring is a good time, however, as the intense brightness promotes growth, while the temperatures are still moderate enough not to dry out the subsoil too quickly.

Caring for the Begonia maculata

Once your cutting is rooted in the ground, it should be given the same care as the mother plant. Make sure you have a regular supply of nutrients and even irrigation through frequent use of small amounts of water. In addition, a high level of humidity helps the plant to develop. Regular spraying can therefore replace part of the amount of irrigation water.

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