BEGONIAS AND GLOXINIAS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 696, 22 June 1929, Page 30

BEGONIAS AND GLOXINIAS

PROPAGATION BY LEAVES Although there is a large number of plants which can be increased by means of leaves, inserted as cuttings, including fuchsia, pelargonium, eupatorium, and others, only a few respond quickly to this method of treatment. Such plants as gesneria, streptocarpus, gloxinia, and begonia can, however, be grown from leaves in a few months, and each resulting plant will be true to type. Begonia Rex is a favourite subject for leaf propagation. The oldest leaves should be selected, and after cutting notches just below the junctions of the main veins, should be laid underside downwards in pots or pans of moist sand or coconut fibre. If they are placed in a bottomheated propagator, new plants will quickly develop from the cut surfaces, aud in a few weeks will be large enough to pot separately into small pots. Streptocarpus and gloxinia

I—New Begonias Striking from the Layered Leaves. 2—Young Seedlings ready for potting. leaves can be treated in the same way, or inserted like ordinary cuttings by removing an inch of the leaf blade and dibbling them into pots of sandy soil. When treated in this way, the new plants will develop from the bases of the leaf stalks, and absorb the food supply in the leaves, which will gradually dwindle away. This is a fascinating way of raising new plants, and as strong, sturdy young specimens can be obtained by this method, it should always be adopted by those who wish to pert petuate some choice species or variety.