Ice begonias (bot. Begonia semperflorens) are rarely planted individually, but rather in groups. It's not just passionate hobby gardeners who come up with the idea of propagating the plants themselves. This is also quite possible with sowing or cuttings.
How to propagate ice begonias?
Ice begonias can be propagated by seeds or cuttings. Seeds are purchased from specialist retailers and sown at 20-24 °C and constant humidity. Cuttings, either leaves or shoots, are cut before the first frost and rooted in water or growing medium.
Propagation by sowing
For sowing you need germinable seeds, which you don't necessarily get from your own ice begonias. Hybrids are infertile and this includes many cultivated forms of Begonia semperflorens. It is therefore safer to buy seeds from specialist retailers. Here you can choose between different types and colors.
Since ice begonias are light germinators, the seeds must not be covered with soil and need a bright place to germinate. The temperatures there should not be below 20 °C, 22 °C to 24 °C would be better. If you keep the substrate evenly moist, germination will take about two weeks.
Propagation by cuttings
You can make good use of the winter for ice begonias by cutting them. Instead of overwintering the old plant, you can grow new young plants for the next season. Not all cuttings will grow well, so it makes sense to plant several at once. This significantly increases the chances of success. Cuttings give you ice begonias that are identical to the original plant.
Individual leaves are just as suitable as cuttings, as are entire shoots. Since they are not hardy, you should definitely select ice begonias for propagation and cut your cuttings before the first frost. Put these in a glass with rainwater or stale tap water for a few days or immediately in substrate, a mixture of sand and peat or special growing substrate.
The most important things in brief:
- Sowing from the beginning of January to around April
- Light germinator
- Germination time: about 14 days
- Germination temperature: approx. 20 °C to 24 °C
- keep evenly moist
- Pricking after approx. 6 weeks
- Propagation by cuttings possible throughout the entire growing season
- Rooting in a glass of water or in a special growing substrate
Tip
If you would like to cultivate the same type of ice begonias as before, you can grow them yourself using cuttings.
