Ice begonias (bot. Begonia semperflorens) are rarely planted individually, but rather in groups. The thought of propagating the plants themselves does not only arise among passionate hobby gardeners. This is also quite possible with seeds or cuttings.
Ice begonias are easy to propagate from cuttings
Propagation by seed
For sowing, you need viable seeds, which you won't necessarily get from your own iced begonias. Hybrids are infertile and this includes many cultivated forms of Begonia semperflorens. It is therefore safer to buy seeds in specialist shops. Here you have the choice between different types and colors.
Since polar begonias belong to the group of light germinators, the seed must not be covered with soil and needs 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, then germination will take about two weeks.
Propagation by cuttings
You can use the winter very well for the propagation by cuttings with the ice begonia. Instead of overwintering the old plant, you breed new young plants for the next season. Not all cuttings will grow well, so it makes sense to plant several at once. This increases the chances of success significantly. Cuttings will give you ice begonias that are identical to the parent plant.
Single leaves are just as suitable as cuttings as whole shoots. Since they are not hardy, you should definitely select the ice begonias for propagation and cut your cuttings before the first frost. Put them in a glass with rainwater or stagnant tap water for a few days or in substrate, a mixture of sand and peat or special growing substrate.
The essentials in brief:
- Sow from early January to around April
- light germinator
- Germination period: about 14 days
- Germination temperature: approx. 20 °C to 24 °C
- keep evenly moist
- Prick out after approx. 6 weeks
- Propagation by cuttings possible throughout the growing season
- Rooting in a water glass or in a special cultivation substrate
tips
If you would like to cultivate the same type of ice begonia as before, you can grow it yourself with the help of cuttings.