Propagation for Dragon Wing Begonias

The Dragon Wing begonia (Begonia x argenteoguttata "Dragon Wings") is a large-leafed cane begonia that blooms with pink flowers during a long growing season. Although it grows best in partial shade, the sun turns the wing-shaped leaves’ edges red, hinting at the plant's fiery namesake. Dragon Wing is a trademarked cultivar of Ball Horticulture Co. Because the plant is trademarked, rather than patented, it can be freely propagated but cannot be sold as Dragon Wing unless licensed by Ball.

Knife
Isopropyl alcohol
Rag
4-inch pots
Peat moss
Perlite
Rooting hormone
Plastic bag

Instructions

- 1
  Wipe down a sharp paring knife’s blade with isopropyl alcohol on a rag. Fill a 4-inch pot with 1 part peat moss and 1 part perlite. Thoroughly dampen the mix.
- 2
  Examine the stems, or canes, of a Dragon Wing begonia plant. Find a stem with one or more budlike nodes. Cut off about 4 inches of stem with the sterile knife one-half inch below the node. Younger stems at the plant’s edges have better results, according to North Carolina State University Extension.
- 3
  Remove any leaves from the cutting’s lower half and cut in half any large leaves remaining on the stem.
- 4
  Dip the cut end of the cutting in rooting hormone. Placing the cutting, node-end down as deep into rooting medium in the pot as you can encourages bushy, basal growth, advises Brad Thompson of the American Begonia Society.
- 5
  Covering the cutting loosely with a plastic bag maintains humidity. Place the cutting where it receives at least 14 hours of indirect light each day, supplementing with artificial light as needed.
- 6
  Plant your new Dragon Wing begonia in its final location when shoots emerge from the buried bud and weather conditions allow.

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