How to propagate strawberry begonia

How to propagate by offsets / pups

Strawberry begonia produces offsets: smaller plants that sprout from the base of the mother plant. A large offset often has roots of its own, but not always, so check before you pot it up.

1. 01

   Wait until an offset is at least one-third the size of the mother plant. Removing offsets too early increases the chance of failure.

2. 02

   Water the parent plant the day before to ease root removal.

3. 03

   Slide the plant out of its pot and gently brush away soil to find where the offset connects to the mother root.

4. 04

   Pull or cut the offset away cleanly, keeping as many of its own roots intact as possible. For cacti, use clean gloves and tongs.

5. 05

   If the offset was cut, let the wound dry and callus before planting. Cactus offsets often need about two days, and larger wounds may take longer. Judge the dry, sealed surface rather than the clock.

6. 06

   Pot the offset into fresh, well-draining mix appropriate to the species. Water lightly and place in indirect light.

7. 07

   A rooted offset usually shows new growth within 2–4 weeks as it settles in. An offset without roots has to root first: keep the mix barely damp and give it several weeks before you expect new growth.