Some plants can be propagated from leaves using a free-draining cuttings compost of equal quantities of peat or peat substitute and sharp sand or perlite.
Part-leaf cuttings
Examples of types of part-leaf cuttings
Streptocarpus - select a full-grown
leaf and cut in half along the midrib, which should be discarded.
Using a seed tray make a shallow trench and insert the leaf,
cut side down and firm in.
Sansevieria - cut leaves horizontally
into 5cm (2in) pieces and insert lower edge down.
Begonia - cut across the main
veins on the underside. Pin the leaf, cut side down
onto the compost.
Alternatively, cut the leaf into squares 2.5cm (1in) across each with a main vein.
Water and allow to drain and place in a propagator or
a clear plastic bag in a light place out of direct sunlight.
Leaf cuttings from tropical plants must be kept in high
humidity at about 20oC (68oF).
When plantlets form remove covers and allow to grow
on until large enough to pot up.
Whole-leaf or petiole cuttings
Many gesneriads and succulents can be propagated from whole leaves.
For example, with African violets cut the leaves with
the stalk intact from the parent plant. Using pots insert
with the base of each leaf just touching the surface and
treat as for part-leaf cuttings.
Leaf cuttings of succulents should be left a day or two to callus before potting. Insert into pots filled to three-quarters depth with two parts cactus compost to one part fine grit (5mm), topped off with fine grit.