Leaf cutting is one of the ways of plant propagation. This method of plant propagation is based on the principle of totipotency, which is the ability of a single cell to give rise to or generate a whole new plant. During the process you can take leaf sections from any part of the leaf such as petiole leaf blade etc. plants like African violets, gloxinias, streptocarpus etc are grown by the leaf cutting method.

Firstly you need to arrange for a box to grow the plant. The box has to be washed with diluted bleach and kept aside for drying. Moist gritty builder's sand should be filled in the box up to 3 to 4 inches.

Then you should thoroughly wash the plant to be propagated. Cut of a healthy leaf from the plant with a sharp blade or knife. The leaf should not be too young or too old. Then you have to cut the leaf stalk and make wedges from the leaf by slicing it. Make sure that every wedge has a central vein and a tip with a sinus. Next you need to slightly dip this sinus in a rooting hormone. Wash away the excess hormone. Put the wedge in the box and see to it that one third of the leaf is inside the sand. Put some water and then close the lid of the box. The ideal place to keep this box would be where there is enough indirect sunlight or even around grow lights. The ideal temperature should be around 65 degrees. See to it that the sand does not dry up and water it regularly. Within some days you will new plants shooting from the cuts.

You may not see much growth for a few days. Generally the tip of the wedge gives rise to roots. If you want to know whether the leaf cutting was successful, wait and see if there are any leaves developing from the old one. Or else you will see the wedge rotting away. When you feel the leaves have grown up to the size of a thumb nail, you can separate the young plant from the sand. Brush off the sand sticking to the roots and then carefully remove the parent leaf with the cutting. The news plants have to be transferred to another container about 2 1/2 inch, having a well-drained potting medium. Initially the plants should remain away from direct sunlight and then you can shift it to a window with bright sunlight. It is necessary to keep high humidity around the plants. You can keep pebbles and water under the container or even a humidifier will do the needful. The plants should be regularly watered and transferred to larger pots as per size. Within a few days you will see a full grown plant.