Help - can I save this?

[MyNameIsInigoMontoya]

I bought a lovely big pot of betulia on sale today - but unfortunately a big chunk of it has snapped off at the base of the stem (it looks like it was already partly snapped perhaps, and transporting it home has finished it off).
But it looks like the sort of thing which might possibly grow new roots - so I'm wondering, can I stick the broken-off chunk in water or a pot of soil to give it a chance to grow into a new plant? And if so, which do you think is best, water or soil? (I've stuck it in a jam jar with water for now).
Thank you!

Betulias are a type of begonia, which are usually propagated by leaf cuttings. You might be able to root it, but there won't be much benefit apart from the challenge. If you can persuade it to make roots you will not have a plant to flower this summer, and you will have to overwinter it in active growth indoors as it will not have time to make a corm to overwinter.

This is a rather technical article about betulias which does contain specific advice about propagation if you are really determined.
www.google.com/patents/USPP10475

Personally, I would remove all the flower buds, separate the broken bit into individual shoots, stick them in a glass of water, and hope for the best. If they make roots, pot them up and keep them ticking over indoors till the spring

Hm thanks, sounds like it would probably be tricky. It's quite a big bit broken off, as big as a typical houseplant in itself! So it would be hard to keep the whole thing going I suppose.

I might just leave it in the jar but take a few separate bits for leaf cuttings to overwinter in case that bit doesn't survive. Might be able to keep the main plant going too if I bring it in for Winter.

I am terrible for "feeling sorry for" plants that are on sale or e.g. this broken-off bit, and wanting to try to keep them going - but probably should realise there's often a good reason for them being on sale!

Me too. I have one windowsill for intensive care, and a garden full of plants that were bargains/rejects. Very gratifying