How to Propagate Bougainvillea? Introduction to Several Common Propagation Methods

The main propagation method for bougainvillea is cuttings, generally carried out from March to June. First, select sturdy 1-2 year old outer sun-facing branches, and cut them into cuttings about 8-10cm long with 3-4 nodes. Then, insert the cuttings diagonally into the substrate, with an insertion depth of about 4-6cm. After cutting, water them and place them in a slightly shaded area for care. New roots grow in 20-30 days, and they can be transplanted into pots in 50-60 days.

1. Selecting cuttings: Choose sturdy 1-2 year old outer sun-facing branches. Do not use overly thin branches, immature branches, leggy branches, or shaded branches. Remove the selected branch, cut it with a small knife into a piece about 8-10cm long, keeping 3-4 nodes, with the lower end cut diagonally at 5-10 mm below a node. Remove the lower leaves and keep the upper two and a half (or whole) leaves as the cutting.

2. Cutting time: Generally carried out from March to June, when the temperature is suitable (20-30 degrees) and humidity is high, making management convenient. Insert the cuttings diagonally into the substrate, with an insertion depth of about 4-6cm, then water them and place them in a slightly shaded area for care.

3. Daily care: Within 15 days after cutting, provide sparse light, then gradually increase light, reaching full sun in about 25 days. Keep the substrate moist in the early stage, and after 40 days gradually switch to “alternating dry and wet”. Spray once every ten days or so with one-thousandth monopotassium phosphate plus urea.

4. Transplanting into pots: Bougainvillea cuttings first sprout buds and grow branches, then grow roots, so do not transplant into pots when buds and branches are growing. After cutting, new roots generally grow in 20-30 days. After 40 days, the surviving seedlings should be hardened off in strong sunlight for one week, and transplanted into pots in 50-60 days.