Bougainvillea Cutting Propagation Methods and Techniques Explained
As the BRICS summit approaches, the streets and alleys of Xiamen are ablaze with flowers, extraordinarily beautiful, and bougainvillea can be seen everywhere, whether on overpasses or along the roadsides.
Bougainvillea is very well suited to the southern climate and is an easy plant to grow; just a few branches stuck in soil can propagate it. However, you need to pay attention to the following points to better ensure successful rooting and a bountiful harvest of bougainvillea.
1. Timing of cuttings
Bougainvillea loves warmth and cannot tolerate cold, so spring, summer and autumn are the best times for cuttings. Summer and autumn are the peak growing seasons for bougainvillea, making them the best time for cuttings, with spring next.
2. Cutting medium
Although bougainvillea is not strict about soil, it fears waterlogging and cannot tolerate flooding, so it is best to choose a loose, well-draining potting mix. You can use a blend of humus soil, garden soil and sand, or use some sun-dried pond mud mixed with coal cinder as the potting soil.
Before taking cuttings, be sure to put the potting soil in the sun to sterilize it. If the sun is not strong enough, you can also water it with carbendazim diluted in water.
3. Selecting the branches
For cuttings, it is best to choose semi-woody one-year-old branches, and keeping 2-3 leaves on the branch is more conducive to successful rooting. Soaking them in rooting powder before planting can also promote earlier and more abundant root formation, leading to successful propagation.
4. Cutting precautions!
When taking cuttings, note that the cut end of the branch must be flat and smooth. If you are working with different bougainvillea plants, remember to sterilize to avoid cross-infection.
Before inserting the cutting, first make a hole at an angle with a clean wooden stick, with a depth of about 1/3 or 2/5 of the branch length, then insert the branch and gently press the medium at the base of each branch so that the branch makes close contact with the medium.
5. Care after cutting
Remember to protect the cuttings once planted. The planted cuttings can be placed in a shaded, ventilated spot, keeping the soil slightly moist. If you have time, you can also cover the pot with a plastic film and ventilate it for about three hours each day, which further helps bougainvillea sprout and propagate.
Bougainvillea Cutting Techniques
China Landscape Web, September 6 news: As the BRICS summit approaches, the streets and alleys of Xiamen are ablaze with flowers, extraordinarily beautiful, and bougainvillea can be seen everywhere, whether on overpasses or along the roadsides.
Bougainvillea is very well suited to the southern climate and is an easy plant to grow; just a few branches stuck in soil can propagate it. However, you need to pay attention to the following points to better ensure successful rooting and a bountiful harvest of bougainvillea.
1. Timing of cuttings
Bougainvillea loves warmth and cannot tolerate cold, so spring, summer and autumn are the best times for cuttings. Summer and autumn are the peak growing seasons for bougainvillea, making them the best time for cuttings, with spring next.
2. Cutting medium
Although bougainvillea is not strict about soil, it fears waterlogging and cannot tolerate flooding, so it is best to choose a loose, well-draining potting mix. You can use a blend of humus soil, garden soil and sand, or use some sun-dried pond mud mixed with coal cinder as the potting soil.
Before taking cuttings, be sure to put the potting soil in the sun to sterilize it. If the sun is not strong enough, you can also water it with carbendazim diluted in water.
3. Selecting the branches
For cuttings, it is best to choose semi-woody one-year-old branches, and keeping 2-3 leaves on the branch is more conducive to successful rooting. Soaking them in rooting powder before planting can also promote earlier and more abundant root formation, leading to successful propagation.
4. Cutting precautions!
When taking cuttings, note that the cut end of the branch must be flat and smooth. If you are working with different bougainvillea plants, remember to sterilize to avoid cross-infection.
Before inserting the cutting, first make a hole at an angle with a clean wooden stick, with a depth of about 1/3 or 2/5 of the branch length, then insert the branch and gently press the medium at the base of each branch so that the branch makes close contact with the medium.
5. Care after cutting
Remember to protect the cuttings once planted. The planted cuttings can be placed in a shaded, ventilated spot, keeping the soil slightly moist. If you have time, you can also cover the pot with a plastic film and ventilate it for about three hours each day, which further helps bougainvillea sprout and propagate.
Little Tips to Improve Bougainvillea Cutting Survival Rate
When to Take Bougainvillea Cuttings
To successfully root bougainvillea cuttings, you first need to choose the right time for taking cuttings.
Generally speaking, February to April in spring and September to October in autumn are the better times for cuttings, as the temperature, light and humidity are all quite suitable, and problems such as pests, diseases and die-off are less likely to occur.
However, the best time for cuttings is still spring, because if you take cuttings in autumn, they will have to get through winter and may be damaged by frost.
Choosing Bougainvillea Cutting Branches
Bougainvillea branches are generally divided into softwood and hardwood. Softwood refers to immature branches of the current year, which are relatively small and low in nutrients, making them harder to root. Hardwood mostly refers to mature, thick, hard branches, usually one-year-old or older mature wood.
When taking cuttings, cut a suitable length, and the cutting is best kept with more than 3 buds.
Also, in autumn you can take hardwood cuttings, while in summer you can take softwood cuttings.
Treating Bougainvillea Cutting Branches
Treating the branches used for cuttings can improve the rooting rate. About 10 days before taking cuttings, you can make a ring cut at the base of the branch, and one day before taking cuttings, spray some monopotassium phosphate on the leaves. The cuttings can be soaked in some rooting powder, which can speed up rooting.