How to grow Bougainvillea? Detailed explanation of the cutting method
How to grow potted Bougainvillea? Bougainvillea is one of the varieties loved by many flower enthusiasts, and it adapts well to soil. When it blooms, the colors are bright and beautiful, making it very appealing. Below, the editor will briefly introduce the key points of Bougainvillea cuttings.
1. Cutting time
Generally speaking, cuttings can be taken in May to June, and early autumn is the best time. At this time the temperature is a little over 20 degrees, which is very favorable for rooting, and the survival rate is relatively high.
July and August in summer also work, but be careful to spray carbendazim solution to prevent rot under high temperatures.
2. Cutting
1. Choosing branches
Bougainvillea has strong vitality. Experienced growers can take cuttings from thick branches to obtain large plants, but if you are a beginner, try to choose one-year-old, already woody branches, as these have the strongest rooting ability. Choose healthy branches, keep more than two nodes, cut them to about 7 to 8 cm, remove the lower leaves, and cut the bottom into a smooth slanted edge. You can keep two to three leaves at the top to enhance photosynthesis. Set aside after processing.
2. Substrate selection
For Bougainvillea cuttings, it is best to use sterilized plain sand, vermiculite, and other substrates with strong air permeability. Of course, sterilized sandy soil also works. Bougainvillea has relatively strong vitality and is still very easy to root and sprout.
3. Cutting
To take Bougainvillea cuttings, you can simply disinfect the branches, dip them in rooting powder, and insert them diagonally into the sterilized substrate. Do not insert them too deep; about 3 cm is enough. After cutting, you can water with carbendazim solution, which both retains moisture and sterilizes, preventing the branches from rotting.
After successful cutting, keeping warm and moist is key. Be sure to spray water frequently and provide proper shade, with diffused weak light allowed. When necessary, you can cover with plastic film to keep warm and moist, and be sure to ventilate for a certain period every day.
The above are the cutting methods for Bougainvillea. Bougainvillea generally roots in half a month, but you should wait until the root system is well developed and growth is stable before transplanting. It is best in autumn and winter, when the survival rate is highest. Now is a good season!
How to take Bougainvillea cuttings, precautions for Bougainvillea cuttings
The flowers of Bougainvillea give a delicate and charming impression, but the overall feeling Bougainvillea gives is indeed delicate without being flirtatious, like a beautiful young girl dancing gracefully, uniquely charming. So it is not without reason that many people like Bougainvillea. So how do you take Bougainvillea cuttings? Below is an introduction to the precautions for Bougainvillea cuttings.
How to take Bougainvillea cuttings
The propagation of Bougainvillea adopts the following measures: cuttings, air layering, and splitting and division of clumps. The main method is cutting, and the cutting substrates are respectively sand cuttings, soil cuttings, and coal cinder cuttings.
Sand cuttings: Both coarse sand and fine sand can be used. Coarse sand has slightly better permeability than fine sand, and fine sand has slightly stronger water retention than coarse sand. Each has its own advantages. Flower enthusiasts can use local materials according to local conditions.
Soil cuttings: Choose sandy loam with relatively good permeability or loose loam that is not too fertile. You can also take cuttings at the edge of a flower pot.
Coal cinder cuttings: Choose burned coal balls or coal cinders, crush them finely, put them in a pot, and take cuttings.
Branch selection: Generally, one-year-old mature branches are used. Perennial large branches can also be used, and softwood cuttings can also be used.
Air layering: Ring-bark the branch to be propagated, then wrap soil with plastic film, and use a discarded syringe to inject water inside to keep it moist. When more new roots grow, cut it off and plant it in a pot. Sometimes it is found that some roots grow on old branches of Bougainvillea during the plum rain season, and these can also be directly cut off and planted in a pot, placed in a cool place, and they are also very easy to survive.
Splitting and division of clumps: For plants with very low branching, after the two branches are separated, both can carry part of the root system. They can be directly split apart and divided into two plants to be potted. Potted flowers that survive division will definitely bloom that same year.
Softwood cuttings: In May to June during the plum rain season, use softwood branches inserted into a sand tray and placed in a cool place, keeping them moist. They can also root and survive, but because softwood branches are too small, low in nutrients, and poor in resistance, substrate disinfection and management all require strict conditions. After surviving, it is not easy to form large potted plants.
One-year-old branch cuttings: Choose relatively thick one-year-old mature branches with relatively dense internodes, cut them into 5-6 cun lengths, and take cuttings. Branches with sparse internodes should have more than 3 buds to be good. Generally, choosing relatively thicker ones gives a higher survival rate.
Perennial large branch cuttings: Old branches and large branches removed during renewal can be cut into appropriate lengths (choose an appropriate shape, ensuring more than 3 buds) for cuttings, and they will also root and survive. Generally, enthusiasts do not plant many, so it is recommended to use large branch cuttings. Because they are rich in nutrients and have strong vitality, they easily form callus tissue, root quickly, and are easy to survive and take shape. Some large branches with latent flower buds can bloom shortly after being inserted. Some can take shape and bloom in the same year. The author likes this cutting propagation method.
Precautions for Bougainvillea cuttings
1. Try every means to reduce the bacterial content of the cutting substrate (sand, coal cinders, soil, etc.). Sand can be disinfected by various methods, such as sun exposure, pouring with boiling water, sterilizing with potassium permanganate or carbendazim, etc. Coal cinders should be fresh. For cuttings at the edge of the pot, try to reduce the application of unrotted organic fertilizer and high-concentration chemical fertilizer, to reduce the chance of carrying bacteria and damaging roots.
2. Be careful to place it in a cool place to reduce water evaporation.
3. Be careful to keep it moist, but not with too much water. Too much water easily breeds mold and is also unfavorable for rooting.
The best time for Bougainvillea cuttings
For Bougainvillea, the two periods of September to October and February to April of the following year are better. The temperature and humidity are more suitable, mold activity is not strong, wounds are not easily infected, and callus tissue easily forms new roots. Cuttings taken from September to October must go through a long winter. Although growth is relatively vigorous after the following spring, the management time is too long and cold protection must be strengthened, otherwise they are likely to freeze to death. The workload and risk are both great, so it is not cost-effective.
It is best to take cuttings before budding in February to April of the same year, combined with pruning, and pot them in May to June. After several months of care, by autumn they are already very robust plants. They are relatively easy to overwinter. The potted seedlings, managed centrally and placed properly, are simply a small garden.
Bougainvillea cutting propagation methods, Bougainvillea pruning methods illustrated
Bougainvillea has a long flowering period and can bloom all year round with proper cultivation, so many friends like to use Bougainvillea bonsai to decorate their homes. So how does Bougainvillea propagate? And how should it be pruned? Next, Xiao Qi will share the Bougainvillea cutting method and Bougainvillea pruning method.
1. Bougainvillea cutting method
One-step cutting method: Insert the cutting directly into the pot, let it root and grow branches in the pot, and take shape as soon as possible, achieving the effect of cutting in the same year and initially taking shape for viewing in the same year.
1. Branches: In March to April, select perennial branches with a diameter of 1-1.5 cm or more, and cut them off at 20-30 cm above the ground. The thicker the selected branch diameter, the better. Varieties such as single-petal large red bougainvillea, single-petal water red bougainvillea, and single-petal purple flower bougainvillea are better.
2. Branch processing: Use a saw to cut the branches into sections 18-22 cm long (each section with at least 3 buds), place them in a box, and put them in a cool place where rain cannot reach them. After about 10 days, when the epidermis of the cutting branches is slightly wrinkled, begin cutting.
3. Potting and planting: The planting substrate can be pond mud mixed with sawdust, garbage fertilizer, or rotted bagasse, with a ratio of 6:4. Plant 1-3 branches per pot, place them in a shade shed, and water thoroughly. After 1 month, they can sprout and grow roots, becoming new plants.
4. Care measures: Do timely work of weeding, loosening soil, and draining accumulated water to improve the survival rate. When the newly sprouted branches of the cuttings become woody, prune them in time to promote more new shoots, which is conducive to forming a good crown as early as possible.
2. Bougainvillea pruning methods
Heavy pruning: From the name you can tell this pruning must be very extensive. It requires basically cutting off all branches, leaving only the trunk and a few main branches. The few main branches left must also be cut very short. In particular, unwanted branches must be completely removed.
Medium pruning: Naturally it is lighter than heavy pruning. It only cuts off some dead branches and unwanted branches. For parts that are growing well, they are only shortened. The overall tree shape does not change much.
Light pruning: Slightly shorten some weak branches, cut off diseased and dead branches, and slightly shorten healthy branches. Generally used on seedlings, small plants, and small trees. The purpose is to make good use of photosynthesis and let the small plants grow quickly.
Renewal pruning: Shorten all branches so that the tree shape after pruning this year is not much different from the tree shape just after pruning last spring. The purpose of renewal pruning is actually to free up enough space and room for the plant to grow.
The above isBougainvillea cuttingsmethods andBougainvillea pruningmethods shared. I hope it is helpful for everyone's Bougainvillea cultivation and makes your Bougainvillea pruned even more beautifully.