Bougainvillea Cuttings in Water: [Concept, Season, Rooting and Sowing]

What does it mean to plant by cuttings?

Planting by cuttings is an asexual reproduction technique through which a plant can be obtained with identical characteristics to the one that gave rise to it.

The procedure of planting cuttings is very simple and can be done using fragments of stems, leaves, rhizomes and roots of a mother plant.

For the propagation or multiplication by cuttings to be effective, the plant of origin must be in good phytosanitary conditions and be robust.

Horticulturists in general recommend planting by cuttings since many others can be reproduced from a single plant. Gardening enthusiasts prefer the process of multiplication by cuttings because it is so simple, efficient and fast.

In the case of bougainvillea, the best method for cultivation is by planting cuttings.

What is the best time to plant bougainvillea cuttings in water?

How to get bougainvillea cuttings in water to root correctly?

How should we take bougainvillea cuttings in water to sow them?

To obtain the bougainvillea cuttings and proceed to sow them in water, the same procedure used to prepare the cuttings for planting is carried out.

Branches that are about the thickness of a pencil (6-10 millimeters) and between 15 to 20 cm long should be cut .

The cut of the base of the cuttings is recommended to do it just below a node or bud, and the upper cut, 1.5 to 2.5 cm above another

The base is cut in a straight way to prevent the stem from rotting, and the cut of the end of the cutting is bevelled (inclined).

The selected bougainvillea cutting can be cut obliquely to the middle, at the height of the leaf junction and about 30 cm from the end of the stem. It is recommended to do a treatment on the surface of the cut with rooting hormones. 

Best bougainvillea cuttings from branches are those having one or two years and wood soft. The cuttings must be healthy and free of any type of pest or disease. 

How long should we leave bougainvillea cuttings in water in water?

The ready-made bougainvillea cuttings are placed in a plastic or glass container with plenty of water, so that 45% of the cuttings are submerged and the rest remains inside the container.

The cutting should be kept in water and be attentive in case it becomes cloudy, which indicates that it must be changed so that it does not cause damage to the cutting.

They are then placed in the shade, where the light reaches it, but not direct sunlight. The time the bougainvillea cuttings will remain in the water will depend on the formation of their roots. 

Is it convenient to use compost or compost?

It is very important to use compost or compost for the sowing of bougainvillea cuttings so that they can develop well.

In the case of planting bougainvillea in water, you must wait until its roots come out before proceeding to sow.

For the sowing of bougainvillea cuttings a mixture of soil, a part of perlite and a part of peat is recommended. The use of coconut fiber is also recommended because they retain moisture very well and they do very well with bougainvillea.

The cutting must be sunk into the substrate by 2 or 4 cm. It is important to select a container or pot that has good drainage capacity. At the time of flowering bougainvillea it is important to provide a fertilizer rich in phosphorus and micronutrients.

How long does it usually take for a bougainvillea cutting to emerge in water?