Bougainvillea Cuttings in Water: [Concept, Time, Rooting and Planting]

What does it mean to plant by cuttings?

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

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

Horticulturists generally recommend planting by cuttings since many others can be reproduced from a simple plant. Garden enthusiasts prefer the process of propagation by cuttings because it is very simple, efficient and fast.

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

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

Planting bougainvillea cuttings in water is a process that can be done throughout the year.However, the best time to plant bougainvillea cuttings is between mid-spring and early summer.

How to get bougainvillea cuttings in water to root correctly?

By placing the bougainvillea cuttings in water, the rooting of the cutting is left to the natural evolutionary process. If you want to accelerate rooting, you can put a little powder or liquid rooting agent for flowering plants in the water.

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

To obtain the bougainvillea cuttings and proceed to plant 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 and 20 cm long should be cut.

The cutting of the base of the cuttings is recommended to be done just below a node or bud, and the upper cut, 1.5 to 2.5 cm above another.

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

The selected bougainvillea cutting can be cut obliquely up to the middle, at the height of the leaf union and about 30 cm from the end of the stem.It is recommended to treat the surface of the cut with rooting hormones.

The best bougainvillea cuttings are those from branches that are one or two years old and made of softwood.The cuttings must be healthy and free of any type of pest or disease.

How long should we leave bougainvillea cuttings in water?

The already prepared bougainvillea cuttings are placed in a plastic or glass container with plenty of water, in such a way that 45% of the cutting is submerged and the rest remains inside the container.

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

Then they are placed in the shade, where the light reaches them, but not direct sunlight.The time that the bougainvillea cuttings will remain in the water will depend on the formation of their roots.

Is it convenient to use fertilizer or compost?

It is very important to use fertilizer or compost for planting the 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 planting 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 it retains moisture very well and bougainvillea does very well.

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

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

Bougainvillea roots placed in water will take one to two weeks to reproduce, and then the plant must be planted in the final site. Once the bougainvillea is planted, it can take only 3 to 6 months for the reproduction of a new plant.

Bibliography and references

Bent Ana. (2019). Great Book of Indoor Gardening. First edition. Servilibro Editions, SA Madrid-Spain. PP 43-47.
Manual of propagation of higher plants. Metropolitan Autonomous University. First Digital Edition 2017, Coyoacán. Mexico PDF.