How to Propagate Bouganvilleas From Cuttings

While bougainvilleas can be propagated by seed, tissue culturing and layering, the fastest and easiest propagation method for the home gardener is by stem cuttings. There are 14 species of these tropical and sub-tropical members of the four-o'clock family, and all their myriad crosses and cultivars root readily from cuttings. Hardwood cuttings can be taken in the fall, but if you start them in May or early June instead, your new bougainvillea will be well rooted and thriving for you by August.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp, clean knife
• Peat moss
• Perlite or sand
• 6-inch pot
• Clear plastic bag
• All-purpose fungicide

Instructions

1. Choose a healthy, mature bougainvillea to take your softwood stem cuttings from. The new plants will grow into exact replicas of the parent plant, so pick one that you really like. Use a sharp, clean knife to cut five or six stems, at least 1/8 inch thick, from this year's growth. Each cutting should have at least four or five leaf nodes.

2. Snip the tender tips from the stems and throw them out. Sub-terminal cuttings from the stems will perform much better for you than the tips will. Those are very delicate and tend to rot easily. Trim the cutting down to about 5 or 6 inches long. Strip off all the leaves from the lower 2 inches of the stem.

3. Combine equal parts peat moss and perlite or sand, and fill a 6-inch pot to about ½ inch from the rim with the mixture. Set the pot in a shallow container of warm water in the sink, until the surface of the soil feels evenly moist. Remove the pot and allow it to drain for about one hour.

4. Poke the cut ends of the stems about 1 to 2 inches deep into the soil and firm them. Water thoroughly so that the surface feels evenly moist, but not soggy or wet. Close the pot in a clear plastic bag. This will reserve moisture and maintain the high level of humidity that bougainvillea cuttings require for successful rooting.

5. Set the pot in a warm, well-lit spot, out of direct sun. A bright windowsill is a good location. Keep the temperature above 65 degrees Fahrenheit and don't allow the cuttings to dry out. Check the soil every day and water enough to keep the surface evenly moist. Your bougainvilleas will root in four to 12 weeks, depending upon variety.

6. Apply an all-purpose fungicide about two or three weeks after starting your cuttings.

References

• University of Hawaii: Bougainvillea
• Clemson University: Bougainvillea

Resources

• University of Florida: Right Plant, Right Place -- Florida Friendly Bougainvillea