Bougainvillea: reproduction

Bougainvillea is characterized by being a tropical perennial plant, that is, it will retain its vitality at all times. This can come in the form of a tree, shrub or vine and produces beautiful flowers in different shades. But what do you know about the bougainvillea and its reproduction?

Whether you have a plant, that you are going to buy it or that someone close to you has it and you would like them to give you a similar one, here we talk about bougainvillea and its reproduction. You will know the types it has, and what to do in each of the cases.

The three methods of bougainvillea for its reproduction

The first thing you have to know about bougainvillea is that it has three forms of reproduction: by seeds, by cuttings, and by grafts. Each of them needs specific care to know what the plant is going to need to get ahead. Do you want to know them all more thoroughly?

Play bougainvillea by cuttings

This is the easiest and fastest method for reproducing bougainvillea. As its name suggests, cuttings are made, or branches of the mother plant, to separate them and try to give birth to a new plant.

We are not going to tell you that it is always 100% achieved, but when using a plant cutting, if the right conditions are given, you will not have much problem with roots growing and settling, growing and developing faster than with others. methods.

To make the cuttings, you have to choose stems of about 15-20cm in length, and containing between 4 and 6 nodes. If you wonder why it is because of those knots, or branches have sprouted, or they are going to do it, this way you make sure that it is an active stem and also that it has more possibilities. It is important that you choose soft and young stems, since the older ones will not serve you.

Make the cut crosswise instead of horizontally because it is much better for plants.

Once you have it, you can put it in a pot with a mixture of peat and perlite. Fix it well so that it does not fall (you have to sink the branch between 2 and 4cm so that it is straight). This is done because this way you make sure that a knot is buried, and instead of the plant sprouting there, it can become roots and strengthen its survival. Finally, you will only have to spray water on the ground and do it from time to time to keep it moist (but without it being too wet).

It will take a few months to take root, so arm yourself with patience. but as soon as it has roots you will see that the plant begins to get ahead and grow fast.

Best time to take cuttings

As a perennial plant, the truth is that you could cut bougainvillea at any time of the year. However, we recommend that do it especially in spring and summer, since it is its cycle of greatest growth and development, in addition to having somewhat stronger and more active branches. Always choose those that are younger and that can give a greater production.

Many recommend that they be branches that are already 1-2 years old, healthy and that look active to continue to sprout.

How to reproduce bougainvillea in water

There are some who, when taking bougainvillea cuttings for reproduction, instead of planting them directly in the ground, what they do is put them in water. Is it better, worse? Let's analyze it.

The first thing some experts say is that cuttings in water are somewhat more difficult to get than on land, because you have to be very careful that the water itself does not rot the plant.

It can be done, of course, but you have to be careful with the amount of water you give it. Some also use growth hormones to reduce the time in which the roots are born, but you cannot go overboard with this product, because it could burn the plant.

The process of reproduction of bougainvillea with cuttings in water consists of:

• Cut off the proper branch.
• Place it in water (with or without rooting hormone).
• Place it in a sunny place but where it does not get direct sun, nor that there are currents.
• Wait.

If you see that the plant begins to lose its color, or that it becomes softer, it would be best to remove it from the water and plant it in the ground. It will already depend on the little plant itself to survive.

Caring for reproducing bougainvillea cuttings

In order to carry out the cuttings, it is important that you carry out a series of cares that will enhance your success. These are:

• Location: Place the cuttings in an area with a lot of light. It should not give it direct sunlight, but you do have to provide it with natural light as it will feed on it. In addition, you have to make sure that in that area there are no drafts, or drastic drops and rises in temperature, because all that will damage your cutting.
• Irrigation: irrigation must be moderate, and more in the form of dispersion than pouring water directly into it. The objective is to keep the soil moist, but without waterlogging it. And for this, irrigation using sprays or even forms of irrigation that supply water little by little (for example, irrigation with a rope, that of a bottle with holes ...) can be useful.
• Rooting hormones: Do not use them if you are not familiar with them. Although they are an aid to speed up the process, if you overdo them it can be harmful to the plant. In addition, it is not essential, although many use them.

How to reproduce bougainvillea with seeds

Another way for bougainvillea to reproduce is through seeds. The plant, in autumn, usually forms pods in the flowers, specifically in their center. If you harvest them and let them dry, you will get the seeds that are inside.

Note that These seeds are very small, so they can sometimes go unnoticed.

Once you have them, you just have to plant them in a planter or pots with good soil and wait a month or more to see how they germinate. Of course, to help it do so, try to locate them in an illuminated area but where they are kept warm so that they do not have sudden changes in temperature or currents.

Bougainvillea: reproduction by grafting

Although it is not common, bougainvillea can reproduce by grafting. However, this method is mainly used to put two bougainvilleas of different colors together and get a plant that gives both flowers of one color and another on the same plant.

Getting it is not easy, and if you don't have much experience with grafts it can be complicated. But if you want to try it, there is no problem, the only thing that you will have to inform yourself very well about the techniques and graft types to be able to do it with the maximum guarantees and probabilities of being successful.

Now that you know more about the reproduction of bougainvillea, would you dare to do it?