Time and method of cutting of bougainvillea

Common cutting method

Soil treatment

First prepare the cutting medium. (Vermiculite, perlite, peat, 1:1:1. Sand, plain sandy loam, etc. can also be used)

Add a small amount of slag to the culture soil. Before cutting, sieve the slag, select particles of about 2 to 5 mm, soak in boiling water and disinfect. Drain the water and let it dry until no water drips, then stir and mix thoroughly for later use.

Prepare the flower pot

If you need a pot for cuttings, you can use a simple plastic pot and put the cuttings in the pot after they are successfully planted. After choosing the flower pot, you need to fill it with soil and put some thin elastic wool at the bottom of the flower pot.

After the soil is filled, water it thoroughly, place it in the sun, and dry it for later use.

Branch cutting

Cut sunny branches for cuttings, and it is best to have some old branches with the new branches. After June, new branches that have become semi-lignified do not need to be taken away from the old branches.

When pruning and cutting branches, the old branches should be thick and there should be new branches with leaves.

Use a sharp knife to cut off the cuttings, leaving half a leaf or two large leaves, and two leaves and one bud on the small leaves, about 7-10cm long. Cut off the base of the branch. If the cut is uneven and the tissue is damaged, use a sharp knife to scrape off the damaged tissue, and cut the base into an inclined surface with one knife. The picture below shows the trimmed branches.

Soaking branches

Prepare the rooting powder according to the instructions and soak the base of the cuttings.

Cutting method

Use a clean (sterilized) wooden stick to diagonally make holes 7-8cm deep, then bury the cuttings, leaving the nodes with leaves exposed.

After planting in a pot, pour some cold boiled water or bottled water to make the substrate in close contact with the base of the cuttings. If conditions permit, you can put a pot on the outside to facilitate management.

Cover with plastic wrap to keep it moist. There are ventilation holes on the surface, and place it in a place with sparse sunlight for maintenance.

By mid-June, the seedlings had grown and were planted in pots.

Flower mud cutting method

Flower mud preparation

Most families do not have floral mud, so go to a flower shop and buy some. After returning home, cut it into small pieces of about 2×2×4cm. Wrap the remaining floral mud with paper and set aside. (Friends who love flowers together can buy one piece together and share the flower mud.)

Flower Mud Cutting Method

Cut the lignified or semi-lignified branches of the current year, with a length of 10 to 15 cm, leaving 2 to 3 leaves on them, and cut off the stems about 5 cm below. Cut the lowest surface of the branch at a 45-degree angle and then soak it in rooting water.

Insert the cuttings into the floral mud block at a depth of about 1/2 to 2/3 of the floral mud block, then soak the floral mud block in water (you can also soak it first and then insert it).

If there are many varieties of cuttings, find a way to mark them to avoid confusion. (Dark green floral mud + light green leaves, the effect is pretty good!)

Flower mud cutting maintenance

Place the planted seedlings in a tray, cover them with a transparent plastic cover, and place them in an environment with sufficient diffuse light, paying attention to moisture retention and ventilation.

Make sure the temperature is above 20℃. After about 30 days, you will see many small white roots at the bottom of the floral mud. This indicates that the bougainvillea has survived the cuttings and can be planted in a pot together with the floral mud.

Precautions for cuttings of bougainvillea

Selection of branches

Old branches from the previous year and thick branches with a diameter of more than 0.5 cm are not suitable for inserting with floral mud. Inserting with water or sand is more suitable. Try to choose strong branches of the current year. Branches that are too tender cannot be used, and the survival rate of thin and weak branches is not high. Leggy branches can also be used.

Rooting water

In fact, no matter which cutting method is used, rooting can be achieved without rooting water. Using rooting water only shortens the rooting period. It is sold in many flower and bird markets. A small packet of rooting agent can be used many times. Soak it according to the instructions. Generally, the higher the concentration, the shorter the soaking time, and the lower the concentration, the longer the soaking time. Under normal circumstances, soak in 1% rooting water for 0.5 to 1 hour.

Maintenance after cutting

The most important things in caring for bougainvillea are moisturizing and ventilation. If the moisture is not enough, the leaves will wilt and burn. Check it frequently. If the potting soil or floral mud is dry, you can spray more water to prevent the leaves from wilting. When the roots of the bougainvillea grow well and new leaves grow, remove the film in time.