How to Propagate Bougainvillea from Cuttings 🌺✨
A Simple Guide for Fast, Healthy Growth
Bougainvillea is one of the most vibrant flowering plants you can grow, known for its bright pink, red, orange, purple, and white bracts. One of the best things about this plant is how easy it is to propagate from cuttings. With just a few steps, you can create new plants that bloom beautifully in pots, gardens, or even bonsai form.
Follow this simple guide to grow your own bougainvillea from cuttings—quickly and successfully.
1. Choose the Right Stem
Select semi-hardwood cuttings:
- Not too green
- Not too woody
- Around 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) long
- With at least 3–4 nodes
Cuttings taken during spring or early summer root fastest.
2. Prepare Your Cuttings
- Remove all leaves except the top 1–2
- Make a clean cut at a 45° angle
- Gently scrape the bottom 1 inch of the stem to expose fresh tissue
- Dip the cut end in rooting hormone (optional but helpful)
Bougainvillea roots best with a slightly wounded stem.
3. Use the Right Potting Mix
Bougainvillea requires airy, fast-draining soil. Mix:
- 50% perlite or coarse sand
- 50% cactus/succulent soil or light potting mix
A dry, loose mix prevents rot and encourages strong root growth.
4. Plant the Cuttings
Insert the stem 2–3 inches deep into the soil.
Press the soil firmly around it to keep the cutting stable.
Plant several cuttings in one pot to increase success rate.
5. Water Lightly
Bougainvillea does not like wet soil.
- Mist lightly once after planting
- Then keep soil slightly moist, never soaked
Overwatering causes cuttings to rot.
6. Provide Ideal Conditions
Place the pot in a warm, bright location with indirect sunlight.
Bougainvillea roots best at 24–30°C (75–86°F).
Covering the pot with a plastic bag can help maintain humidity, but poke small holes for airflow.
7. Rooting Time
Roots begin forming in 3–6 weeks.
You’ll know the cutting has rooted when:
- You see new leaves
- The cutting resists when gently pulled
Once rooted, transplant each cutting into its own pot.
8. Caring for New Bougainvillea Plants
- Provide full sun for best blooming
- Water deep but infrequent
- Use well-draining pots
- Fertilize monthly with a balanced formula
- Slight dryness encourages more flowers
Bougainvillea thrives with “tough love.”
Why Propagate Bougainvillea?
- Easy and fast
- Low cost
- Creates lush flowering plants
- Perfect for bonsai, hanging baskets, garden borders, and colorful hedges
- Allows you to grow multiple color varieties
🌸 With the right technique, bougainvillea cuttings root quickly and grow into stunning flowering plants. Follow these steps and your garden will soon be filled with bright, colorful blooms!