Question
Is there a special variety of this plant so that I can put it in a hanging basket or will just the regular vine do?  Any special pruning I need to do? I would like it to cascade down long.

Also what other vines do well in hanging baskets?

Answer
Bougainvillea's are climbers not hangers. They have heavy, thick, stems that need strong support, like a sturdy trellis, or arbor. Some will grow from 25 to 40 feet. They are vigorous growers, so you might be able to put it in a hanging basket for a few months, but then you would need to move it to a better planting location, before it got too big. The best for growing in tubs are the violet-pink bougainvillea glabra, and it's cultivars "Sanderiana" and "Alexandra". In a tub they can reach 10 feet or more. A prerequisite for a splendid array of blooms is a hot, sunny, summer.
To grow them, they need full sun, water freely and fertilize monthly from spring to fall. They may survive short spells down to 35 degrees, if kept fairly dry in winter. Some leaves may be lost. Best to keep it in a large green house if the winters are chilly. Prune to shape only, by cutting the new sprouts or shoots back to 3 or 4 buds, not the limbs.
For plants to grow in hanging baskets, try Morning glory vine, honeysuckle, mandevilla, virginia creeper, swedish ivy, passionflower, trumpet vine, nasturtium, Thumbergia blackeyed susan, creeping zinnia, lotus vine, fuchsia, and clematis. I realize that some on this list are not vines, but, they will grow in hanging baskets, and most will grow quite long in one season.

bakerplanter