QuestionQUESTION: I have a beautiful Red Bougainvillea here in Lakeland, Fla. After the hard freeze a few weeks ago, I have tiny new growths all over the twelve footer. Can I get cuttings from it to start new plants,what kind of potting soil to use,and will it harm to cut back to about eight feet?
ANSWER: Butch, the easiest way to propagate your Bougs, is to scrape a lower branch, so that the cambium layer underneith is exposed, then bury that part in the soil right by the parent plant, it will take awhile, but eventually that bruised part under the soil will root and then you just cut it and replant it...do this in the spring however....Nick
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QUESTION: I have a line in the back of our home about 120ft. along our fence line. How can I make enough of the "cuttings"(new plants) to make this, if I can only "root" along side the Mother plant? Please help. I'm new to this. "Butch"
Answer...Thats the easiest way, but you can also take woody cuttings and put them in moist vermiculite and they will eventually root also, but you have to cover the cuttings with a baggie to keep the cutting and vermiculite evenly moist for the duration and keep them in a shady area, the other way, mother nature takes care of it for you and you just uproot them and place them along the fence wherever you want, just cut them away from the parent plant after they have set down roots from the bruised area.