Just one well-cared-for Bougainvillea is enough to stop you in your tracks with its explosion of color. So, imagine what a whole collection of them could do! If you’re ready to find out, I have good news: you can actually propagate these beauties right at home. Just a quick heads-up before you get started—don’t get *too* carried away. These plants grow fast, so make sure you’ll have enough space for them later on!
Growing from seed is a tough road
In our neck of the woods, finding viable seeds is pretty difficult. Even if you manage to track some down online, getting them to germinate is usually a total shot in the dark. To save yourself the frustration of staring at a pot of dirt where nothing is sprouting, I highly recommend going the cutting route instead. You’ll need an existing plant to start with, of course. Keep in mind that a plant grown from a cutting will be a genetic twin of the mother plant. If you’re dreaming of a totally different color, your best bet is to head to the garden center for a new starter plant.
Taking cuttings in the spring
In early spring, grab a sharp knife and snip off as many young shoot tips as you want new plants. Again, remember that these “Paper Flowers” take up quite a bit of room, especially when you have to bring them inside for winter storage. Each cutting should be about 8 to 12 inches long. Strip off the bottom leaves and, if you have some on hand, dip the cut end in rooting hormone to give it a head start.
How to get those cuttings to root
Even for a seasoned gardener, rooting Bougainvillea cuttings can be a bit of a test in patience. They’re Mediterranean plants at heart and can be a little picky. Here’s the game plan:
- Fill small pots with a seed-starting mix and tuck one cutting into each pot.
- Moisten the soil and pop a clear plastic bag over the cutting to create a mini greenhouse. If you have an actual indoor seed propagator, even better!
- Place the pots in a very warm, bright spot, but keep them out of direct sunlight. They love a steady temperature of around 75°F (24°C) or even slightly higher.
- Keep the soil damp and lift the bag daily to let some fresh air in.
- Be patient! It can take several months for these guys to truly take root.
Caring for your new plant babies
As soon as you see new green growth popping up, it’s time to move your rooted cuttings into larger pots with standard potting soil. If you’re planning on training your Bougainvillea into a bonsai or a specific shape, you’ll want to start pruning early. Regular trimming is actually the secret to success here—without it, your Bougainvillea might not bloom the way you want it to. Other than that, these youngsters don’t need any special treatment; just care for them like you would a mature plant.
Propagating via layering
If you don’t have a heated grow mat, keeping that consistent “tropical” warmth for months can be tricky. In that case, “layering” is a much easier alternative.
- Start in the spring.
- Choose a long, flexible branch.
- Bend it down so a section touches the soil in a separate, adjacent pot filled with starter mix.
- Keep that soil consistently moist.
- Once you see new growth sprouting from that section, you can snip the “umbilical cord” to the mother plant.
Pro Tip:
If you make a tiny nick or shallow cut on the part of the branch that’s touching the soil, it’ll encourage the roots to form a lot faster!
