bougainvillea cuttings/air layers - too late

ADO · Post by **ADO** » October 26th, 2012, 12:39 pm

Hi,

I have an empty block next door to my house and its covered in bougainvillea. I am interested to see if I can grow one for future bonsai just for fun.

Is it too late to take bougainvellea cuttings or air layer at this time of year. we are in mid spring here and temps are heading into the late 20's - early 30s. (Perth, WA).

cheers

Adrian

Hackimoto · Post by **Hackimoto** » October 26th, 2012, 12:42 pm

Perfect time to do it, they love the hot weather.

Isitangus · Post by **Isitangus** » October 26th, 2012, 12:42 pm

Ado why not just dig out the bogies themselves? They don't mind being cut back hard and can be mighty resilient to being transplanted. The other bonus is you can then take as many cuttings as you like!!!

ADO · Post by **ADO** » October 26th, 2012, 1:13 pm

Isitangus wrote:Ado why not just dig out the bogies themselves? They don't mind being cut back hard and can be mighty resilient to being transplanted. The other bonus is you can then take as many cuttings as you like!!!

the problem is that the bougainvillea is a tangled jungle amongst overgrown trees. The people owning the block have just left everything to grow unmolrested so I couldn't get to the tree stumps without my chainsaw (wait a minute..

)

Anyway, I'll have another look tomorrow and see what I can see. what is the maximum branch width that can be propagated as a cutting? at what size should I be air layering?

thanks

Adrian

MattA · Post by **MattA** » October 26th, 2012, 2:18 pm

I have struck 4-6" thick cuttings at this time of year without many failures, with rooting hormone or honey its 100% success!

ADO · Post by **ADO** » October 26th, 2012, 2:33 pm

MattA wrote:I have struck 4-6" thick cuttings at this time of year without many failures, with rooting hormone or honey its 100% success!

thanks for that Matt. do you strike your cutting in a plastic bag to keep humidity in? or just in the open?

cheers

Adrian

bonzaidog · Post by **bonzaidog** » December 11th, 2012, 11:08 pm

Hi Ads..Did you get stuck into the Bougies?...cuttings or more would be the go at the moment...Have Chainsaw will travel!

....Dog.

bonbanzai · Post by **bonbanzai** » October 2nd, 2013, 12:13 pm

I have exactly the same situation. I'd like to make cuttings from my 9 year old tree but have never done this before.

I read that we need to use really sharp and clean tools to make the cut. The stems and branches on my tree are between 1.5" to 2.5" diameter. When I went to the garden center, they showed me some loppers - but those only handled 1.5" diameter max.

Can I use a saw? And how important is it to have a clean tool? How about oil on the blades?

ADO · Post by **ADO** » October 2nd, 2013, 12:22 pm

bonbanzai wrote:I have exactly the same situation. I'd like to make cuttings from my 9 year old tree but have never done this before.

I read that we need to use really sharp and clean tools to make the cut. The stems and branches on my tree are between 1.5" to 2.5" diameter. When I went to the garden center, they showed me some loppers - but those only handled 1.5" diameter max.

Can I use a saw? And how important is it to have a clean tool? How about oil on the blades?

Hi there bonbanzai,

Two very good friends helped me to dig a large bougainvillea some time ago. I also took some cuttings and put them in pots.
We used a saw. I don't think oil on the blades would matter. just wipe with a cloth if you are worried.

Good luck

AusBonsai