Bougainvillea cuttings dilemma
 

I have six cuttings taken in tenerife this spring - some of the
original 10 put on an inch or so new growth and then lost the plot -
the survivors all have 3 ins plus new growths and look as if they are
here to stay. The problem is that they are in plastic bags and wilt
completely if i take the bags off even for half an hourlate at night.
Do I just let them get on with it on the theory that more leaves =
more photosynthesis = better root growth or do I prune back the new
growth to reduce transpiration and to give the roots time to catch up?

Bougainvillea cuttings dilemma
 

On 16 Aug 2003 00:22:16 -0700,
(billtheburglar) wrote:

I have six cuttings taken in tenerife this spring - some of the
original 10 put on an inch or so new growth and then lost the plot -
the survivors all have 3 ins plus new growths and look as if they are
here to stay. The problem is that they are in plastic bags and wilt
completely if i take the bags off even for half an hourlate at night.
Do I just let them get on with it on the theory that more leaves =
more photosynthesis = better root growth or do I prune back the new
growth to reduce transpiration and to give the roots time to catch up?

Don't know if this helps, but my bougainvilleas (two 4ft plants)
frequently look slightly wilted during the day, sunshine or no. I only
water them two or three times per fortnight, preferring to keep them
on the dry side. In all other respects they're bursting with health
(and flower, at the moment). You could try un-bagging a couple of them
and see if they cope. Don't be tempted to over-water them, especially
if they've recently been re-potted with the possibly of some root
damage.


--
Chris

E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net

Bougainvillea cuttings dilemma
 

Chris Hogg wrote in message . ..
On 16 Aug 2003 00:22:16 -0700,
(billtheburglar) wrote:

I have six cuttings taken in tenerife this spring - some of the
original 10 put on an inch or so new growth and then lost the plot -
the survivors all have 3 ins plus new growths and look as if they are
here to stay. The problem is that they are in plastic bags and wilt
completely if i take the bags off even for half an hourlate at night.
Do I just let them get on with it on the theory that more leaves =
more photosynthesis = better root growth or do I prune back the new
growth to reduce transpiration and to give the roots time to catch up?

Don't know if this helps, but my bougainvilleas (two 4ft plants)
frequently look slightly wilted during the day, sunshine or no. I only
water them two or three times per fortnight, preferring to keep them
on the dry side. In all other respects they're bursting with health
(and flower, at the moment). You could try un-bagging a couple of them
and see if they cope. Don't be tempted to over-water them, especially
if they've recently been re-potted with the possibly of some root
damage.


Thanks for that - I will treat one of them s a guinea pig & see what happens