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Bougainvillea is a beautiful flowering plant that is native to South America . It is know for its colorful bract , the social organisation surrounding the efflorescence . The plant is relatively easy to worry for indoors in dope and outdoors , but it has some specific requirements .
We farm bougainvillea as potted plants in our nurseries , but we also lean to some grown outdoors in sens . In this clause , I ’ll discuss the basic charge requirement for Bougainvillea , including sunshine , water supply , soil , plant food , and pruning .
Contents :
Overview
Bougainvillea is a colorful vine aboriginal to tropical South America and was named after Louis Antoine de Bougainville , the air force officer of a French military expedition that compass the globe in 1766 - 69 . This genus belong to the Nyctaginaceae mob of plants .
Here ’s the taxonomy of bougainvillea:[1 ]
Some rough-cut varieties of Bougainvillea include the great bougainvillea(Bougainvillea spectabilis),Barbara Karst , Orange King , Imperial Delight , Miss Alice , Helen Johnson , and Pink Pixie .
Some of these specie are dwarf while others be as standard - sized vine . you may also grow bougainvillea as a bonsai Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
Care requirements for bougainvillea
Here ’s how to grow bougainvillea successfully :
Sunlight
Bougainvillea industrial plant prefer to grow in full sun . They like as much Sunday as they can get . For prolific blooming , these plants should get at least six time of day of full sunlight daily .
Bougainvillea plants grow in dark or shaded conditions receive less than 6 hour of sun per day is likely to grow thin and leggy with a reduce flush charge per unit .
If your plant shows these symptom , it in all probability is n’t getting at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily .
Move it from the black or shaded conditions and place it in a spot that experiences the full brightness level of the sun , preferably in the morning . The plant will reward you with a riot of colorful heyday .
Water requirements
Bougainvillea prefer a good , recondite tearing every three or four week . Frequent shallow waterings can lead to ascendant rot . Due to its comme il faut drouth permissiveness , the plant prefers to be on the dry side .
If you exist in a hot , dry climate , you may take to water more often . However , quash overwatering , as this can lead to root rot .
To test whether your bougainvillea needs water , moderate the top in of the filth using your finger or a stick .
youthful bougainvillea plants have a higher appetite for water and should be irrigate on a regular basis to promote root establishment . When starting the flora , I prefer water them once per week during summertime and at least twice weekly when temperature exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit . This aid them install healthy root word .
call up , it takes up to two years for bougainvillea to be to the full plant .
Soil for bougainvillea
Bougainvillea prefer mealy , loyal - draining , slack ground . Compact , waterlogged soils put the flora at peril of root rotting . If the soil is stocky or waste pipe slowly , adding perlite , sand , or vermiculite is urge to better drainage .
Use at least 4 inches of ground when grow bougainvillea in a pot . spare stain retains too much wet , make a conducive environment for fungi to grow .
Bougainvillea grows best in slimly acidic grunge with 5.5 - 6.5 pH. You ’ll want to lower or increase sour if you have a highly acidulous or alkaline grease mix .
gardener tip :
A good thaumaturgy that works for me is adding undercoat limestone or bake sodium carbonate to lift the soil pH from extremely acidulous to mildly acidulous . Adding dilute sulfuric acid or elemental sulfur can also help low soil pH and make it slightly acidulent , which is idealistic for bougainvillea .
Humidity
Bougainvillea loves humid conditions , especially during the growing time of year . The proportional humidity around the works should be at least 50 % .
you may habituate a humidness admonisher to keep lead of the relative humidity around your indoor bougainvillea tree .
During heating waves , humidity levels can cut down importantly , which can stress the plant and lead to wilting , leaf drop , and other problem . To meet your pot bougainvillea ’s humidness requirement , I recommend move it to a fishy spot , becloud it on a regular basis with a atomizer bottleful , or place a humidifier near it .
Temperature
Bougainvillea is classified as cold - brave in USDA plant hardiness zones 9b , 10 , and 11.[2]These zone only experience wanton wintertime frost , and winter temperature do n’t devolve below 65 degrees Fahrenheit at nighttime .
The plant can stand serious equipment casualty if temperatures flatten below 32 degrees Fahrenheit . Leaves will go down off , and new ones only appear in the next give .
mark : Mature bougainvillea trees are more frost - stalwart than younger I that are n’t yet amply established .
Fertilizer
Potted bougainvillea should be fed fertilizer every two hebdomad to encourage growth and flowering during the growing season . However , avoid using atomic number 7 - heavy fertilizer , as nitrogen encourages the production of more leaf at the disbursement of more flower .
The good choices include water supply - soluble plant food , tedious - freeing nitrogen fertilizer , and compost .
The most worthy fertilizers for bougainvillea have an NPK ( nitrogen- phosphorus- K ) ratio of 1:1:1 or 2:1:2 .
After fertilise your bougainvillea , we advocate watering it well to aid the fertilizer dissolve and be absorbed by the etymon .
You should then water the plant every other day for the next week , checking the soil moisture each time . If the dirt is still too pie-eyed , you could skip a 24-hour interval of watering .
Potting and repotting
If you endure in a realm with frigid winter but still care to grow bougainvillea , you may grow it as a potted plant indoors . pick out a myopic , shrubby bougainvillea that can be develop inside a pot , unlike the climbing types with hard limbs .
Low - growing bougainvillea species include La Jolla , Vera Deep Purple , and Crimson Jewel .
As opposed to many other ornamentals , bougainvillea blooms more prolific when the industrial plant is root - bound . Crowding the plant ’s stem inside a container produces a showier accent works .
Keep bougainvillea faithful to a sunny windowpane during wintertime for added passion .
The ideal potting premix for bougainvillea should be rich and well - draining . The perfect blend is 3/4 safe character potting soil , 1/4 compost , and a style of succulent soil mix . Avoid dirt mixes containing peat moss . Peat moss retains water and can accentuate the plant .
Here are a few more tips when get bougainvillea as a potted plant life .
Here ’s a warm how - to on repotting bougainvillea :
When to prune
If you wish to grow bougainvillea as bonsai or a hedgerow , you could prune it into a bush - like structure . Pruning is also used to train the flora to grow over wall when die for an artificial or innate fencing .
The near metre of the year to prune bougainvillea is at the oddment of winter or early spring after the blossom period has passed . nullify rationalize in late summer or fall . It would yield less prolific blooms the following winter . Pruning at the end of the blooming season also promotes healthy outgrowth the following springtime .
When dress your bougainvillea into a desirable shrub - similar shape , use a brace of sterilise pruning shear to avoid spread disease . Also , ensure you wear out heavy - tariff baseball mitt for protection against thorny bougainvillea cultivars .
fit in toWilliam Gonzalez , a landscaping expert from Boynton Beach , Florida , “ Knowing when and how to prune bougainvillea will watch if you ’re growing it as a bush or on a trellis . ”
He go on to explicate , “ Bougainvillea is a versatile plant that can be used in a smorgasbord of way . We often grow it as a privacy screen , as its stiff vine - same riding habit allows it to rapidly cover large areas .
It can also be used as a patio or balcony plant , where its colorful flowers will add a ghost of beauty to any space . In all this , the style of pruning bougainvillea is very important . ”
Note : you’re able to also rationalise off bougainvillea limbs and practice them to circulate new bougainvillea plant .
Winter care
Being a tropical plant , bougainvillea does n’t like cold-blooded climates . Cold winter can kill the plant if it is not protected or well - cared for . As soon as wintertime kicks in , you want to exchange your watering , plant food , and pruning routines .
Here are the adjustment you require to make in winter :
During the moth-eaten season , bougainvillea may suffer some or all of its leaves . Do not worry if this happens ; the folio will come back in bounce .
Once spring arrives , serve the plant modulation back to outdoor conditions by step by step increase its sunlight pic .
Blooms
Bougainvillea flowers are typically small and white . They ’re skirt by colourful bract , which determine the color of the blooming .
Blooms make out in a assortment of colors . Pink is the most usual color , with shades ranging from low-cal pink to deep blush wine . Other colour include Battle of Magenta , purple , violent , orange , yellow , and white .
In increase to these introductory colors , some hybrid bougainvillea varieties produce bicolor and tricolor varieties .
Bicolor bougainvillea blooms have two colors , such as pink and white or magenta and yellow . Tricolor bougainvillea efflorescence have three colors , such as pinkish , Battle of Magenta , and orange .
In strong climates , bougainvillea bloom on and off all year round , but in cold climates , expect flowers only in the warm summertime month .
The people of colour intensity level of bougainvillea flush is often determined by the amount of sunlight the flora get . Bougainvillea blooms that take in more sunlight are generally lustrous in color than those growing in nuance or partial tone .
Mature size
Bougainvillea is a climbing plant life whose vine can produce up to 40 feet tall with proper support . However , this genus of plant contains at least 16 species , with some of the varieties being miserable - growers typically grow as hedging bush .
Bougainvillea is a fast - produce plant . Depending on the species , this flora will grow 36 - 48 inches ( 3 - 4 feet ) every year .
If your bougainvillea demonstrate stunted increment , you in all probability have an overwatering or nutrient insufficiency problem .
Common Problems with Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea has fantabulous resistor to pests and diseases but is still vulnerable to some infestations and infections .
Common pests affecting Bougainvillea include aphids , scale , wanderer tinge , and whitefly , while common Bougainvillea disease admit bacterial and fungous leafage speckle . These can use thebougainvillea leaves to curland deform .
Other trouble common in bougainvillea include piteous frigid leeway and antecedent rot .
you’re able to ensure most Bougainvillea cuss and disease problems by stick in natural predators or applying chemical substance pesticides . However , pesticide should only be used as a last resort due to their negative environmental impacts .
Here are some signaling that your bougainvillea is stick out from the above problem .
Sooty mold
If you notice your bougainvillea foliage is wrap up in a jet substance , the industrial plant is infested with aphids , scale , or whitefly . you’re able to control aphid and whitefly by introducing innate predators like lacewing and ladybugs . Scale , meanwhile , can be easily scraped off the plant ’s foliage . instead , wipe the touched piece with isopropyl alcohol .
Leaf spot disease
Bougainvillea leave behind with reddened or brown spots that gradually get larger and sullen are a sign of bacterial or fungal leaf spot disease . cut off infect leafage and limbs to prevent disease from spreading to unaffected plant component part .
Leaf drop
Bougainvillea is native to tropical regions where temperature are strong . Therefore , it has short cold tolerance . Consistently cold temperatures that put down below 65 degree Fahrenheit at Nox will cause the plant ’s leave to fall off . Frost price can be prevented by moving the industrial plant indoors during winter .
Root rot
Bougainvillea is vulnerable to root rot if planted in slow - draining or overwatered soil . To avoid down the plant , repot in well - enfeeble soil .
FAQ
Is bougainvillea dependable in potty or ground ?
Bougainvillea can be grown in both pots and the soil . tummy offer portability and control over land conditions , ideal for colder climates or limited spaces . Ground planting suits larger space and cater more room for tooth root , allowing bougainvillea to pass its full potential .
Does a bougainvillea need a trellis ?
Taller varieties of bougainvillea need reinforcement , otherwise , they ’ll easy originate as groundcover flora . To kick upstairs bougainvilleas , bind them to trellises , mandril , fences , or other utile structures . Without reinforcement , these twining vine plow groundward . Trellises can help oneself to train the plant to grow in the desire direction . If there are big limb on the plant , apply a trellis to provide the needed support and forbid break .
Conclusion
The best fear routine for bougainvillea would be prove to match the plant ’s near - aboriginal produce conditions . Deep watering , warm temperatures , equal high temperature exposure , and occasional repotting will give you the best bougainvillea plants for your thou or garden .
