Bougainvillea is a tropical plant that produces beautiful colorful flowers for 11 months of the year if planted in the right climate. It has the appearance of a vine-like shrub that climbs walls and trellises and blooms every year if it is not exposed to too cold temperatures. Read on to learn how to plant and care for it.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Plant the Bougainvillea
Step 1. Decide if you want to plant it in the ground or in a pot
This plant thrives in warm, relatively dry places. If you want to keep it outdoors all year round, it is best if you are in a temperate and rather mild climate. If you live in a relatively cold and humid area, you can still grow bougainvillea if you plant it in a pot and move it indoors during the winter.
- To create the ideal environment for this plant, night temperatures should not drop below 16 ° C and daytime temperatures should not exceed 38 ° C.
- During the winter you can keep the bougainvillea in the basement or in another area with little light.
Step 2. Find a sunny spot in the garden
This plant does well in a sunny location and will grow best in full sun, outdoors, on the north side in the southern hemisphere or south facing in the northern hemisphere. Bougainvillea needs at least 5 hours of full sun each day to thrive.
Step 3. Choose rich, well-draining soil
The shrub does not grow well if the soil remains too soaked with water, so make sure it is a soil that drains well enough. It also needs fertile, slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.0.
- Add limestone to the soil if you need to increase the pH or sulfur to decrease it if necessary.
- If you want to grow the plant in a pot, choose a soil mix that has a suitable pH.
Step 4. Plant the bougainvillea
Dig a hole as deep as the root system of the plant. Add phosphate-rich fertilizer to the hole to promote root growth and help the flowers bloom. Remove the plant from its original container and wet the roots in the hole. Lightly compact the soil around the base of the plant.
- If you want the bougainvillea to climb a trellis or a wall, you need to plant it near the structure. As it grows, you have to "guide" it so that it climbs onto the structure by tying it and wrapping it gently around the base.
- If, on the other hand, you want to plant it in a pot, be sure to choose one that has many drainage holes, because the plant suffers if the roots remain soaked in standing water.
Part 2 of 2: Caring for the Bougainvillea
Step 1. Water sparingly
This shrub weakens if it receives too much water and ends up producing only leaves rather than flowers. On the other hand, if you leave the soil too dry, the plant gets stressed and suffers. You need to find the right balance: water just enough to keep the soil moist, but not too much to form a puddle.
Step 2. Fertilize regularly
Feed the plant a high phosphate fertilizer every 2 to 3 months to allow for flowering. If you fertilize too often the plant will probably grow quite vigorously, so if you think it is developing too fast, reduce the amount of nutrients.
However, be sure to fertilize at least once a year, in early spring, to help her grow during the current season
Step 3. Bring the bougainvillea indoors during the winter
If you live in a cold winter climate and have planted the shrub in a pot, bring it indoors for the winter season. If you leave it outside it won't survive the freezing temperatures.
Step 4. Prune the bougainvillea
This is a particularly lush plant and needs to be carefully pruned to stimulate flowering and ensure a beautiful shape. Once the season's flowering is over, cut it by reducing the branches by 3-5 cm. Doing so will aid healthy new growth the following spring.
Wear gloves when you decide to prune it. Some people may experience skin rashes during this work, similar to those caused by poison ivy
Step 5. Find bougainvillea support
It is a shrub that needs support to cover a wall, fence or other area. If you want the plant to grow vertically in a certain way, you can hang wire or string against the structure you want to cover with the plant. Thread bougainvillea branches behind these guide posts at regular intervals. Check it as it grows and make any changes, if necessary, until the plant begins to cover the entire wall or another surface.
Advice
- Don't water the bougainvillea too much, it will prevent flowering and in the worst case you could cause rot, decay and even death of the plant.
- Overall, it is a relatively pest-free plant. However, worms, aphids and moths can create problems.
