bougainvilleaBougainvillea

Bougainvillea, plant care and growing guide

bougainvillea-growing-guide

It is a vigorous flowering shrub, native to the tropical area of South America (Brazil, Peru, Argentina). About 18 species have been discovered, of which Bougainvillea glabra and Bougainvillea spectabilis have been used to obtain numerous hybrids.

Description. Climbing stems reach on average up to 3 meters tall and have thorns. The leaves are simple, oval, bright green on the upper side and lighter green on the lower side. They are about 5-8 cm in size and are arranged alternately. The flowers appear in May-November and are arranged in clusters. They consist of 3-5 cm long red, purple, pink, white bracts with a white tubular flower in the center.

Species and cultivars

B. glabra Chois has dark-green leaves and inflorescences made of 3 purple bracts, which surround the yellow tubular flower. Cultivars: Alexandra, Jamaica white (with white bracts), Snow White (white-green bracts).

B. spectabilis Willd has stems and branches covered with large thorns and inflorescences with red-purple bracts. Cultivars: Californian Gold (with yellow bracts), Princessin Muhara (with white or purple bracts).
B. x Buttiana has elliptical leaves with a length of 4-8 cm. Cultivars: Golden Glow (with orange bracts), Scarlet Queen (with bright red bracts)

Bougainvillea is suitable for indoors, but it can also be placed outdoors, in the garden, in summer, in areas with a warm climate.

bougainvillea-plant
bougainvillea-growing-conditions
bougainvillea-propagation-repotting

Environmental conditions

Light. Outdoors, it prefers a mild climate and it must be placed in a place where it can fully benefit from direct sunlight. If placed near walls, it prefers the parts with southern exposure, where the sun shines for most of the day. Indoors, it should be placed in a bright place, as close as possible to a window. Bougainvillea needs at least 6 hours of light per day.

Temperature. It prefers high temperatures during summer, but in winter it needs a cooler temperature (minimum 10 °C) to be able to enter in a light dormancy period. Flowering is directly influenced by climate. In a cooler climate, Bougainvillea fails to produce as many flowers as plants usually grown in the Mediterranean area.

Humidity. It has no specific requirements for humidity, but in hot conditions and dry air, the leaves should be sprayed with non-calcareous water.

Substrate. It prefers a fertile substrate that allows easy water drainage. They generally grow well in substrates consisting of garden soil, peat, and sand. The optimum pH is 5.5-6.0.

Recommended products

Read carefully and follow the instructions on the label of each product
Watering

During the growing season, in spring and summer, watering should be done so that the soil is always kept moist, but not too wet. On average, it is recommended to water the plant once or twice a week. As a general rule, the plant needs water when the first 3-5 cm of the substrate is dry. In autumn, watering should gradually decrease, once the plant enters dormancy. In the cold season, it should be watered moderately, depending on the room temperature, approximately once every two weeks.

Fertilization

It must be fertilized during the growth and flowering periods. Thus, it is recommended to use special fertilizer for flowering plants, from April to September. In the autumn, it is recommended to stop fertilizing the plant, in order to prepare it for dormancy.

Recommended products

Read carefully and follow the instructions on the label of each product
Pruning

First of all, pruning is recommended to be done in spring, before the plant starts growing, to shorten the branches and correct the shape of the shrub. The second series of pruning is recommended after flowering. You should cut the shoots that have blossomed, halfway along, to stimulate an abundant flowering in the following year.

Recommended products

Read carefully and follow the instructions on the label of each product
Repotting

It is done one month after purchase and in spring, after pruning, before the plant starts growing. If you want to keep the shrub in a pot, choose a large one, with a diameter and depth proportional to the plant’s root. The pot must have large drainage holes to allow water to drain easily.

Propagation

Between August and September, should be harvested semi-lignified cuttings that have not flowered. They should be treated with growth hormones or rooting stimulants and kept in the substrate at temperatures of 22-25 °C.

Recommended products

Read carefully and follow the instructions on the label of each product

Recommended products

Read carefully and follow the instructions on the label of each product
Pests

Sometimes, mealybugs can infest the plant, but they do not present a high risk. It can also be attacked by mites or whiteflies.

Recommended products

Read carefully and follow the instructions on the label of each product
In addition:
  • if shoots sprout from dormant buds, they should be removed.
  • in winter it should be kept in a cooler room.
  • to grow like a climbing plant on the walls, it needs a special support.
  • in winter, move the pot indoors.
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