How should bougainvillea be fertilized to grow thick quickly?

The two things to pay extra attention to with bougainvillea are flowering-period care and the branches and trunk. Its flowering period can be controlled artificially to achieve year-round blooming. So how can its branches and trunk be made thick and sturdy? In fact, this is related to several factors; only with proper care will the plant reach the ideal state. Let's learn about it together.

How to make bougainvillea grow thick quickly

1. The flower pot must be suitable

When choosing a pot for it, try to choose a pot that is not very deep, as this allows for better drainage. The size of the pot must also match the plant. You can use a small pot to grow a relatively large flower, but never use a very large pot to grow a relatively small flower.

2. Fertilization must be sufficient

Giving the plant enough fertilizer is a step toward ensuring it grows vigorously. This flower loves fertilizer very much, so it should be fertilized once every week. You can give it relatively low-concentration fertilizer, so it can be fertilized more times.

3. Pruning must be timely

If you want it to become thick, timely pruning is essential. Generally, plants have apical dominance, and it is very tolerant of pruning, so pruning it frequently will not cause it harm. Pruning it is generally divided into pruning after the flowers fade and pruning after the start of winter.

4. Points to note

1. It likes warm and sufficiently humid areas, is not very resistant to severe cold, and likes sufficient light. Normally it should be placed in a spot with relatively ample light for care, and in winter it should be placed indoors, otherwise it will suffer frost damage. If the owner is careful enough, its main trunk will naturally become thicker and thicker.

2. In extreme heat and severe cold, its growth will slow or it will enter a dormant state. At this time, stop adding fertilizer, otherwise there will be fertilizer damage.

How to fertilize bougainvillea

1. Fertilize at sprouting in early spring

When new buds sprout in spring, you can begin fertilizing. At this time, because the roots have just started to grow and are relatively tender, and the temperature is not very stable, just water with a little diluted fertilizer solution. Before fertilizing, loosen the top 2~3 cun of soil on the surface of the pot, add a small amount of paclobutrazol to the fertilizer solution, and apply them together.

2. Fertilize during the peak growth season

As the new buds grow larger and more numerous and the leaf area increases, potted soil is limited and fertilizer is insufficient, so growth will be poor. May and June are the peak growth season. Fertilizer should be applied frequently, once every half month, and the concentration can also be slightly higher. After each fertilization, fresh water must be added to reduce the odor, replenish moisture, and help absorption.

3. Fertilization amount

The amount of fertilizer solution used per plant should preferably soak through without overflowing. For concentration, fertilizer solution to fresh water is 1 to 1. If it is a small seedling, use 1 to 2 to avoid root damage and seedling burn.

If using compound fertilizer, the maximum concentration should not exceed 1 to 500; 800 times to 1000 times is preferable.

4. Points to note when fertilizing bougainvillea

Fertilize according to the weather: fertilize when it is sunny and the pot soil is dry. When it is cold and the temperature is below 12 degrees, do not fertilize; the roots cannot absorb it.

Fertilize according to the plant: do not fertilize or fertilize less when growth is good. During water control, do not fertilize, and do not water or water less.

Fertilize according to the flowers: before flowering, when flower buds appear, apply heavy fertilizer, combined with paclobutrazol, to avoid the inflorescence being too long and too loose. At the same time, it also helps the inflorescence emerge and become bright and lush.

How to grow bougainvillea so it blooms all over the tree

1. Light

Place it in a spot with sufficient light, preferably where it can receive sunlight. This can promote healthy growth of the bougainvillea plant, good growth of flower buds and flowering branches, and during flowering a large number of flowers and a long flowering period, so as to create the scene of flowers all over the tree.

2. Watering

The main thing is to control the amount of watering for bougainvillea. Watering is generally done when the leaves of the bougainvillea appear wilted, because watering this way can make the tender buds of the bougainvillea less likely to grow and keep their original form. When the flower buds begin to differentiate, watering can be resumed. Be careful not to water onto the flowers and leaves during flowering, as this will shorten the flowering period.

3. Fertilizing

During the growth period of bougainvillea, in order to make it flower well, it needs more phosphorus fertilizer and potassium fertilizer and less nitrogen fertilizer. This can reduce excessive vegetative growth of the plant and make the flowers bright and beautiful.

4. Pruning

During the growth period of bougainvillea, prune in a timely manner, pruning some overly long branches or crossing branches. This can make it sprout new branches, which is relatively beneficial for flowering. Reasonable pruning can increase the number of flowers and create the scene of flowers all over the tree.

How to grow bougainvillea in winter

1. Pruning and tying

Before moving it indoors, prune the bougainvillea, keeping the main branches and some flowering branches, to reduce nutrient consumption.

2. Stop fertilizing and control water

In winter, temperatures are low and water evaporates relatively slowly, so reduce watering and keep the pot soil on the dry side. Stop fertilizing to prevent vigorous vegetative growth again due to the relatively high temperature after being brought indoors, which would weaken cold resistance.

Bougainvillea enters a brief dormant period in winter and will drop leaves. After dormancy and leaf drop, try not to water; if the soil is too dry, water a small amount of (warm) water locally around the edge of the pot.

3. Prevent and control aphids

In winter, when the plant is moved indoors, aphid pests are very likely to occur before the leaves drop, and they need to be controlled in a timely manner.

4. Increase temperature, ventilate, and supplement light

After moving it indoors, place the plant in a spot with good ventilation, sufficient sunlight, and suitable temperature for care. Usually pay attention to opening windows for ventilation to avoid a stuffy, hot environment.

In fact, the cultivation methods for many flowers and plants are largely similar, so experienced flower enthusiasts will certainly find growing bougainvillea very easy. It is just that bougainvillea grows very quickly, so extra attention needs to be paid to the flower pot, nutrients, and these things.