A Detailed Guide to the Latest Bougainvillea Growing Methods and Precautions
Bougainvillea's Chinese scientific name is Glabra Bougainvillea, also known as San Ye Mei, Mao Bao Jin, Le Du Juan, San Jiao Hua, etc. It is a vine-like shrub plant of the Nyctaginaceae family and Bougainvillea genus, native to Brazil. In southern China it is planted in courtyards and parks, while in the north it is cultivated in greenhouses. It is a beautiful ornamental plant. Its flowers are used in medicine to harmonize qi and blood, treat leukorrhea, and regulate menstruation. Now let us take a look at bougainvillea growing methods and precautions!
The Growing Value of Bougainvillea
1. Ornamental value: Bougainvillea has large bracts with bright colors like flowers, and they last a long time. It is suitable for garden planting or potted ornamental display, and can also be used for bonsai, hedges, and pruned shapes. Its ornamental value is very high. In Brazil, women often wear it in their hair as decoration, which is quite unique. In Europe and America it is often used as a cut flower. In southern China it is planted in courtyards and parks, while in the north it is cultivated in greenhouses. It is a beautiful ornamental plant.
2. Medicinal value: Bougainvillea leaves can be used medicinally. When mashed and applied to the affected area, they have the effect of dispersing blood stasis and reducing swelling. The flowers can be used as a medicinal base material, activating blood and regulating menstruation, resolving dampness and stopping leukorrhea, and treating blood stasis amenorrhea, irregular menstruation, and red and white leukorrhea. The stems and leaves are toxic; eating 12 to 20 pieces can cause diarrhea, bloody stool, etc.
3. Other applications: Bougainvillea is suitable for people whose Five Elements belong to fire to plant in the living room. It should be planted in the living room, which is helpful for regulating the health of people's heart and stomach. For people who are introverted, timid, melancholic, and lack courage and confidence in life, it also has the effect of warding off evil and protecting the body.
Bougainvillea Growing Methods
1. Soil: Bougainvillea has no strict requirements for soil. It grows well in clay-heavy loam that drains well and is rich in minerals, and it is tolerant of poor soil, alkali, and drought, and avoids waterlogging. Slightly acidic soil is most favorable for bougainvillea growth.
2. Watering: In spring and autumn, water once a day. In summer, water once each morning and evening. In winter, watering should be controlled; after flower buds appear, water once each morning and evening, and at the same time spray water on the leaf surface 1 to 2 times. During the plum rain season, prevent waterlogging to avoid root rot and plant death.
3. Temperature: The suitable growing temperature is 15 to 30°C. In summer, appropriate shading or measures such as spraying water and ventilation should be taken. In winter, the ambient temperature should be maintained at no lower than 5°C.
4. Fertilizing: In addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer in the potting soil, topdressing should also be done during the growing season. Add a small amount of potassium dihydrogen phosphate, and at the same time spray the leaf surface with a 0.1 to 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution. During the full flowering period, water with alum fertilizer water once a week, and spray the leaf surface with 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate.
5. Light: Throughout the year, newly potted seedlings should first be placed in partial shade. In winter, they should be placed in front of a south-facing window, and the light duration must not be less than 8 hours.
Precautions for Growing Bougainvillea
1. In hot summer and winter, because the plant grows slowly or is dormant, fertilizing should be stopped to avoid fertilizer damage.
2. Do not apply concentrated fertilizer or raw fertilizer (organic fertilizer that has not been fully decomposed) to prevent root damage, which can lead to scorched and falling leaves, and even the death of the whole plant.
3. In severe cold, it needs to be moved indoors, otherwise it will be frostbitten.
Pest and Disease Control for Bougainvillea
1. Leaf spot disease
[Symptoms] The diseased spots are initially yellow-brown, surrounded by a yellow-green halo, and later expand into nearly round or irregular lesions with dark brown edges. In the later stage, small black spots appear on the lesions.
[Control] If a small number of diseased spots are found, apply Daktarin cream ointment on them, and cut off the branches with more disease. In the early stage of the disease, generally 50% carbendazim wettable powder at 500 times dilution can be used for control, spraying once every 7 to 10 days. In severe cases, according to actual experience, spray once again on the fourth day, and then spray once every 7 days. For 3 to 4 consecutive times, the control effect is good.
2. Brown spot disease
[Symptoms] On the affected leaves, yellow-brown to light brown lesions with a diameter of 0.1 to 0.5 cm are produced on the leaf surface.
[Control] If a small number of diseased leaves are found, remove and burn them in time. In the early stage of the disease, use 70% mancozeb wettable powder at 400 times dilution, spraying once every 10 days, for 3 to [ ] consecutive times.
3. Scale insects
[Cause] In environments with poor light, inadequate ventilation, and high temperature and high humidity, various scale insects are prone to occur.
[Control] 45% malathion emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution can be used for spraying and killing.