Easy-to-grow flowers in the Guangdong-Guangxi region that turn into a cascading waterfall on the tree when they bloom

Bougainvillea: for any flower lover in the Guangdong-Guangxi region, it can be seen everywhere at this time of year, and when it blooms it covers the whole tree in red flowers, looking from a distance like a red waterfall, not only spectacular but also very beautiful.

So, if you want to grow bougainvillea into a spectacular tree waterfall that bursts into bloom, how do we need to care for it in normal times?

After bougainvillea cuttings have rooted and survived, pot them up promptly. The potting soil should be a mixture of loam, cow dung, leaf mold and sand, piled up and composted, with an appropriate amount of bone meal added when used. During cultivation, pinch out the growing tips regularly to form a bushy, low-growing plant shape. A trellis can also be set up to let it climb upward.

Bougainvillea is a light-loving plant, and whether grown indoors or in the open ground, it must be placed in a spot with plenty of sunlight. With sufficient light, bougainvillea can bloom abundantly; with insufficient light, the leaves are sparse and the flowers few, the new shoots grow thin and weak, and the bracts are dull in color, or it may even fail to bloom.

Repot before bud break in spring. During the vigorous growth period, water thoroughly, making sure to soak the soil through each time; after flowering, the amount of watering should be appropriately reduced. In early October, move it indoors and control watering and room temperature so that the buds do not sprout. In May, move it outdoors for open-ground care, fertilizing once every half month; add phosphorus fertilizer during the flowering period, and avoid excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer during the growing season to prevent leggy growth.

During the flowering period, quite a few flowers and leaves drop, so clean them up promptly to keep the plant neat and attractive. After flowering, prune to adjust the tree's shape, cutting off dead branches, crowded branches, diseased and weak branches and shoot tips, to encourage more sturdy new branches and ensure abundant flowering. For plants about 5 years old, a heavy pruning and renewal can be done once.

Winter care requires controlling watering so the plant goes into full dormancy; in this way, it will bloom even more profusely and with brighter colors in the coming spring and summer.

If flower lovers want bougainvillea to bloom on "May 1st" or "October 1st", the following methods can be used: for blooming on "May 1st", apply heat treatment; at a room temperature above 20°C, it will bloom after 40-50 days; if you want it to bloom on "October 1st", shade it for short-day treatment, with 8 hours of light per day, and it will bloom in about 30 days.

Flower lovers who like to get hands-on can also propagate bougainvillea by cuttings. In spring, in March-April, select 2-year-old plump and sturdy branches, cut them into 10-15 cm cuttings, and insert them into fine sand or vermiculite to a depth of 3-5 cm. After inserting, keep the soil moist; at a room temperature of about 20°C, they will root in about 20 days, and can be transplanted into pots in 30-40 days. Alternatively, in May-June, take semi-lignified young shoots for cuttings, and they will generally bloom in about 2 years.