How to grow Bougainvillea? A complete guide to growing methods and precautions

 
Bougainvillea is also known as paper flower, leaf flower, ninefold kudzu, and Baojin. Its flowering period is from July to October, but as long as the temperature is suitable, it can bloom all year round. The three bracts outside the flower are leaf-like. It likes a high-temperature and humid environment. It likes strong light. The suitable growth temperature is 25-30%.

Bougainvillea flowers are peculiar and beautiful, covering the branches when in bloom. Bougainvillea needs strong light; in semi-shade it will drop leaves and flowers, so it is only suitable for display on a sunny balcony or on a rack outside the balcony.

1. Soil selection for growing bougainvillea

The growing soil is made by stacking and decomposing loam, cow dung, leaf mold, sand, and so on, and adding an appropriate amount of bone meal when using. When planting, set the bougainvillea upright, fill in the growing soil firmly, and water thoroughly. During cultivation, it should be pinched back frequently to form a bushy and low plant shape. A support can also be set up to let it climb upward.

For home use, the following soil formulas can be used: garden soil: leaf mold: sand = 5:3:2; peat soil: leaf mold: sand: perlite = 5:2:2:1.

2. Watering methods for growing bougainvillea

Bougainvillea has a high water demand, especially in midsummer; lack of water can easily cause leaf drop and affect growth and flowering. Therefore, during the summer flowering period, water twice a day: spray water in the morning, and after 4 p.m. water once; after the flowers fade, watering can be appropriately reduced, as overly wet soil can cause leaf drop and root rot; in winter, control watering and do not water unless the potting soil is dry. However, 4-5 weeks before bougainvillea blooms, water should be withheld, that is, after watering once, wait until the leaves or young buds droop before watering again, which helps flower bud differentiation and formation.

Bougainvillea likes moist soil and fears waterlogging. In spring, as growth vigor increases, it needs watering every day, and its leaves and surroundings should often be sprinkled with water to increase air humidity; insufficient air humidity can easily cause leaf drop. Bougainvillea has many leaves and consumes a large amount of water in summer, so it is best to water once in the morning and once in the evening each day to keep the soil moist, and increase the frequency of sprinkling water on its leaves and surroundings. After the temperature becomes cool in autumn, keeping the potting soil moist is enough. In late autumn, winter, and early spring, when the temperature is relatively low (around 10°C), water less and keep the potting soil on the dry side. But if the indoor temperature remains above 15°C, watering should be increased to keep the potting soil moist.

3. Fertilization methods for growing bougainvillea

Bougainvillea likes fertilizer. After the weather warms in spring, apply nitrogen fertilizer once every 10-15 days; during the growing period, apply cake fertilizer water once a week; during the flowering period, apply phosphorus fertilizer several times more. After autumn turns cool, reduce the amount of fertilizer, and stop fertilizing in winter. During the peak growth and flowering season, spray the leaves with 1000 times diluted potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution 2-3 times, or apply 1000 times diluted "Huaduoduo" general-purpose fertilizer once every 10 days.

After the temperature becomes cool in autumn, stop fertilizing. In late autumn, winter, and early spring, do not fertilize when the temperature is relatively low. But if the temperature is above 15°C, apply mixed liquid fertilizer once every month.

Bougainvillea is very sensitive to urea. If fertilized improperly, it may produce the phenomenon of luxuriant branches and leaves but few flowers, so be especially cautious when applying urea.

After the flowers fade in spring, bougainvillea enters its vegetative growth period, and urea can be applied once a week. This can both replenish the plant's consumption after flowering and promote the growth of new branches, laying a good foundation for reproductive growth.

In summer, apply some liquid fertilizer lightly; if conditions permit, use a 0.2%-0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution as a foliar topdressing once every half month. In the early stage of flower branch growth, urea still needs to be applied once to facilitate flower branch growth.

4. Light and temperature requirements for growing bougainvillea

The suitable growth temperature for bougainvillea is 20-30°C. When the winter temperature is below 5°C, it is prone to frost damage and leaf drop.

Bougainvillea likes light. Insufficient light during the growing season will lead to weak plant growth and affect flowering. In winter, it should be placed in a bright place, and daily light exposure must not be less than 8 hours, otherwise a large number of leaves may drop.

5. Precautions for growing bougainvillea

(1) Bougainvillea is a light-loving plant. Whether potted or planted in the ground, it needs sufficient sunlight. Plants treated with strong sunlight have shorter internodes, fuller growth, more flowers, deeper flower color, and a longer flowering period. Insufficient light causes weak growth of new branches, dull leaf color, and few or no flowers.

(2) For bougainvillea bonsai, rectangular or oval purple clay pots or glazed pottery pots are often chosen. The color should not be too dark, so as to set off the brilliance of the bougainvillea bracts. The potting soil should be nutrient soil rich in humus, loose, and well-drained. Choose a period in spring when the temperature is relatively stable for potting.

(3) After the temperature becomes cool in autumn, reduce the supply of water and fertilizer, keep the potting soil merely moist, and ensure sufficient light. When the temperature drops to around 10°C, it should be promptly moved indoors to a place with sufficient light or to a spot with light inside a closed balcony for cultivation. Because indoor air humidity is relatively low, its leaves and surroundings should often be sprinkled with water to increase air humidity.

(4) Bougainvillea is not cold-tolerant, and when the winter temperature is below about 7°C, it will drop leaves. However, if it drops leaves in winter, after the temperature rises in spring it will leaf out and grow again, but its growth will not be good. Therefore, the winter room temperature is best kept at around 10°C. In winter, bougainvillea should be placed by a windowsill with sufficient light, and different water and fertilizer management should be carried out according to different temperatures. It should be misted several times a day around its surroundings to increase air humidity.

6. Shaping and pruning methods for growing bougainvillea

Bougainvillea drops many leaves and flowers during the flowering period, and after flowering it needs shaping and pruning. Potted plants are often pruned into a rounded crown or tied into shapes, requiring many branches and dense flowers to form a gorgeous crown. Ground-planted plants need supports to let them climb up. New branches should be pinched back frequently. After repotting, prune some overly dense branches, leggy branches, dead branches, and diseased and pest-damaged branches to encourage more new branches. Perform pinching in July-August to control growth and promote flower bud formation and vigorous flowering. For plants 5-6 years old, shorten or heavily prune once for renewal.

7. Propagation methods for growing bougainvillea

Bougainvillea propagation mainly uses cuttings. For varieties that are difficult to root from cuttings, grafting or air layering can be used.

Cuttings propagation: generally from June to July after flowering, cut mature semi-lignified branches 10-15 cm long. Soak the base of the cuttings in 20 mg/kg indolebutyric acid for "hours", then insert them into a sand bed or mist propagation bed. Under conditions of 21-25°C and 80%-90% relative humidity, they root in about 1 month. They can also be cuttings in a greenhouse from January to March.

8. Flowering period regulation for growing bougainvillea

The flowering period is mainly regulated by controlling water to promote flowering. Choose an individual with a full crown and moderate growth, apply a growth fertilizer once half a month in advance, and then begin water control. Generally after 2-3 days, the leaves will wilt and droop due to lack of water; at this time, water to protect the leaves and keep the surface of the potting soil moist. After continuing for 2-4 weeks, begin loosening the soil, watering, and fertilizing, and maintain a moist state. Supplemented by appropriate pruning, it can then return to normal management. When lateral branches emerge from the leaf axils of the branches, and if the new leaf axils have attached thorns and young tender bracts at the tips, it is a sign of success. Of course, to keep bougainvillea blooming all year round, light and temperature must also be well regulated, and sufficient fertilizer must be applied.

In addition, bougainvillea is a short-day plant. If you want it to bloom on National Day, you can start shading treatment in early August, that is, 40-50 days in advance, and place the plant in a dark room. Shading must be strict; light leakage will fail to achieve the effect. Shade from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. the next day, continuously for 45 days, without interruption. When the room temperature is high, spray water on the ground to cool it down. During the shading period, apply a 0.2%-0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate foliar fertilizer once a week.

Growing methods and precautions for bougainvillea

Bougainvillea is a tropical plant, mostly produced in southern China. It is usually grown mainly for its flowers and can be planted in garden scenic areas or made into potted plants. However, certain methods need to be mastered when growing it, and you need to understand what to pay attention to during the growing process of bougainvillea, otherwise it is difficult to grow bougainvillea well.

1. Choose suitable growing soil

When growing bougainvillea, you must choose suitable growing soil. This plant has relatively strong vitality and does not have high soil requirements, but it likes clay soil with good drainage and relatively high mineral content. In addition, it is best to keep the growing soil slightly acidic, which can make bougainvillea produce more flowers with bright colors.

2. Reasonable watering

Bougainvillea is an ornamental plant that likes sufficient water. In spring and autumn, it should be watered once a day. After summer arrives, the weather is hot and water evaporates relatively quickly, so the number of waterings should be increased; watering once in the morning and once in the evening is enough. At this time, water should also be sprayed on the leaves in time, otherwise if the air is too dry, bougainvillea will stop growing and the leaves may also turn yellow.

3. Environmental temperature

Environmental temperature is one of the important conditions for growing bougainvillea. This plant grows fastest when the external environmental temperature is between 15 and 30 degrees. In high-temperature summer weather, means such as spraying water on the leaves and ventilation should be used to lower the environmental temperature and ensure normal growth of bougainvillea. After winter arrives, as long as it is placed in an environment above 5 degrees, it can survive the winter safely.

When growing bougainvillea at ordinary times, be sure to pay attention to regulating light. This plant likes a semi-shady environment, but after winter arrives, bougainvillea should be placed by a sunny window, and it cannot receive less than eight hours of sunlight per day, otherwise it is difficult for bougainvillea to bloom normally. In addition, when growing bougainvillea, special attention should also be paid to fertilizing; be sure to apply light fertilizer frequently, and absolutely do not apply concentrated fertilizer, otherwise its roots will rot and the leaves will turn yellow, and in severe cases it may even cause the death of the bougainvillea.

Growing methods and precautions for bougainvillea

For a flower lover who likes bougainvillea, most will look up the growing methods and precautions for bougainvillea to understand bougainvillea. As an introductory article on growing bougainvillea, it will start from basic knowledge, with the aim of making it understandable to flower lovers.

1. Growing methods for bougainvillea

1) Environment: Bougainvillea likes sunlight, and the care environment should allow long-term sunlight exposure. If light is insufficient, it will bloom little or not at all.

2) Watering: Bougainvillea fears waterlogging, so watering should follow the principle of not watering unless the potting soil is dry, and watering thoroughly when watering. In addition, bougainvillea needs more water during the flowering period, so during the flowering period it is necessary to ensure the potting soil has enough moisture.

3) Fertilizing: Bougainvillea relatively likes fertilizer, so it should be fertilized once every 5-7 days (light fertilizer frequently). Flower fertilizer should mainly be phosphorus fertilizer. Apply an additional fertilization once before budding, do not fertilize during the flowering period, and apply a concentrated fertilizer once after flowering.

4) Soil: Bougainvillea likes loose, fertile, slightly acidic soil (relatively speaking, it is not strict about soil), fears water accumulation, and is not tolerant of waterlogging.

5) Temperature: Bougainvillea is not cold-tolerant and is prone to frost damage and leaf drop, so during care, pay attention to temperature changes, and it is best not to go below 10°C.

6) Flower pot: For potted bougainvillea, when choosing a flower pot, choose a relatively shallow pot as much as possible to help with drainage. It is better to use a small pot to grow a large plant than a large pot to grow a small plant.

7) Pruning: First of all, it should be said that bougainvillea is very tolerant of pruning. Bougainvillea pruning is divided into post-flowering pruning and pruning before winter. The purpose of post-flowering pruning is to adjust the plant shape and promote the next batch of flowers to open earlier, so spent flowers should be cut off as early as possible, and the whole plant should be pruned so that it blooms at the same time next time. When bougainvillea enters slow growth or dormancy in winter, the plant can be pruned relatively heavily to reduce the plant's size and prevent branches from frost damage. For bougainvillea grown on a balcony, generally all the new branches of the current year are cut off from the old branches of the previous year.

2. Precautions for growing bougainvillea

1) Overwintering: Bougainvillea is not cold-tolerant and is easily frostbitten or even frozen to death in severe cases, so be sure to pay attention to temperature changes. Generally speaking, if the temperature is below 5°C for a relatively long time, it may be frozen to death; even in the winter in the south, the lowest is only around 3°C.

2) Water accumulation: As we said earlier, bougainvillea fears waterlogging, so potted bougainvillea must not have water accumulated in the pot.

3) Prune frequently: Bougainvillea is tolerant of pruning. Do not be afraid of pruning it badly; frequent pruning helps it bloom more.