Techniques and Precautions for the Maintenance of Bougainvillea
Today, the editor will explain the experience of maintaining Bougainvillea, including techniques and precautions. Let's proceed with the introduction.
What flower is best suited for summer? Bougainvillea definitely deserves a mention. It is a plant that thrives in the sun, is drought-resistant, and has an exceptionally long blooming period, lasting from spring to winter. Moreover, there are many varieties of Bougainvillea, with rich colors and it is very easy to care for. Even beginners can easily cultivate healthy Bougainvillea. This article will specifically tell you how to make your Bougainvillea bloom more.
Techniques and Precautions for the Maintenance of Bougainvillea
Although Bougainvillea is easy to care for, many gardening enthusiasts find that their plants do not bloom frequently. How can we make Bougainvillea bloom continuously? Here are six suggestions for you.
1. -- Planting in Small Pots --
Bougainvillea is very suitable for planting in small pots. If the seedlings are not large, it is recommended to use a pot of about 1 gallon. For older, thick-stemmed plants with large seedlings, a pot with a diameter of about 30 cm is usually used. In short, the size of the pot should be smaller than that of other plants of the same size, as a smaller pot facilitates water control.
2. -- Loose and Well-Drained Soil --
Bougainvillea has a very good adaptability and is not picky about soil. However, when managing potted plants, it is recommended to use loose and well-drained soil. Good soil aeration is beneficial for the growth of Bougainvillea roots, and the drying and wetting cycle of the potting soil will also be relatively fast, which helps in controlling the watering of Bougainvillea.
If the soil is heavy and retains water well, it may take a long time for the potting soil to dry after watering, which could make water control difficult.
Usually, for Bougainvillea potting soil, we can use a general-purpose nutrient-rich soil, or the old soil taken out during repotting, mixed with some decomposed organic fertilizer, which can also be used to plant Bougainvillea.
3. -- Controlling Water and Fertilizer --
Many gardening enthusiasts find that their Bougainvillea plants only grow leaves but do not bloom, which is actually closely related to water and fertilizer management. Bougainvillea is a plant that is very tolerant of poor soil but also likes fertilizer and water. In an environment with sufficient fertilizer and water, Bougainvillea will grow happily but bloom very little.
Only when Bougainvillea is under stress will it think of blooming quickly to reproduce the next generation, otherwise, it may die before it has a chance to reproduce. Drought and water shortage can make Bougainvillea feel threatened and bloom quickly. Therefore, controlling fertilizer and water is very important for Bougainvillea to bloom frequently.
For potted Bougainvillea, during seasons with heavy rain, try to keep it away from the rain to avoid excessive growth due to too much rain. When Bougainvillea has enough flowering branches, it can be water-controlled. Let the potting soil dry until the Bougainvillea leaves wilt and droop before watering. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizer can be added to the water to promote flowering.
Bougainvillea will easily produce flower buds and bloom abundantly when it feels the threat of drought and has sufficient phosphorus and potassium fertilizer.
4. -- Sufficient Sunlight --
Water control is one of the techniques to make Bougainvillea bloom more. In addition to controlling water and fertilizer, it is also necessary to maintain sufficient sunlight. Bougainvillea loves the sun and should be exposed to full sunlight even in summer. If your home has insufficient sunlight, Bougainvillea may not be suitable for you.
5. -- Moderate Pruning --
Pruning is also very important for Bougainvillea. It can control the plant shape and promote Bougainvillea to bloom again, especially pruning after flowering, which directly determines the speed of reblooming.
After each flowering of Bougainvillea, it is recommended to prune the flower stems and large leaves, leaving only the newly sprouted small leaves. If the flowering branches are not very long, they can be left unpruned. After pruning, proper water control and increased application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer will soon make Bougainvillea rebloom, achieving continuous flowering from spring to winter.
6. -- Overwintering and Insulation --
Bougainvillea is a plant that is very heat-tolerant but not cold-tolerant. In addition to warm southern regions, Bougainvillea should be brought indoors for overwintering in other areas, maintaining an ambient temperature not lower than 5 degrees Celsius. When the temperature is low, Bougainvillea will shed leaves and enter dormancy. At this time, it is important to protect the branches from freezing.
If Bougainvillea branches are frozen or frostbitten during winter, it will be difficult for the plant to bloom in the spring. As long as the old branches are well protected, the plant will basically bloom early in the second spring.
The above introduces the techniques and precautions for maintaining Bougainvillea as a reference suggestion.