What kind of fertilizer does Bougainvillea need to bloom
Today's lifestyle tip brings you the information on what kind of fertilizer Bougainvillea needs to bloom and the precautions for caring for Bougainvillea. Let's follow the editor to see the specific content!
With the temperature rising, Bougainvillea starts to make its appearance! Even if some friends' Bougainvillea has not started blooming yet, they have already started to grow new branches and leaves. Bougainvillea grows relatively fast, and with proper care, it can bloom early in spring and continue until late autumn. The most important aspect of caring for Bougainvillea is fertilization. With sufficient fertilizer and water, it grows well and blooms profusely. Insufficient fertilizer and water lead to slow growth and sparse blooms. What kind of fertilizer does Bougainvillea need to bloom profusely? Only three types are needed, any more would be a waste!
Organic Fertilizer
In-ground Bougainvillea can grow well without fertilizer and bloom into large flower balls. Potted Bougainvillea, however, must be fertilized with organic fertilizer, otherwise it will not grow well and affect blooming. Why does potted Bougainvillea need to be fertilized with organic fertilizer? There are three reasons:
1. Keeps the soil acidicBougainvillea is a type of southern flower that prefers acidic soil. In neutral or alkaline soil, it will grow slowly, bloom less, or even completely stop growing, with yellowing new leaves, etc. Well-rotted organic fertilizer is acidic and has a long-lasting effect. Using some every year can adjust the soil pH and promote better growth. Especially in northern regions, where Bougainvillea is not repotted for a long time and the soil becomes severely alkaline, Bougainvillea will not grow.
2. Prevents soil compactionSmall Bougainvillea plants usually need to change the potting soil once a year. Larger plants need to change the potting soil every two to three years. Even with regular potting soil changes, Bougainvillea, with its extensive root system, can still cause soil compaction. Soil compaction restricts root growth, weakens growth, and results in fewer blooms. Reasonable use of organic fertilizer can prevent soil compaction and create a good environment for Bougainvillea root growth.
3. Supplements trace elementsLong-term failure to change the potting soil for Bougainvillea can lead to a deficiency in trace elements, causing the flower color to fade and growth to decline, affecting growth and blooming. Adding some organic fertilizer to Bougainvillea can supplement various trace elements. With adequate trace elements, Bougainvillea can naturally bloom well.
What kind of fertilizer does Bougainvillea need to bloom
Three types of organic fertilizer can be used for Bougainvillea:
Well-rotted sheep manure
In spring, when repotting Bougainvillea, you can add some well-rotted sheep manure as a base fertilizer. For Bougainvillea that is not repotted, you can dig a trench along the edge of the pot and bury the well-rotted sheep manure. Sheep manure is not only balanced in nutrients but also has advantages in preventing soil compaction.
Earthworm manure
Compared to sheep manure, earthworm manure is cleaner and has no unpleasant odor. Earthworm manure contains more nutrients and more trace elements than sheep manure. It can be mixed into the potting soil of Bougainvillea or sprinkled on the surface of the pot and turned over with a small trowel, making it very easy to use.
Bean cake fertilizer
Well-rotted bean cake fertilizer is also rich in nutrients. When repotting Bougainvillea, add an appropriate amount of bean cake fertilizer, and the plant will grow quickly and bloom more. If you find it troublesome to rot bean cake fertilizer, you can buy pre-rotted bean cake fertilizer and mix it into the soil or shallowly bury it on the pot surface. Well-rotted bean cake fertilizer can also be soaked in water and used to water Bougainvillea.