The complete guide to caring for bougainvillea, allowing your balcony to burst with vibrant flowers.

Choose the right Bougainvillea variety, soil selection and cultivation, lighting and temperature, watering and fertilizing, pruning and shaping, pest and disease control, propagation methods.

Bougainvillea, also known as the paper flower or cardinal flower, is loved by flower enthusiasts for its unique shape and rich colors. As a common ornamental plant, bougainvillea is not difficult to care for, but to achieve a flourishing effect, some cultivation skills are still needed. This article will introduce you to the detailed cultivation methods of bougainvillea, helping you to easily grow beautiful bougainvillea.

Choose the right Bougainvillea variety

Bougainvillea comes in many varieties, including large flowered bougainvillea and small leafed bougainvillea. When choosing, you should select according to personal preferences and the growing environment. Large flowered bougainvillea has large, bright flowers and is suitable for planting on balconies or in gardens; small leafed bougainvillea is more suitable for indoor care.

Soil selection and cultivation

Bougainvillea prefers loose, well-draining soil. You can mix leaf mold soil, garden soil, and sand in a ratio of 3:2:1, and add some decomposed organic fertilizer to provide ample nutrients.

Lighting and temperature

Bougainvillea loves sunlight and should be placed in a sunny location. When kept indoors, it should be placed as close to a window as possible. The suitable growing temperature for bougainvillea is between 20-30°C, and the temperature should not be lower than 5°C in winter.

Watering and fertilizing

Bougainvillea prefers a moist environment but dislikes waterlogging. Watering should be determined by the dryness or moisture of the soil, keeping it slightly moist. During the vigorous growth period, a compound fertilizer can be applied once a month to promote flowering.

Pruning and shaping

Bougainvillea grows rapidly and should be pruned in time to maintain a beautiful shape. When pruning, cut off dead branches, diseased branches, and overcrowded branches, and also trim the main branches to promote the growth of lateral branches. During pruning, be sure to retain a certain number of buds to facilitate flowering.

Pest and disease control

Common pests and diseases of bougainvillea include aphids and spider mites. The control methods are as follows:

1. Regularly inspect the plants and promptly clear any pests or diseases found.

2. Use insecticides for control, such as pymetrozine or abamectin.

3. Maintain a good ventilation environment to reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases.

Propagation methods

The main propagation methods for bougainvillea are cutting and grafting. For cuttings, select strong branches, cut into 10-15 cm lengths, insert into sand, and keep the soil moist. Generally, roots can form in about 20 days. Grafting is suitable for large flowered bougainvillea, where good variety branches are grafted onto rootstocks to improve flowering quality.

Caring for bougainvillea is not complicated; mastering the above techniques can easily result in beautiful bougainvillea. During maintenance, pay attention to the plant's growth condition and adjust the cultivation methods in a timely manner.相信您的阳台或庭院一定会盛开艳丽的三角梅，据《中国花卉市场报告》显示，三角梅在市场上的需求逐年上升，成为家庭养花的热门选择，让我们一起努力，让三角梅成为家中一道亮丽的风景线吧！Bougainvillea will surely bloom beautifully in your balcony or courtyard. According to the "China Flower Market Report," the demand for bougainvillea in the market is increasing year by year, making it a popular choice for home gardening. Let's work together to make bougainvillea a beautiful landscape in our homes!