Bougainvillea, also known as paperflower, is deeply loved by people for its bright and long-lasting flowers. Cultivating bougainvillea as a bonsai not only beautifies the home environment but also cultivates one's taste. How to take good care of bougainvillea bonsai? This article will provide you with a detailed analysis of the care techniques for bougainvillea bonsai.
Selecting the Right Potting ContainerThe potting container for bougainvillea bonsai should be made of materials with good breathability and drainage, such as purple sand pots or ceramic pots. The size of the pot should match the shape of the bougainvillea, generally with the diameter of the pot opening 2-3 times larger than the diameter of the bougainvillea trunk.
Soil Selection and PreparationBougainvillea prefers fertile and well-drained soil. You can use a mixture of decomposed leaf soil, coarse sand, and garden soil in a ratio of 2:1:1, and add some bone meal and decomposed organic fertilizer as a base fertilizer to promote the growth of bougainvillea.
Watering and FertilizingBougainvillea enjoys a humid environment but does not tolerate waterlogging. Watering should follow the principle of "watering when dry," that is, water when the surface of the soil is dry. In the hot summer season, water twice a day, morning and evening; in the cold winter season, reduce the frequency of watering appropriately.
For fertilizing, apply a compound fertilizer once a month during the vigorous growth period of bougainvillea, and increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers during the flowering period to enhance the color of the flowers. When fertilizing, be careful not to let the fertilizer come into contact with the leaves to avoid leaf burn.
Lighting and TemperatureBougainvillea thrives in a well-lit environment, but needs to be shaded during the hot noon of summer to prevent leaf burn. In winter, move the bougainvillea indoors to maintain a room temperature above 5°C to ensure safe overwintering.
Pruning and ShapingThe pruning of bougainvillea is divided into winter pruning and summer pruning. Winter pruning mainly removes sick, weak, intersecting, and dense branches to facilitate ventilation and light penetration; summer pruning mainly trims overgrown branches to promote dwarfing of the plant. After pruning, apply healing ointment promptly to prevent pathogen infection.
In terms of shaping, you can trim the bougainvillea into straight-trunk, slanted-trunk, curved-trunk styles, etc., according to personal preference. During the shaping process, maintain the natural shape of the bougainvillea and avoid excessive pruning.
Disease and Pest ControlCommon diseases and pests of bougainvillea include aphids, red spiders, and powdery mildew. When diseases or pests are found, take timely measures. Aphids and red spiders can be controlled with pesticides such as pymetrozine and abamectin; powdery mildew can be treated with pesticides such as carbendazim and methyl thiophanate.
The maintenance of bougainvillea bonsai requires attention to the selection of the right potting container, soil, watering, fertilizing, lighting, temperature, pruning and shaping, and disease and pest control. Mastering these techniques will ensure that your bougainvillea bonsai blooms throughout the seasons and remains beautiful.