Guide: Care for Bougainvillea

 

• Watering

Water is moderate as it is quite drought tolerant and reduces the quantity of the water when it doesn't have flowers yet. This plant blooms well when its soil is slightly dry, however, letting the soil dry out completely will cause the plant to get stressed.

 

• Regular Fertilizing

Bougainvillea requires regular fertilization to bloom well during the growing season, use a fertilizer with nitrogen and phosphorus, and potassium (N-P-K) so that it has sufficient strength but do not over-fertilize with these three elements because it will add growth and inhibit flowering.

 

• Pruning

The best time to prune bougainvillea is early spring before the plant produced buds for new flowers. If you prune it when the buds have formed, the fresh growth can be cut off and this will limit the production of the flower. Prune regularly when it blooms many flowers.

 

• Train to Climb

Bougainvillea like to climb, for it to climb, it need support to climb on wall, tree, fence, etc. you can hang a pole, rope, or a tall stake with the bougainvillea allowing it to lean on the surface you want it to climb on, finally, when it climbs successfully, it covers the entire surface.

 

• Keeping It Warm During Cold Weather

Tolerance for bougainvillea in temperature lower than 40 degrees is low as the leave and bracts may wilt. During cold weather, the plant should be kept indoors to keep the plant warm.

 

• Exposing to Full Sunlight

Bougainvillea should be grown in full sun for at least eight hours daily for them to produce numerous coloured bracts. If they get less than eight of light exposure a day, they may not bloom well’

The plant will thrive in shade but the growth little bloom or no bloom at all.

 

• Pest Control

Keep an eye on pests through. bougainvillea isn't affected by a pest that much still, be careful with aphids, mealybugs, caterpillars.