The bougainvillea is a tropical plant that is full of colorful flowers almost year-round if planted in the right climate. It is a bush-like vine that scales walls and trellises and blooms every year if not exposed to freezing temperatures. See the Steps below to learn how to plant and care for bougainvillea.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: How to plant bougainvillea
Step 1. Decide whether you want to plant in the ground or in the pot
The bougainvillea thrives in warm, relatively dry places. If you live in a colder region, it's best to plant it in a pot and bring the plant indoors in winter.
- The bougainvillea does best when the night temperature does not fall below 16 °C and the daytime temperature does not exceed 38 °C.
- In very cold winters, the bougainvillea can be put to hibernate in the basement or another place with dim light.
Step 2. Find a sunny spot in the garden
The bougainvillea loves light and grows best when positioned for full sun, in open spaces and facing north (in the southern hemisphere) - if you live in the northern hemisphere, plant it facing south. The bougainvillea needs at least five hours of full sun every day to survive.
Step 3. Choose a place with rich, well-draining soil
Bougainvillea does not do well in soils that retain a lot of water, so ensure good drainage. It needs a rich, slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5, 5 and 6.0.
- Add lime to the soil to raise the pH or sulfur to lower it as needed.
- If planting bougainvillea in the pot, choose a soil mix with the proper pH level.
Step 4. Plant the bougainvillea
Dig a hole as deep as the bougainvillea root ball. Put a phosphate-rich fertilizer in the hole to promote root growth and help the flowers open. Take the bougainvillea and stick the clod in the hole. Lightly press the soil around the base of the plant.
- If you want the bougainvillea to climb a trellis or wall, plant it near such a structure. As it grows, you'll have to “train” it to climb the structure by gently rolling it around the base.
- If planting bougainvillea in a pot, choose one that has lots of drainage holes, as bougainvillea hates getting its “feet” wet.
Method 2 of 2: How to Care for the Bougainvillea
Step 1. Water moderately
The bougainvillea weakens with excess water, leaving no flowers and only leaves. On the other hand, letting the soil dry out makes the plant feel stressed. Find a happy medium - water enough to keep the soil moist, but not so much to make the plant soggy.
Step 2. Fertilize regularly
Feed the plant a phosphate-rich fertilizer every few months to keep the flowers lush. Fertilizing too often causes the plant to grow vigorously, so if you think it's getting too big, reduce the fertilizer.
Fertilize at least once a year, in early spring, to help the plant grow this season
Step 3. Bring the bougainvillea indoors in winter
If you live in a climate that gets cold in winter and have planted bougainvillea in a pot, take it indoors. If it is left outside, it will not survive the elements.
Step 4. Can the bougainvillea
This plant grows prolifically and needs to be well pruned to force flowering and maintain a beautiful shape. After flowering is complete, cut it a few centimeters. This promotes healthy growth in spring.
Wear gloves when pruning the bougainvillea. Some people get a skin irritation similar to that caused by poison ivy when they prune it
Step 5. Train the bougainvillea
This plant needs support to cover walls, fences or other areas. If you want it to grow in a certain vertical location, you can hang rows of wire or string on the surface you want to cover. Thread bougainvillea branches behind these guide stands at regular intervals. Take care of the growth, and adjust as needed, until the bougainvillea begins to cover the wall or other surface.
Tips
- Avoid overwatering the bougainvillea, as this weakens the flowers and, in the worst case, causes root rot and plant death.
- In general, the bougainvillea does not suffer from pests. Worms, aphids and moths may cause problems.