Bougainvillea Plant: Know how to take care of these Decorative Plants

Bougainvillea plays an important role in enhancing the beauty of the gardens. Bougainvillea or paper flowers, which bloom in pink, orange, white and red, add to the beauty of the garden.

Bougainvillea is characterized by the fact that it does not require much care, does not wither quickly even when water is scarce, and can easily produce seedlings by cutting the stems. Care should be taken to place it in a well-ventilated place. The more sunlight you get, the more flowers you will have. Bougainvillea can be grown in pots and pans. It can be grown as a shrub or spread on vines.

This thorny plant can grow up to 12 m tall. Its flowers are very small. The leaves (bracts) are actually pigmented. The true flower is small and white. The flower is surrounded by five or six bracts.

Bougainvillea grows quickly in hot climates. Pruning the branches can speed up their growth and flowering. They grow best in moist and fertile soil. The duration of the flowering cycle is four to six weeks.

How to plant Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea can be made regularly or by cutting the stems. The stems are cut and planted in pots with soil, sand, bone meal and cow dung. It should be kept in a shady place for about a month for rooting. It can then be transferred to a sunny spot.

Pruning your Bougainvillea back after blooming will keep it in shape and stimulate more flowering. Bougainvillea vines show their colour on new growth, and frequent pinching will not only encourage fuller growth but also more colour. Remove dead branches in spring to keep your bougainvillea healthy. Gloves and heavy sleeves are necessities when pruning bougainvillea, as most varieties have numerous thorns. Some gardeners also experience skin irritation from the foliage.

Amendments & Fertilizer

Bougainvillea is heavy feeders and prefers small amounts of nutrients available constantly, making a slow-release fertilizer a good choice. They should be fed regularly during their flowering season.

Diseases and Pests

Although generally quite a disease-resistant, bougainvillea plants may be troubled by aphids, leafminers, scale, snails & slugs, spider mites and whitefly. The best way to keep your bougainvillea healthy is to keep the foliage and area around the plant dry and allow good airflow. Promptly remove any damaged, dead or infected branches and foliage.