Today we are going to talk about the Bougainvillea. It is a climbing plant that forms a trunk over the years. Its scientific name is Bougainvillea glabra. It is also known by its other common names such as Buganvilia, Boganvilla, Trinitaria, Bugenvil, Dania, Flor de papel, Santa rita and Veranilla. It is a beautiful ornamental plant for its flowers and has different varieties.
In this article you will know in depth all the characteristics and care that the plant needs to make the most of its values. Do you want to know everything about the Bougainvillea?
Origin and characteristics
This plant It is originally from Brazil. It is perennial, although it can behave like a deciduous one if grown in climates with lower temperatures than the Mediterranean. This is because they lose their leaves to harness all the energy they can. There are different varieties of living plant with green and cream colored foliage.
This plant has ornamental value for its flowers. They are of the bract type (appendages of pink, carmine, red or mauve). Depending on the variety, they will be of one color or another. The true flower has no ornamental value since it is tiny.
Bougainvillea requirements
This plant needs some requirements to be met to stay healthy. We start with the light. They need to be in full sun if we want it to start blooming. If we place it indoors, we must guarantee you a strong light source. This type of light is only achieved if we place it next to a window where the sun shines and does not have curtains. We can also place them in a sunny greenhouse, although it may grow with greater difficulty and the flowers do not have the same quality.
As for temperatures, coming from subtropical climates of South America, it is necessary to have them at high temperatures. Ideally, they should be above 20 degrees. If the place where the plants usually have frosts, they must be protected well with plastic or put them inside.
Bougainvillea does not need a lot of humidity. Therefore, it is not necessary to spray the leaves or maintain environments that are artificially very humid. With the natural humidity you will have enough. If we keep it in places that are too humid, it could exaggerate the size of its leaves and reduce its flowering. You may also lose your flowers.
When watering, it must be done at the base. We have to prevent the flowers from getting wet at all costs or else they will fall off. For the substrate, they need a good mix of 35% coarse-grained sand and 65% mulch. Volcanic soil can also be used instead of grainy sand. To place the plant in the pot, we fill it with a layer of stones and another with gravel to facilitate drainage when watering.
Irrigation and fertilizer
When the high temperatures of summer arrive, it is advisable to submerge the pot in water until no air bubbles appear. This will indicate that all pores are full of water to make the most of the nutrients.
Irrigation should not be frequent with other plantsas it is now relatively easily and begins to lose the leaves. In winter it has to be even more scarce but without allowing the plant to dry out completely. When it blooms and is in the growing season, it should be allowed to water for a week. This is done to favor the development of flower buds.
As for the subscriber, it needs to be applied from late spring to late summer. On these dates the temperatures are warmer and more nutrients are needed. Thus, Bougainvillea needs to be fertilized every 15 days with liquid bonsai fertilizer. In the flowering season, it must also be paid to contribute to growth. On the other hand, when we are in the winter period, it is not necessary to pay. It already starts again in spring when the first flowers begin to be seen.
If the plant has been transplanted for a very short time, you have to wait for it to sprout on its own to fertilize it. We can help reduce the size of the leaves so that the flowers are more showy. This is done by putting them in the sun for many hours a day and supplying compost that is richer in phosphorus and potassium than in nitrogen. In this way we will not be promoting the development of the leaves and the flowers will be more showy.
Maintenance tasks
Pruning
The Bougainvillea needs maintenance tasks such as pruning. For the flowers to appear healthier and more showy during the vegetative period, they must be pruned. In this way we will be getting the branches to mature enough to produce flowering at their extremities.
Unfortunately, we have to choose between getting the bloom and modeling the shape of the branches. The blades are of the alternate type. Therefore, we must take into account the direction of the bud that comes from the first leaf of the branch after pruning. In this way, we will always be pruning over a leaf that has a bud towards the outside of the crown or towards the desired direction.
Drastic pruning is best done in late winter when the most pleasant temperatures begin to arrive. The Bougainvillea supports the pruning of branches well at any time of the year. However, the most suitable is the one carried out after flowering. It takes place between spring and the end of summer.
Wiring
The placement of the branches by means of the wiring is complicated. This is because the branches lignify quickly. When this happens, they become more brittle and less flexible, so it is better to do it with a pruning planning in successive years.
To wire it, the best time is spring. Branches that are semi-woody are best to tie to the wire. The Bougainvillea, being a climber and becoming a woody plant, becomes impossible to tie them to the wires when it is highly developed. The wiring should not be left on the tree for more than a few months. The most recommended is between 3 and 5 months.
With these tips you can take care of the Bougainvillea and enjoy its ornamental power.