Bougainvillea - care and maintenance in the open field
Content:
Bougainvillea is not quite the usual plant for Russian gardens, although it has an unusually colorful flowering. At the same time, contrary to the fears of many gardeners, caring for it does not present any difficulties. The main thing is to adhere to the basic recommendations, and the tree will thank you with bright and abundant flowers.
Bougainvillea: care and maintenance in the open field
Bougainvillea is a Brazilian liana. Its branches are so flexible that thanks to them the plant can be firmly fixed on the support. The flowering period occurs in late spring - early summer.
Blooming bougainvillea shrub on the street is the pride of any gardener
There are about 20 species of bougainvillea in the wild. Some of them are capable of reaching fairly large sizes (up to 10 m in height and above).
An interesting fact is that the bright flowers of the plant, which can have different colors and more resemble paper ones, are actually stipules. True flowers are small and unsightly, usually white and yellow in color.
The spectacular flowers of the plant are multi-colored stipules
Types and varieties of garden bougainvillea
When breeding bougainvillea in the garden, it is very important to know that a drop in temperature indicators to 5 ° C for a plant is fraught with death. Therefore, with the threat of frost, the safety of the beauty should be taken care of in advance. For breeding in the climatic conditions of the Moscow region (naturally, with the condition of moving to a house or greenhouse for the winter), the following bougainvillea varieties are adapted:
- beautiful bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectabilis). It is a large, dense shrub with branches up to 10 m, characterized by rapid growth. On the shoots there are thorns, pubescent leaves. Bracts of bright purple-red color, turn pale by the end of the flowering period;
- bougainvillea nude (Bougainvillea glabra). This liana does not grow higher than 5 m, but it differs in strongly branching smooth shoots. In adult plants, they become lignified. The variety is also distinguished by decorative dark green glossy leaves. The plant blooms for a long time, while the color of the stipules can be very different: white, yellow, orange, red;
- bougainvillea peruvian (Bougainvillea peruviana). The branches of this variety are straight, not prone to branching, they are covered with green bark and abundant small thorns. During the season, the plant manages to dissolve yellow inflorescences several times. In this case, the bracts are colored pink in different shades.
Transplanting bougainvillea after purchase outdoors
Liana bougainvillea after purchase needs 1-2 weeks of adaptation in a new place. After this period, it must be transplanted into a new, more spacious pot.
During the procedure, the transfer method is used, since the root system of a young plant is very delicate. The voids in the new flowerpot are filled with fresh substrate.
Periodic pruning will help the plant bloom longer.
Bougainvillea: how to propagate
Bougainvillea can be propagated in several ways:
Reproduction by layering
With this method, young shoots are laid on the ground and covered with soil a little. Experienced gardeners recommend making notches and shallow cuts in the place of the alleged formation of roots, this will help the shoots to take root faster.
Propagation by cuttings
Bougainvillea can be propagated by cuttings. For this purpose, young shoots of about 10 cm are cut with several leaf plates and put them first for a couple of hours in ordinary warm water, and then in a solution of any growth stimulant. Then they remove the leaves from the bottom of the cutting and plant it in a wet mixture of peat and sand.
It is important to place the seedling pot in a warm room. It is advisable to arrange greenhouse conditions for him, covering it with plastic or glass. Every day, the cutting needs to be ventilated and watered. It will take about a month for a seedling to develop a normal root system, and it can be transplanted into open ground.
Growing from seeds
Bougainvillea garden also propagates by seeds. However, when using this method, you should be patient, since the process is very time consuming and lengthy.
The planting material is sown into the prepared substrate and carefully moistened. It is advisable to cover the plantings with film or glass and place them in a warm and well-lit room. Irrigate crops periodically.
A couple of weeks after purchase, the plant can be transplanted
Growing and caring for bougainvillea in the garden
The maintenance and care of bougainvillea in the open field is within the power of even a novice florist. The shrub is not too picky, but there are several conditions without which the normal development of the plant is impossible.
- Watering. Bougainvillea is a tree that needs regular, thorough watering. Drought will definitely affect the appearance of the shrub. Therefore, it is very important not to allow the earthen coma to dry out and water and irrigate the plant with warm water in time. At the same time, it is impossible for moisture to stagnate in the roots, since this often becomes the cause of decay and threatens the death of a tropical beauty.
- Top dressing. When a young plant is in active growth, it needs to be fed weekly. Experienced flower growers know how to feed bougainvillea for flowering: most often they use complex mineral substances, as well as organics and preparations for flowering plants. Matured shrubs will have enough fertilization once every 2 weeks.
Weekly feeding will give the vines the strength to grow quickly and reproduce successfully.
- Choosing a place. For the lush flowering of the shrub, it is very important to select well-lit places for planting it. The plant is also not afraid of direct sunlight, but staying in the shade will not affect its decorative effect in the best way.
- Pruning. The tree needs crown formation. In addition, pruning bougainvillea is an incentive for further successful flowering. During the procedure, up to 7 cm of shoots of the current year are left, since flower buds are placed at the ends of the branches. Accordingly, during the formation of the crown of bougainvillea, the longer the shoots, the worse the flowering will be.
Features of care during flowering
During active vegetation and flowering, the plant needs abundant watering and weekly feeding. In addition, on bougainvillea, you need to periodically shorten the shoots, this will provoke abundant flowering.
Features of care during the rest period
If the plant remains in open soil, then watering is gradually reduced from autumn and completely stopped in winter. Bougainvillea, which are transplanted into tubs and transferred indoors, continue to be watered occasionally. Do not allow the earth to dry out completely. It is advisable to place the tub with the plant in a bright but cool room. Fertilizing the plant during this period is not worth it.
Blooming bougainvillea plantings - an indescribable sight
Preparing for winter
Plants from the southern regions, wintering of which takes place in the open field, in order to avoid unpleasant surprises, it is better to insulate. First of all, you should take care of the root system.
Planting bougainvillea, growing it and caring for it in the garden are not too time consuming processes. The description of the features of care comes down to the fact that the plant will need careful watering and good lighting, as well as regular feeding for long flowering. You can quickly root the plant using cuttings or cuttings. Blooming bougainvillea is simply impossible not to notice, it invariably attracts the eye with its many and colorful flowers.
