Home care for bougainvillea, top 12 varieties and cultivation
Bougainvillea is a spectacular plant for decorating a garden, bedroom, office. In its homeland of Brazil, it constantly grows in open spaces. In the middle latitudes of Russia, containers with a flower must be brought into the room, otherwise they will die. More about caring for bougainvillea at home, as well as breeding methods, which are common mistakes of novice florists.
Description and characteristics of the plant
Bougainvillea is able to reach a height of 5 meters. The plant has a dense stem, which becomes woody with age, thickens.Shoots grow there, abundantly covered with smooth pointed leaves. The size of the sheet plates does not exceed 5 centimeters.
The flowers are small, inconspicuous. The decorative appearance of bougainvillea is given by arrow-shaped, triangular and semicircular bracts. They are pink, red, crimson, yellow. Bracts of two colors can form on hybrid plants.
varietal variety
Of the many varieties and varieties of bougainvillea, several are suitable for home cultivation.
Naked
The bushes are dwarf and tall. They form white flowers surrounded by pink, purple, red bracts.
The crop can be used for vertical gardening.
Beautiful
The shrub in nature reaches a height of 15 meters. The bracts are pink or purple.
Strong shoots are able to independently stretch the support.
Peruvian
The shoots of this bougainvillea are long, but the side branches on them are poorly formed. The bracts are pink and purple.
This variety of bougainvillea can cross with others to form new varieties.
australian gold
Beautiful orange bracts form on Australian golden shoots. Over time, they become salmonids.
During the year, with proper care, the plant can bloom several times.
double lilarose
The color of the bracts has shades of pink, salmon, lilac. With its spectacular appearance, the variety is able to decorate any territory.
The variety attracts attention with bracts that resemble flames.
Beggum sikkander
This bougainvillea delights with its white-pink bracts, which can form several times a year.
A plant with delicate white-pink bracts visually expands the space.
white waterfall
He is a weak representative of the culture. The buds are white, the bracts are ivory.
The plant gives the room an elegant look.
Double red
The tree consists of dense stems with green leaves and purple double bracts.
The decorative variety is very popular with flower growers.
California Gold
Most of the year, the crop is covered with yellow or golden bracts.
A low plant is used in the office and bedroom.
alexandra
The shrub reaches a height of 3 meters. Bright lilac bracts form from May to October.
The variety is used to grow a culture in the form of a bonsai.
Mini Thai
Plants of this variety are compact. The sponge bracts are stained red.
The variety is suitable for growing in small spaces.
Buttiana
It is a hybrid of naked and Peruvian bougainvillea. It is valued for its ability to be used as bonsai.
Bougainvillea Buttian can be used to form a crown or a heart-shaped bush.
How to properly maintain the apartment
In order for a culture to have a decorative appearance for a long time, it must be well cared for.
Choice and location of the pot
Bougainvillea is kept on the south, south-west and west window sill. The pot is selected first small. Until the root system envelops the entire piece of land, the aerial part will not develop.
Important! As the bush grows, a larger pot is selected.
Temperature and lighting
In spring and summer, the optimum air temperature for keeping bougainvillea is 23-25 °C. The culture will bloom profusely only in good light. Therefore, the plants are positioned so that the sun hits them at least 5 hours a day.
air humidity
The flower needs high humidity. Before the flowers appear, the culture can be sprayed with water from a spray bottle. The rest of the time it is enough to place a container of water next to the plant.
Ground requirements
The substrate is chosen loose, breathable. It can be prepared independently from garden soil, humus, compost, peat, sand. Vermiculite may be added to increase friability.
watering mode
They irrigate the soil as the top layer dries out. Excessive moisture can lead to fungal growth. Water is used lukewarm, settled. In the fall, watering is significantly reduced.
Features of content in winter
In the cold season, bougainvillea has a dormant period. It is transferred to a lighted room with an air temperature not higher than 15 ° C. The plant is rarely watered, feeding is not done at all.
Fix basic growth issues
Bougainvillea, if poorly maintained, begins to lose its decorative appearance. The solution to the problems is as follows.
Stopping growth
The possible cause is a container that is too small or too large. The plant will not grow until the roots have taken over the entire pot. As the bush grows, you need to select a larger container.
small leaves
The reason - bougainvilleas are not fed with nutrients. In the summer, complex fertilizer for ornamental plants is used twice a month.
yellowing of leaves
This happens when there is a lack of iron in the soil. As a result, leaf chlorosis develops. When a problem occurs, iron and other minerals are introduced into the soil.
Lack of flowering
There are several reasons for this state of the flower. For example, the plant does not rest in winter, it is kept at an insufficiently high air temperature, and there is not enough solar color. Optimal conditions of detention: temperature - 23-25 ° , humid air, well-lit place.
Discharge of leaves and bracts
Occurs when a plant is transplanted. Due to stress, the crop loses leaves and bracts. Another reason is frequent watering. Irrigation should be carried out after the top layer of soil dries up.
The bush has become lethargic
Perhaps the plant receives less moisture. It can also be a harbinger of the appearance of fungus due to overwatering. The land is irrigated after the top layer dries up.
Diseases and pests
With improper care, bougainvillea can be exposed to diseases and pests.
Spider
A parasite appears when the air is too dry. You can get rid of it by soul. If there are a lot of pests, special means are used.
felt
When a pest appears, the plant is treated with special preparations according to the instructions on the package. Suitable products: Actellik, Fitoverm, Aktara.
Aphid
Insects feed on the sap of plant cells. Gradually the leaves wither and fall. To get rid of aphids, use a soapy solution or an insecticide.
cochineal
In places where the pest is, a white bloom appears.Over time, the leaves fall. Get rid of the felt by treating the plants with soapy water.
Root rot
Appears when there is excess moisture. To save the plant, you need to remove it from the pot, cut off the damaged roots. Then the plant is placed in a solution of Fitosporin, transplanted into a new substrate.
Transplant Features
In the spring, after a period of dormancy, the bougainvillea is transplanted. Each time, they pick up a pot, barely bigger than the previous one. The height of the container must be greater than the diameter. Drainage is arranged at the bottom of the container.
How to properly prune a flower
With the pruning you can shape the plant as you wish.
Ampelnaya
Cascading shoots are periodically pruned. Pruning helps side buds spread. New branches with beautiful bracts will grow from them, the bush will become lusher.
Buffer
After determining the height of the trunk, the trunk is cut a little higher. After that, the plant begins to form in width. The resulting side shoots are periodically pruned. Lower shoots are removed.
curly bush
To grow bougainvillea in the form of a figure, a wire frame is installed around the bush. It is formed according to your wishes. The shoots are guided along the wire, securing them with wire.
Bonsai
To do this, select undersized crop varieties, planted in small containers. Using a wire, shape. Bonsai trees are often watered and sprayed during the summer.
Breeding methods
A flower grower can dilute bougainvillea with layers, cuttings, seeds.
Layers
For propagation by this method, a container filled with a substrate is placed next to the plant. A leafless shoot is placed there.When the roots appear, the cuttings are separated from the mother plant, planted in a small pot.
Cuttings
In June, semi-lignified shoots are selected, cut into cuttings. Places of cuts are treated with a rooting stimulant. Then the cuttings are planted in containers covered with foil.
When young bushes grow, they are planted separately.
Seeds
Planting material is purchased at a flower shop. Seeds are placed in a biostimulant solution, sown in loose soil. Cover the container with plastic wrap. When 2-3 leaves are formed, picking is carried out. Grown bushes are planted in pots.
Common Mistakes
Inexperienced growers make mistakes, from which the bougainvillea loses its decorative effect and even dies. For example, if in the summer a container with a crop stood outside, then the flower may die in the fall, after the onset of frost.
Important! The plant should be brought indoors for the winter.
Also, sometimes growers do not give the plant a dormant period. As a result, bougainvilleas weaken. Another mistake is that the shoots are not pruned. In a thickened bush, the leaves and bracts become smaller, lose their decorative effect.
Tips and tricks from experienced florists
Experts give the following tips and tricks for growing bougainvillea:
- Keep the flower in a well-lit area.
- Water after the top layer of soil dries out.
- Fertilize twice a month in the summer.
- Shorten the shoots periodically.
- For the winter, bring it into the room from the garden.
- Plan a rest period.
- When diseases and pests appear, spray special preparations.
Bougainvillea is an ornamental plant with beautiful bracts.If the culture is well cared for, it will delight with its appearance from spring to mid-autumn.