Question
hey bakerplanter --

i live in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley (USDA Zone 9) and want to grow a bougainvillea onto a west exposed wall. It's on a sidewalk, so I can't plant it in the ground. i know bougie's like dry soil, but it's regularly over 100 here in the summer. will that just be too hot or can i make it if i get the plant established this winter? would the soil need to be specially amended?

if the bougey won't work, is there any climbing plant that could survive in this spot?

thanks so much --

michael


Answer
Bougainvilla, Wisteria, and Cape honeysuckle,(Tecomaria capensis) and possibly Hycinth bean,(Dolichos lablab)are all drought tolerent vines, when once established. There will be some work involved in keeping the bouganvilla going in the container. My first thought is, there needs to be a very strong support built to tie the vine to. It will need to be strong enough to hold up a 15 foot vine and not blow over in the wind. The vine can be pruned to stay around 5 feet tall, and 2 to 5 feet wide. These vines bloom on wood that grew  the previous summer, so it is best to prune  soon after blooming. Each vine stem will need to be tied to the support as it grows. The most difficult part of growing an established vine in a container is "potting up". When the vine gets root bound in the smaller pot, you will need to move it into a larger one. The soil should be well drained potting soil. Good time to call on your friends to help you. Wear gloves when handling the plant. It has sharp thorns.
The cement sidewalk is a concern also. Heat from the cement can be damaging. In the heat of the afternoon, have a hose handy to keep the cement wet. (DO NOT PUT WATER ON THE PLANT LEAVES.) The wet cement will help to keep the plant from "cooking" and create humidity. Although the plant is drought tolerent, it will need plenty of moisture during the flowering season. Overfeeding will produce masses of foliage, but very little in the way of colorful bracts. I wouldn't fertilize, just freshen the soil in the container every spring. This can be done by pulling the plant out of the container and adding soil to the bottom, if there is room or adding an inch or two to the top of the container. The advantage of growing in a container is, if it doesn't do well there, you can move it to a better location. Plant this winter, let top of soil dry inbetween watering.
bakerplanter