1. Home
  2. Question and Answer
  3. Houseplants
  4. Garden Articles
  5. Most Popular Plants
  6. Plant Nutrition

gardening


Question
what is the method and proper time to grow bogenvelia vine? i,m indian residing at himachal pradesh.

Answer
Thank you for writing!  Bougainvillea vines are spectacular vines, and I have only one of them because they are not hardy in my Zone (mid-Atlantic US) and so I must bring it in over the winter.  But Himachal Pradesh probably has a good climate for bougainvillea, as long as your garden is not at a high elevation.  

Bougainvillea, as a tropical vine, thrives in areas with low rainfall and intense heat.  To get the most flowers, you want to plant the vine in a spot that gets all-day sunshine, and night-time temperatures should stay above 15(C).  The best situation for Bougainvillea is an area where day and night lengths are equal.  (They are native to Brazil, and so they like an equatorial zone best.)

Bougainvillea also require nutrient-rich but well-drained soil.  I would recommend fertilizing in early spring with a mix that is high in both Nitrogen and Phosphorous, and then again in the middle of the flowering season. Also a little bit of iron is a good idea; I've found that it makes the bloom color more intense.

I have read that Bougainvillea have fragile root systems.  This means that infrequent-but-heavy watering is preferable to frequent light watering. That said, Bougainvillea should not be overwatered.  They can tolerate drought once they are well established.  They also need to be planted in a "high" spot in the garden so their roots do not remain soggy; drainage is key.  If you plant the vine in a pot, make sure there are lots of drainage holes and do not use a saucer underneath the pot, as Bougainvillea don't like "wet feet."

A word about pruning: Bougainvillea vines only bloom on "new" growth.  That means that you can prune your vine to a size/shape that pleases you without worrying if you are removing buds. In the U.S., most gardeners give their vines a hard cut back to just a few feet tall at the beginning of the spring growing season. Once your vine is established, just pinch off the soft tips of stems about one-half inch from the tip.  The vine will send out new shoots just below the spot where you pinched.  The best time to prune/pinch is right after the first flowering cycle is over.  Bougainvillea typically flower ever 4 - 6 weeks or so.

I hope my information has been helpful.  Good luck and please keep me posted!  Thank you.  

Copyright © www.100flowers.win Botanic Garden All Rights Reserved