Bougainvillea is a flowering vine that is native to South America. This beautiful plant has been cultivated for centuries in the Mediterranean region, where the French introduced it during colonial times.
Bougainvillea grows best in hot climates like Florida and Southern California. Still, they can also be grown as houseplants or outdoors year-round in warmer climates such as Texas and Arizona.
The care of bougainvillea includes watering, fertilizing, and pruning this vigorous tropical plant at least once every month all year round. Over time you will notice an improvement in your bougainvillea’s health if you take good care of it with regular fertilizer applications and proper pruning techniques.
Best Fertilizer For Bougainvillea
The best fertilizer for bougainvilleas is a mixture of water and organic fertilizers. Applying this mix every two to three months will provide the right balance between moisture levels, nutrients, pH levels, and proper drainage that favors healthy plant growth.
There are many types of organic fertilizers on the market today, such as fish emulsion, bat guano, and rabbit droppings. All three of these fertilizers are great for a bougainvillea’s health, but they each have their own characteristics that make them best suited for different stages of the plant’s life cycle.
Fish fertilizer is usually recommended to use during all seasons because it contains nitrogen and is rich in potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, manganese, and copper. It can also be used to boost the growth of roses or other flowering plants.
Bat guano has high nitrogen levels, making it best for use during winter when your bougainvillea roots are still active but not meeting their full potential.
Rabbit droppings are best for use during the summer months to help plants grow more vigorously and flower well. They have high nitrogen levels, a key ingredient in making bougainvillea healthy, as it helps with photosynthesis, growth, flowering, and fruiting.
The best fertilizer to use is bat guano.
Fertilizers can be applied by mixing a small amount into the soil, foliar feeding with an organic fertilizer that is mixed in water and sprayed onto the leaves of plants, or using it as a top dressing on potting mixes to keep roots moist and happy.
What happens if I can’t find bat guano?
If you can’t find bat guano, then use sheep manure. It’s also high in nitrogen and will help support bougainvillea growth. You should work it into the soil before planting or after your plant has been established for the best results.
What fertilizer can I buy for bougainvillea?
There are a number of fertilizers you can buy. Some brands that produce good fertilizers for bougainvillea include Miracle-Gro, Peters 20-20-20 Plant Food, and Nelson Plant Food – Bougainvillea Fertilizer.
What is the best way to care for my bougainvillea?
The best way to care for bougainvillea is to fertilize it every two weeks with liquid fertilizer or apply an all-purpose organic fertilizer.
How do you keep bougainvillea blooming?
To keep bougainvillea blooming, you need to fertilize it regularly, of course, but you should also prune it.
And prune each branch by a few inches. After the bougainvillea has finished blooming, use a sharp pair of pruning shears to cut back the bush.
If you don’t want more flowers on your bougainvillea, avoid watering it during its blooming period. Bougainvilleas are heavy feeders and must be fertilized at least once monthly with an all-purpose fertilizer.
Be advised that if you don’t fertilize your bougainvillea, it will stop blooming after a while.
What is the best time to fertilize a bougainvillea?
The best time to fertilize bougainvillea is either early in the year or after you have pruned your plant.
How do you grow a beautiful Bougainvillea plant in a pot?
To grow a Bougainvillea plant in a pot, it needs well-draining soil. If your pot has been filled with regular garden dirt, use either sand or peat moss to add some drainage properties to the mix.
Choose a container that is at least 12 inches in diameter and fill it up to two-thirds of its height with potting soil and compost. Plant the Bougainvillea with 15 inches of soil below the surface in this pot.
Water sparingly and add fertilizer every other month during spring and summer (March, May, July). Add a layer of mulch on top to retain moisture in the soil. This will keep your Bougainvillea bloom all year long!
Tips to Grow Bougainvillea Indoors
Other tips for growing Bougainvillea indoors:
-Heep plants away from air conditioners, heat vents, drafts, or open windows.
-Avoid overfertilizing your Bougainvillea by using a slow-release fertilizer every six months to one year. This will prevent the plant from becoming top-heavy with foliage because of too much nitrogen in the soil.
-Bougainvillea does best with a soil mixture of one part potting mix, one part sand or perlite, and two parts compost.
-Water regularly, as this will allow for better root growth
-Keep the plant in an area that receives filtered sun to prevent leaf scorching and killing the plant.
-Prune your Bougainvillea regularly to prevent the plant from getting too large and unmanageable.
-Keep an eye out for signs of pests such as spider mites, whiteflies, aphids, and mealybugs which can all infest bougainvillea plants indoors or outdoors. These include small insects that feed on the plant’s sap, turning leaves yellow and wilting.
-A good fertilizer for bougainvillea is a water-soluble houseplant or vegetable formula that has been diluted to half strength
-Apply monthly during periods when there is active growing shoots present (March through October). This will encourage vigorous growth and flowering.
-Avoid fertilizing during the winter months when plants are dormant to avoid promoting new growth that may not be able to mature into flowers before cold weather arrives.
In addition, take care to water bougainvilleas thoroughly at least once a week for best results with this houseplant species. Avoid gettings water on the leaves to prevent fungal disease and insect infestation.
There are many houseplants that bougainvillea can be paired with for some color, including pansies, grape hyacinths, and other varieties of flowering plants, such as impatiens begonias.
-A simple way to grow bougainvillea is to layer pots, with the bougainvillea planted in a pot at least one size smaller than its neighbor plant.
-Fertilize once monthly or whenever the soil appears light by following instructions on the fertilizer label for best results.
-Water when the top of soil feels dry and plants appear wilted.
How to care for your bougainvillea. The best fertilizers, nutrients, and how to keep it healthy!
