The pH might be anywhere between 5.5 and 7.5 with 6.0-6.5 preferred. Plants grown indoors, in partial shade will have only vegetative growth, but no bloom. Nitrogen and phosphate are critical to flowering, but do not over-fertilize with these two elements because it will add growth and inhibit blooming. This will send the fertilizer down into the soil where the roots of the bougainvillea can reach it. It may be controlled with Maneb or … These pests can be controlled by spraying with insecticidal soap, diluted at a rate of 5 tablespoons per gallon of water. Joanne Marie began writing professionally in 1981. Re-pot into larger pot sizes gradually, from a plant in a 6 inch pot into a 9 inch pot and so on. Consider feeding with homemade bougainvillea fertilizer comfrey tea fertilizer which is … All varieties are vigorous, fast-growing vines, ranging in height from 5 or 6 feet to the more rampant growers that can reach 40 feet in height. Too Much Fertilizer Encourages Foliage at the Expense of Flowers. To keep the plant blooming steadily through the rest of summer and into fall, repeat this feeding in midsummer. If you have a small garden then choose one of the dwarf varieties that only grow up to one and half metres high. Too much nitrogen promotes vegetative growth at the expense of blooms, so slow-release fertilizers that … A light frost will not kill the plant, but you can soon expect all the leaves and bracts to fall off. Regular bougainvillea care involves trimming after each bloom cycle and then fertilizing to promote new growth and new flowers. Quite easy to grow, they respond well to pruning and deliver a burst of colorful growth when fertilized on the proper schedule. Not only is BOUGAIN® formulated to dramatically increase blooms, it addresses the bougainvillea’s Achilles heel – their thin and brittle root system. Worth noting: 90% of all Bougainvillea issues are either too much water or not enough sun. Read below to learn how to grow bougainvillea in pot and ground and to take its care including bougainvillea fertilizer and how to prune it for colorful display. Only a new plant needs a higher nitrogen fertilizer to help encourage good growth. If it is newly planted, then frequent watering is important. When grown in containers, the vines can be pruned heavily the help keep them bushy and stimulate new, flower-producing branches. Feed your bougainvillea with a fertilizer containing nitrogen and phosphate, once a month, during the bloomer period i.e., from early spring to mid-summer. Marie is a certified master gardener and has a Ph.D. in anatomy from Temple University School of Medicine. Keeping a bougainvillea houseplant slightly pot-bound can also help boost flowering. They’re very colourful and look good in pots. Bougainvillea plant does not need large pots. Always dilute the fertilizer to half its strength before use. You can put the pot near a metal fencing to receive light brightness due to reflection and also heat. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. If you’re pruning too often, you could be cutting off new blooms as well. 90%! Do: Be Generous With Giving Your Bougies Fertilizer and Supplements. Some gardeners recommend using a tablespoon of hibiscus fertilizer every 3 to 4 weeks in the spring and summer. In cooler climates, the plants tend to become semi-dormant and drop some leaves during winter. Jerry visits a bougainvillea inspired garden. Play. A fertilizer high in potassium will produce extensive colourful blooms. Leaf spot (Cercospora bouoainvilleae) is the most important disease of Bougainvillea. Hi - I have 4 beautiful bougainvillea in western NY (go figure!?). … Bougainvillea likes acidic soil, so add some azalea fertilizer. The tiny Bougainvillea flowers are always white irrespective of the color of bracts. In these areas, fertilizer should be withheld until early spring. If you see the roots coming out from the bottom, then either re-pot in the next larger size container or take out the plant and trim the smaller roots and re-pot in the same container. Schoelhorn, Richard and Erin Alavrez, Warm Climate Production Guidelines for Bougainvillea, University of Florida /IFAS Extension, October 1, 2002. To shape the bougainvillea in the pot, you can put a trellis in the pot. So try neglecting your bougainvillea instead of babying it. Yes, this plant is known for its flowers! Here is a picture: Anyway, I currently fertilize them weekly with Peter's Super Blossom Booster (10-50-10). Adding some iron in the form of chelate in the soil will produce vibrant and beautiful color. Consider feeding with homemade bougainvillea fertilizer. Bougainvilleas flower best when kept on the dry side. To encourage a full bloom, keep it watered but never soaked. 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