Fertilizing the bougainvillea

Bougainvilleas need constant fertilizing in order to flower profusely.  The feeding of fertilizers must be consistent but not over-feeding.  As a rule of thumb, once a fortnight is good enough.  Natural fertilizers like "blood and bone", chicken dung and cow dung are most suitable.  You have to be careful to dilute the fertilizers, otherwise too much of the good thing may kill the plants.  So remember, the first rule of fertilizing is "sufficient and consistent". 

When the plants are flowering, your fertilizer should have a high K (potassium)  content as this will promote vigorous root growth and also protect the plants from diseases.  All fertilizers will have information on NPK. N is for nitrogen, P is phorsphorus and K potassium.  N promotes growth of healthy leaves and stems, which is essential for young plants.  P stimulates budding and flowering.  Fruit trees require ample amount of P for fruiting.  By the way P is not dissolveable and will remain in the soil. 

For potted Bougainvilleas, it is necessary to periodically loosen the topsoil.  This will ensure that the roots can "breathe" and also to allow the fertilizers to penetrate the soil.  Please remember, when fertilizers are exposed to direct sunlight, they will lose their active agents.

Hope this gives you some pointers to see beautiful flowers blooming from your  Bougainvillea plants.

Happy gardening.

Bougainvillea : The most common flowering plants.

         (A Bougainvillea Bonsai)

These  hardy perennial flowering bougainvillea plants are the most common sight everywhere you go. Yes, the bougainvilleas.  However most of these plants that you will see will have few flowers, if any at all.  Strange as it seems, we need to know something about the local culture.  Most people simply planted the bougainvilleas and left them at that, without fertilizers and pruning.  These plants won't die because they are by nature very resilient and very hardy.  All they need to survive are water and sunshine; and there plenty of them in tropical countries.  But don't expect a burst of flowering abundance, without proper trimming and regular fertilizing.

Bougainvilleas come in numerous colourful shades of flowers.  The leaves can be grouped into 3 types; green, green with yellow, and light green with yellow.  As for the flowers, they are a sight to enjoy.  From the very brilliant red to purple, pink, orange and pure white.  The bougainvilleas come in different shapes and sizes.  They are so hardy that you can do whatever to them.  Plant them in pots, which is the usual and most common practice.  Or plant them on the ground and they will grow into big trees.  You can even create a flowering hedge with them. And the most fascinating treat is creating a bonsai bougainvillea, like the photo above.

As an amatuer garden potter, my first choice of flowering plants is the bougainvillea.  The bougainvilleas are so easy to take care.  If the bougainvilleas die on you each time, something must be seriously wrong with you.  I would suggest that you then change your hobby to "flower watching"!

Ok.  I shall sign off now for this very first posting of mine.  I shall write much more on this hardy and fascinating plant in due course.  Everything you need to know as an amatuer garden potter on the bougainvilleas  will be revealed in interesting stages.  Just like gardening, it takes time and patience to harvest the fruity and flowery rewards, with a little knowledge to give our plants the special touch of our tender loving care.

In the meantime, be healthy and be happy.