Bougainvillea orange. We take care of bougainvillea indoors: secrets and recommendations

The southern beauty of Bougainvillea is as spectacular in our apartments as in her homeland in Brazil. Among flower growers, Bougainvillea is famous for its flexibility, originality, magnificence of colors and violent flowering, which lasts almost all year round. Due to the delicate texture of its leaves, similar to multi-colored crumpled paper, Bougainvillea has another name - "Paper Flower". In this article, we will introduce you to the colorful types of Bougainvillea and its varieties, including hybrid ones.

The flower got its melodic name in honor of the French navigator Louis Antoine Bougainville, who was the leader of the first French expedition around the world. The flower was found on the rocky expanses of South America by the botanist Commerson, his compatriot, who was part of this expedition. Commerson brought a previously unknown flower to Europe and gave it the name Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea).

flower description

Bougainvillea belongs to the family of Nightflowers or Nyctaginaceae. In its homeland, in South America, Bougainvillea is found everywhere in the form of flowering shrubs or trees with flexible creeping, climbing and clinging branches - lianas. Their shoots are covered with rare but sharp spines, with the help of which the plant clings to supports and stretches upwards. Breeders have not yet been able to remove the spines of domestic varieties of Bougainvillea. Shoots grow very quickly, reaching a length of five or more meters. At home, with good maintenance, the bush can also grow up to three meters in height. Its growth is controlled by regular pruning.

Bougainvillea leaves

The leaves are bright green on the outside, and light green on the inside. Sometimes, there are variegated specimens. The edge of the sheet is smooth and even, the tip is pointed. The leaves are oval or ovoid in shape, small in size. Sometimes smooth, sometimes pubescent (depending on the type of Bougainvillea). The leaves are arranged alternately on the stems.

The flowers of Bougainvillea are tubular, inconspicuous, white-yellow in color, collected in racemose inflorescences. They quickly wither and fall off. But the bracts amaze with their magnificence. To the touch, they look like the thinnest crumpled paper. The bracts are brightly colored, in all shades of red, crimson, white, orange, purple and other colors. And in their form, the bracts are no less amazing. They are rounded, arrow-shaped, heart-shaped and even triangular. In length, they reach 3 - 5 cm. Unlike flowers, bracts remain on the plant for a very long time.

Bougainvillea flowers and bracts close up

In Brazil and countries with a similar, subtropical climate, where mild winters and air temperatures do not fall below five degrees, Bougainvillea blooms all year round. With this, and with its unusual decorative effect, it has gained immense popularity. It is grown everywhere - in gardens, squares, parks, decorates the territories of private households and tourist hotels, and is used in landscape design.

The plant is not poisonous. Keeping it in the apartment is not dangerous for children or pets.

In our latitudes, Bougainvillea is grown using pruning in the form of a shrub, liana or bonsai tree in indoor spaces or greenhouses, and only in the summer they take it out to the garden. It blooms from May to November. Under comfortable conditions during flowering, the green leaves of Bougainvillea are hidden under the bright multi-colored caps of its stipules. The life expectancy of domestic Bougainvillea does not exceed five to ten years. The flower does not die, it simply stops growing and gradually becomes woody. It is known that in greenhouses, some specimens of Bougainvillea live up to 30 years.

Types and varieties of Bougainvillea

There are about 15 species of Bougainvillea in the world. Selection succumbed to only three of its species from Brazil - Naked, Beautiful and Peruvian. Only they and their hybrids can be grown at home. New varieties are distinguished not only by the variety of color of the bracts, but also by the leaves, which are decorated either with variegated veins or with an original edging. The dream of breeders remains Bougainvillea without thorns and with blue bracts.

brazilian species

Bougainvillea Naked (Bougainvillea glabra)

bougainvillea naked(Bougainvillea glabra) is a tall shrub (up to 5 m) with white, yellow, purple, pink and red bracts. Glossy dark green leaves are pointed. Their length is 10 - 15 cm, and the width is 4 - 6 cm. The branches are covered with small thorns. The plant easily tolerates pruning, allowing growers to get the desired shape. It grows in dry places in Brazil on rocky hills with carbonate soils. First described in 1850 by the Swiss botanist Jacques Denis Choisy.

Bougainvillea Beautiful or Wonderful (Bougainvillea spectabilis)

bougainvillea beautiful- This is a liana reaching a height of 15 m. It has larger bracts of red, pink or purple. With the help of flexible shoots and numerous spikes, it clings to the support and stretches up, wrapping around the supports, gazebos, facades of houses that meet on the way. The creeper has pubescent, dense, heart-shaped leaves. From April to October, it forms inflorescences in the form of panicles. As the flowers bloom, the bracts turn pale. The birthplace of Bougainvillea the Beautiful is the tropical forests of Brazil, its open rocky slopes.

Peruvian bougainvillea (Bougainvillea peruviana)

bougainvillea Peruvian(Bougainvillea peruviana) was first discovered in 1810 by the German naturalist Humboldt. Distributed in Colombia and Peru. It is a climbing shrub with yellow flowers surrounded by rounded pink or purple double bracts. Leaves ovate, thin, not drooping. The spines are short and straight. This variety does not branch well. Long shoots do not give lateral processes, and to give the bush splendor, it should be cut off. This is the most stable variety, it can bloom several times a year if there are dry periods between blooms.

These three natural species successfully interbreed with each other, forming all kinds of spectacular varieties that differ from each other in size, color and shape of bracts.

Hybrid varieties of Bougainvillea

Variety Sanderiana has lush purple bracts. Blooms profusely, unpretentious, lends itself well to molding. It is considered the best variety for home cultivation.

Vera Deep Purple

Variety Vera Deep Purple has large bracts of crimson fuchsia color, blooms profusely.

bougainvillea Glabra Donker- a similar variety, with violet-purple bracts densely covering the tops of young shoots.

Bougainvillea Donyo

bougainvillea Dona(Donyo) - a very showy variety with pink bracts. Blooms almost all year round.

Variety Jamaica White has simple white bracts. Valued for abundant and long flowering at home.

bougainvillea White Cascade- differs in ivory bracts. Some plants of this variety have a pink border on the bracts, which gives the plant great elegance. The leaves are large, dark green.

California Gold- has golden bracts, which become beige by the end of flowering. Sometimes, developing at home, the plant confuses the dormant time: it blooms not in summer, but in winter.

bougainvillea golden tango has large yellow bracts and small inconspicuous flowers. Bougainvillea blooms look amazingly sunny and unusual against a backdrop of bright green foliage.

bougainvillea tomato red- captivates with burgundy bracts.

Variety lateritia- valued for the original color of the bracts. It is a bright salmon color, and in the sun shimmers with all shades of pink and orange.

Terry varieties

The special envy and admiration of many flower growers is caused by terry varieties of Bougainvillea with white, salmon, purple, red and other shades of stipules. Let's get acquainted with some of them:

double red has bracts of a beautiful crimson fuchsia color, which does not fade throughout the entire flowering period. Refers to varieties with double bracts. A very popular and sought after variety of Bougainvillea.

Variety double pink differs from the previous one in more delicate tones and a slightly greenish base of terry stipules.

Varieties that change color

Breeders have bred varieties of Bougainvillea, the bracts of which gradually change their color during the flowering of the plant. Here are some of these varieties:

bougainvillea Bois De Roses at the beginning of flowering it has orange bracts, which gradually change their color to rich pink.

Bougainvillea variety Thai Gold has golden-orange bracts, which at the time of withering become completely pink with a blush.

Bicolor varieties

Bougainvillea varieties with two-color bracts are no less surprising.

Varieties of Bougainvillea Snowcap Multi And Strawberry Lace similar to each other, have bracts of white-pink color, which can be compared with the color of strawberries with cream.

Mary Palmer has similar stipules of more delicate, slightly blurry tones. Strokes of lavender and lilac stand out beautifully against the main white background.

Variegated varieties of Bougainvillea

San Diego Red Variegata

bougainvillea San Diego Red Variegata distinguished by the variegated color of its foliage. It is light, golden green. Against its background, the red bracts of the plant glow brightly, riveting all eyes.

Salmon or golden bracts of Bougainvillea Delta Dawn against the background of bluish-green foliage with a bright white edging, they burn in the sun with gold.

Variety Orange Ice boasts not only bright orange bracts, but also variegated leaves.

Varieties for bonsai

Let's introduce you to some varieties of Bougainvillea that are readily pruned.

bougainvillea Alexandra ideal for compact room arrangements. In the open field, original garden sculptures are formed from this flower. True, this is possible in the southernmost regions of our country, since frosts are below 8 gr. this Bougainvillea does not tolerate.

Variety Butiana valued for its willingness to endure any pruning. The bush can be given almost any shape - a small bonsai tree, a wreath or a heart.

Skillfully combining different varieties of Bougainvillea, you can turn the southern corner of your home into a multi-colored, constantly blooming magical garden. Only to achieve this is possible subject to certain rules of agricultural technology.

Conclusion

Bougainvillea is an amazingly beautiful houseplant. Despite some difficulties in growing, Bougainvillea is the dream of many exotic lovers. If you want to create, you can form a plant of any shape - in the form of a bonsai, heart, arch or flowering ring. We are sure that Bougainvillea will inspire you to exploits and decorate not only the interior of your home, but also your life.

In the tropics and subtropics of South America, where bougainvillea grows, culture can climb many meters high and braid the walls of houses. Some varieties of this spectacular plant take the form of lush flowering trees, thorn-covered powerful vines or modest shrubs.

In a warm climate, the tops of the shoots are covered with flowers almost all year round. True, the corollas of real bougainvillea flowers can only be seen up close, and the multi-colored caps in which foliage and stems are buried are modified leaves. Bracts differ in color, shape and size. There are two-color varieties, as well as plants whose bract color changes intensity or tone over time.

Of the species of bougainvillea that exist in nature, among lovers of ornamental plants, the most popular are beautiful bougainvillea and naked bougainvillea. In addition, there are a lot of interspecific hybrids, as well as cultural forms and varieties of the most amazing colors.

This type of plant has an incredible growth rate and often looks like a large, up to 15 meters high, liana. Like all types of bougainvillea, the leaves of this variety have a heart-shaped pointed shape. The back side is covered with a small pile, the autumn leaf plates are dense, durable. In the photo of bougainvillea, in addition to leaves and curved spikes, bright bracts are clearly visible. Bougainvillea flowers, opening from April to mid-autumn, are collected in paniculate inflorescences at the ends of the branches. A group of two or three stipules surrounds 1 to 3 true flowers.

This type of bougainvillea, in the photo, is much smaller. Its maximum height is only five meters, which makes it possible to use the plant as a room culture. This is facilitated by the fact that the plant tolerates pruning almost painlessly and can be formed at the request of the owner.

An example of this is the bougainvillea Sanderiana shown in the photo, an old variety tested by gardeners all over the world.

Unlike the beautiful bougainvillea, this species has completely smooth leaves, and flowering occurs in spring and early summer. The range of colors is incredibly wide, which is facilitated by active selection work. It was the naked bougainvillea, cultivated back in 1861, that became the basis for obtaining a great variety of hybrid and varietal plants that adorn gardens, parks and window sills today.

Another variety is Alexander's bougainvillea, ideal for compact indoor compositions and creating original garden sculptures. True, in Russian conditions in the open field, this beautiful liana takes root only in the southern regions, since it does not tolerate frosts below -8 ° C.

This species is not so often found in ornamental plantings, but discovered in 1810, bougainvillea became famous thanks to hybrids with other varieties of the plant. Breeders were attracted by the unusual ability of the culture to bloom several times a year after a natural or artificial drought.

In nature, plants of this species are extremely reluctant to branch, so bougainvillea, as in the photo, often forms spectacular cascading shoots.

Most of the modern varieties of bougainvillea are obtained from a hybrid that was accidentally seen in the garden. The plant was named after its owner bougainvillea × buttiana and classified as a hybrid of bougainvillea naked and peruvian.

Varietal bougainvilleas are strikingly different from each other in size, shape and color of bracts.

The simplest, but very spectacular and popular among flower growers are bougainvillea varieties with the usual plain bracts and rich green foliage.

One of the most common varieties, Sanderiana bougainvillea pleases the eye with lush purple bracts, lends itself well to shaping and is quite unpretentious at home.

The bougainvillea variety Vera Deep Purple shown in the photo is a match for her. The plant is distinguished by densely crimson bracts, densely covering the ends of young shoots. Equally impressive are the bougainvillea Glabra Donker and New Violet flowers, which also reveal large purple-purple bracts.

Bougainvillea varieties Cypheri, Australian Pink and Donya are a godsend for a grower who prefers plants with pink bracts. Moreover, in the latter case, flowering does not stop almost all year round.

All shades of red, purple, crimson and burgundy captivate the bougainvillea varieties Crimson Lake, Black India Red and Tomato Red presented in the photo.

Flowering looks unusually sunny against the background of green foliage b ugenvillea Golden Tango with large yellow bracts and very small true flowers.

The group of bougainvilleas with simple white bracts is represented by the variety Jamaica White, which is distinguished by the abundance and duration of flowering, as well as Mrs Alice and Penelope.

The original bougainvillea variety Lateritia is not to be missed, with bright salmon-coloured bracts shimmering in all shades of orange and pink in the sun.

Especially dense caps at the ends of the shoots and exceptional decorativeness are famous for terry varieties. Photos of bougainvilleas from the Double variety group, which includes plants with white, salmon, pale pink, purple, red and orange stipules, are always a reason for the admiration and envy of many gardeners.

The bougainvillea variety Double Lilarose is surprisingly sensual shades of pink, salmon and lilac, combined with a long flowering period and relative unpretentiousness. Also interesting is the bougainvillea Double Pink, which differs from the first representative of the group in more delicate tones and a slightly greenish base of the stipules.

Luxurious caps of juicy raspberry bracts on Double Red bougainvillea will be a discovery for novice gardeners and will not leave indifferent connoisseurs of this tropical culture.

Terry flowering is not the limit of the possibilities of a unique flower.

Today, lovers of indoor and garden floriculture have at their disposal varieties that fully reveal the ability of the bracts of this plant to change color over time.

Bougainvillea Bois De Roses bracts are orange at first, but gradually change color, becoming deep pink. A similar picture is observed during the flowering of the Thai Gold variety. This bougainvillea pictured in the photo appears golden orange in the first days, but when the bracts wither, they become completely ruddy pink.

Similar metamorphoses occur with many varieties and hybrids of the plant. Initially, white bracts acquire pink tones, red-orange become crimson or purple. Skillfully combining specimens with such extraordinary properties, you can turn the garden into something constantly changing, but always beautiful.

Bougainvillea varieties are even more surprising, on which two-color bracts appear simultaneously or on different branches their shades differ significantly.

Strawberry Lace is a plant with white and pink stipules that can only be compared with fresh strawberries and cream. On the stipules of Mary Palmer bougainvillea, the shades are more delicate and blurry. On the main white background, strokes of lilac and lavender look very beautiful.

A special place is occupied by varieties in which, in addition to bright, and sometimes multi-colored bracts, two shades are combined on the foliage.

Most of these plants are the result of spontaneous mutation, therefore, offspring can only be obtained from them vegetatively using cuttings and layering.

Bougainvillea San Diego Red Variegata has red bracts that, against the background of light golden-green foliage, seem even more catchy and defiant.

The salmon or golden bracts of Delta Dawn bougainvillea look like real gold against a bluish-green background with bright white foliage edging.

In addition to golden or white spots on the leaves of bougainvillea, you can also see pink tones. An example of this is the beautiful variety Raspberry Ice with carmine bracts and decorative foliage, as if browned around the edge.

Bougainvillea is a very unusual flower, starting from the name and ending with the appearance; in Germany, many even call it the “miracle flower”. The homeland of bougainvillea is the Brazilian tropics, which is why it loves warmth, bright sun and high humidity so much.

The unusual shape of the flowers and their large number, lush brightly colored clusters attract all the attention, it happens that the foliage is completely invisible behind them. Because of the shape (triangular petals are connected into one center, as if forming a star), bougainvillea is also sometimes called the "triple flower". Bougainvillea belongs to the Nyctaginaceae family. Bougainvillea can often be seen at resorts in hot countries: bright flowers perfectly decorate the territory of hotels and residential buildings, branching beautifully and wrapping around fences and walls.

Species and varieties

Bougainvillea nude

The plant got this name because of the bare or almost bare stem without thorns, strongly branching, resembling a liana. The leaves of such a bougainvillea are approximately 10x4 cm in size, pointed, oval, short-petiolate, alternate, entire. The flowers of bougainvillea naked have a size of 2 to 5 cm, most often collected in two or three, but there are also single ones. Around the flower is a bract of lilac, pink-red, white, orange, yellow, with time the bracts turn pale.

Bougainvillea wonderful

Another type of bougainvillea with a positive name. The main difference from naked bougainvillea is that the shoots have much more thorns. Bougainvillea wonderful grows on slopes covered with stones, open, its bracts have a red tint.

Bougainvillea Mini Thai

This variety was obtained by crossing bougainvillea naked and Peruvian. The bracts of this plant have a delicate light pink or light orange hue.

Home care

Consider the basic rules for caring for a delicate flower - bougainvillea. In summer, bougainvillea needs bright light and sufficient ventilation, it is best if it grows in a summer garden, and not on a regular windowsill. If the temperature is optimal and there is no rain and cold in summer, then bougainvillea blooms brightly and profusely, delighting its owners and causing the envy of neighbors. In winter, the flower is usually removed to a cool place, one where the temperature does not consistently exceed 14 degrees. This is necessary for the plant to accumulate strength during the dormant period, starting to bloom with renewed vigor next season.

As for watering, it also differs, depending on the season. In summer, you can’t spare water for a flower, and in winter you need to slightly moderate watering, but, of course, do not wait until the soil is completely dry. Bougainvillea loves high humidity and spraying, and does not like changing places. Between March and October, it is best to fertilize the plant. With improper care of bougainvillea, the following difficulties may arise: yellowing of the leaves due to too abundant watering, the appearance of pests (aphids, mealy worms, scale insects).

Temperature and content features

Bougainvillea is originally a tropical flower, so it is easy to guess that it requires high humidity and temperature. Recommended temperature for keeping bougainvillea: 22-30°C in summer. In winter, the temperature of the flower content should be lowered, as comfortable as possible and providing abundant flowering in the future, there will be a temperature of about 12-13 ° C.

reproduction

Reproduction of bougainvillea, to ensure maximum productivity, is best done between May and July. At home, it is carried out by cuttings or with the help of air layering (both must be green). How does the process of reproduction go?

Firstly , an adult plant is taken and cuttings of bougainvillea are cut under the kidney.

Secondly , these cuttings are treated with a drug that accelerates the growth of roots, and all leaves growing from below are cut off.

Third , plant cuttings in the ground with a special composition. The soil should consist of sand and peat contained in equal amounts.

Fourth , the cutting is immersed in the soil up to the 2nd internode and all this is placed under an ordinary glass jar.

Finally, fifth , requires constant maintenance of a temperature of 25 ° C, airing and spraying the plant. In about a month, you can expect the result - the rooting of the plant.

Another breeding method is using air layering. The stem that has not yet hardened is pressed to the ground, having previously cut a little. With the help of a wire, the cutting is fixed in the soil until roots appear there. After that, you can disconnect the young plant from the main one.

Landing, transfer

An important factor in the maintenance of bougainvillea at home is the soil and its composition. In order for a flower to look excellent, it needs a soil of a certain composition, and it is categorically impossible to treat this factor as some kind of trifle that does not deserve attention. So, what should be the composition of the soil? Florists need to remember at least three main points: drainage, density, low alkali content. It has established itself as the optimal soil composition: 10 percent quartz sand, 20 percent peat, and everything else is turf and leafy soil.

As for transplantation, it is necessary for young bougainvillea plants at least once a year. When the plant has already grown up, then you can transplant even less often - once every 3-5 years, because each transplant is, after all, stress for the plant. Flower growers should remember that during transplantation, the roots and the ground around them should not be disturbed much. As for the pot, the tighter it is, the more abundant and magnificent the flowering turns out to be, but if the pot is spacious, then the roots of the plant grow strongly.

If the plant lives in the southern regions, then it is usually found in open ground, on the street. Then, in addition to planting and transplanting, he also needs pruning. This is done so that the plant branches better and more beautifully, does not become “liquid”.

Watering, lighting

The most important thing to remember at this point is that bougainvillea, a fastidious native of the tropics, is very fond of sunlight. So that she receives a sufficient amount of it, if you live in Russia, then you can place a flower on the windowsill of windows facing south, and in winter - in some dark place. Regular watering is very important, do not allow the soil to dry out. At the same time, excessive overflow should not be allowed: if water remains in the plant pan, it must be drained and abundant watering should be slightly suspended. This is not difficult at all, but it is very easy to forget to perform this simple action.

Another simple but favorite action of bougainvillea flowers is spraying. Using a simple spray bottle from a flower supply store, spray the plant, because it dries very much due to the heating system, and this can be fatal to it. It should also be noted that bougainvillea needs to be fed: when you go to a garden store, you need to purchase a complex of mineral fertilizers that is suitable specifically for bougainvillea. This complex should be applied once a week, and only in the warm season.

Interesting facts about the bougainvillea plant

The flower was named after Louis Antoine de Bougainville, a navigator, explorer of the Pacific Ocean, who lived in the 18th century and made many geographical discoveries. Not only a flower bears his name, but also some marine geographical objects: a depression, a strait.

Bougainvillea does not like change very much: the slightest change of scenery can lead to shedding of leaves and cessation of growth. But under stable, careful care, bougainvillea thanks its owner with amazing beauty, blooming and growing profusely.

According to some beliefs, bougainvillea attracts money to the house, is a symbol of wealth, power, energy and prosperity. Some even advise putting a coin in a pot with a plant in order to enhance the effect of a beneficial effect.

In fact, what looks like flowers are not flowers at all in bougainvillea. These are bracts, that is, in fact, leaves, and the flowers are in the center.

Raspberry bougainvillea was first discovered only in the 19th century by the Englishwoman Alice Butt.

Among the bougainvilleas there are champions: in Brazil there is a plant whose height exceeds 15 meters, and its age is two centuries

The bougainvillea flower has been named the official flower of the American city of San Clemente.

The riot of flora of the southern countries impresses everyone who has been there. And one of the most striking impressions is made by bougainvillea. White, lilac, purple, purple, pink, yellow and cream brushes of this plant hang from hedges, adorn parks and gardens. You want to take such beauty home, so tourists bring cuttings of bougainvillea. But this Tropican does not always take root at home. What is the secret of growing bougainvillea?

Description of bougainvillea, its origin and features

European flower growers got acquainted with bougainvillea in the 18th century. This wonderful plant was discovered in the South American jungle by the French botanist Commerson. He took part in an exploratory voyage around the world led by Louis Antoine de Bougainville. A previously unknown flower was named in his honor. Bougainvillea was delivered to Europe, but it turned out that the north was contraindicated for her, she felt good only in greenhouse conditions: greenhouses and winter gardens.

At large, bougainvillea is a fairly large plant, it can grow up to 15 meters

Now bougainvillea has settled in the tropical and subtropical zone around the globe. It grows where the temperature does not fall below +5 degrees. This bright liana is a favorite plant of landscape designers. Its plastic shoots easily take any shape. And the color palette is so rich that you can paint a picture with bougainvillea. There will be only blue paint.

Bougainvilleas come in all colors and shades of the rainbow except blue and blue.

At home, this wonderful plant is also gradually mastered. Even 20 years ago, bougainvillea was considered an extremely difficult flower to care for. Now there are varieties adapted to the content in the apartment.

Bougainvillea bracts are thin, collected in long fluffy brushes, very similar to paper garlands. Because of this similarity in the southern countries, the plant was given the nickname - paper flower.

Bougainvillea flowers are good in their own way, but the main charm is bright bracts

In its natural environment, bougainvillea is a large (up to 15 meters) liana or bush. When living in a room, it is rarely higher than one and a half meters. The shoots of the plant are equipped with thorns and eventually become covered with bark. The leaves are medium in size (up to 8 cm), they are smooth or slightly pubescent, oval in shape with a pointed end. Bougainvillea forms yellowish tubular flowers at the ends of branches, they are small and not very expressive. A picturesque view of the plant is given by lush bright bracts - snow-white, purple, purple, fiery orange, purple, pink, yellow or cream and beige.

New varieties of bougainvillea combine several colors or change color over time

Colors, thanks to breeders, are becoming more and more. There are already bicolor bougainvilleas and color-changing bracts. Real flowers fade quickly, in 2-3 days. And the bracts retain their decorative effect for a long time. And bougainvillea blooms for a long time from spring to late autumn with room content. Under natural conditions, flowering can last up to 9 months.

Bougainvillea, which used to be considered difficult to keep indoors, is increasingly being grown on window sills.

The difficulty of growing bougainvillea at home is that it requires a lot of light all year round, high temperatures during growth and flowering, and high humidity. And wintering should be cool and with almost dry soil.

Long-lived bougainvillea grows in Brazil. This is a 15-meter tree, and its age, according to botanists, is over 200 years.

Bougainvillea is ideal for creating a standard tree

But you can adapt to the habits of the obstinate Tropican woman. And then bougainvillea will delight and surprise with wonderful flowering and unusual shapes. From this plant, you can grow a bush with a cascade of colored brushes, form a standard tree or liana on a pyramidal, rounded or some other support. Bougainvillea bonsai looks great.

From bougainvillea it is possible to form very decorative flowering miniature trees

Species, hybrids and varieties

Bougainvillea is a member of the Nocturnal family. There are only 15 species in its genus. Of these, only three: naked, wonderful and Peruvian, as well as numerous varieties and hybrids derived from them, are suitable for cultivation at home. The breeders worked not only on the color of the bracts, but also made the leaves variegated, smoothed and blossomed the thorns and improved the character of the obstinate beauty.

Bougainvillea wonderful, or beautiful, comes from the tropics of Brazil. This fast-growing (up to 9 meters) liana with thorny shoots has chosen rocky slopes. In our country, now it can be seen in the Caucasus and Crimea. It has slightly hairy stems and velvety oval leaves. The flowers are yellow-greenish, the bracts are large lilac or red-pink. In regions with a tropical climate, hedges are grown from wonderful bougainvillea, it serves to decorate arbors. In an apartment, it is often grown as an ampelous one.
Bougainvillea naked, or smooth, is distinguished by smaller thorns compared to the wonderful one, and the absence of edging on shoots and leaves. She is also a native of Brazil and prefers mountainous terrain. The branched stems of this creeper do not grow more than 5 m. At home, it is often grown in the form of a bush and it is from it that bonsai are formed. The plant blooms for a long time and luxuriantly. The bracts of bougainvillea naked are snow-white, lemon-yellow, apricot-pink, pale lilac, bright orange or scarlet. For greater decorativeness, cuttings of plants of different colors are rooted in one container, they are woven together and unusual multi-colored compositions are obtained.
Peruvian bougainvillea is distinguished by its green bark. Its stems are covered with small thorns and smooth foliage. The plant does not branch well, pruning will be required to create a fluffy bush. But the Peruvian bougainvillea, if she arranges a drought, blooms several times a year. Around the yellowish flowers, rounded bracts are formed, as if rumpled, and the color is from bright pink to purple.
Bougainvillea Butt is a natural hybrid of the naked and Peruvian. It bears the name of its discoverer - Mrs. Butt, she discovered an unusual plant in her garden in Cartagena (Spain). The hybrid has larger leaves and bracts, blood-scarlet and deep pink.

Based on two types of bougainvillea, beautiful and naked, many varieties have been bred. These hybrids are distinguished by the variety of color of the bracts and their shape (there are terry ones), the variegation of the leaves and the size of the plant. The most famous hybrid varieties of bougainvillea:

Sanderiana - one of the most unpretentious varieties, blooms vigorously, sometimes several times during the year, bright purple bracts;
Vera Deep Purple is bright crimson bracts and long lush blooms;
Crimson Lake is distinguished by bracts of all shades of red: from pale scarlet to purple-burgundy;
Golden Tango has bright yellow large bracts that surround very small flowers;
Double red looks original thanks to the red multilayer (terry) bracts;
Double Pink - another terry variety, lush bracts are painted in all sorts of shades of pink;
Strawberry Lace is decorated with double bracts with a contrasting raspberry-white color;
Bois De Roses - a variety that changes color, at first the bracts are bright orange, gradually becoming pink;
Double Lilarose with luxurious bracts, all shades of pink: from lilac to salmon;
Variety Surprise is the result of a bud mutation, on one plant there are branches with differently colored bracts: pure pink and white-pinkish.

A separate group is variegated (variegated) bougainvillea. These plants, thanks to the bright foliage, do not lose their decorative effect between flowering periods. But they grow more slowly and are more capricious. Some variegated varieties:

Orange Ice - white-yellow-green variegated leaves and bright orange bracts look very original;
Mini thai is a miniature shrub with rich green leaves edged with white or golden stripe, pale pink or red bracts.

Types and varieties of bougainvillea with different bracts, simple and spotted leaves - photo gallery

Surprise - a variety that combines two colors of Sanderian on one plant - the most famous variety, famous for its bright purple bracts Peruvian bougainvillea is able to bloom several times a year Bougainvillea naked, or smooth - the basic species for new varieties Bougainvillea Butt - a hybrid created by nature Wonderful bougainvillea has become the ancestor of most varieties Vera Deep Purple blooms vigorously and for a long time Strawberry Lace - a variety with two-color petals Orange Ice - variegated variety, both leaves and orange bracts are good Mini thai compact form with variegated foliage and pale pink tassels Golden Tango - golden bracts petals Double Pink variety has terry pale pink bracts Double red variety - fluffy bracts Double Lilarose - terry variety with very lush brushes Crimson Lake variety - bracts of all shades of red Bois De Roses bracts change color

Video: shaping and transplanting bougainvilleas

Tropicanka conditions (table)

Season	Lighting	humidity	Temperature
Spring	Bright. The best place for bougainvillea is where there is a lot of sun. This is the perfect plant for a south window. Shading is not required even at noon. And if there is little direct sun (less than 4 hours a day), the bracts will turn pale.	High, not less than 70%. Spray the plant more often, but during flowering, try not to get water on the bracts. Arrange bougainvillea showers, during the procedure, be sure to cover the soil with a film so that there is no waterlogging. Place the pot with the plant in wet peat or moss, on a tray with pebbles or expanded clay and water the filler (the bottom of the pot should be above the water level). Place wide containers of water nearby. Get an aquarium, buy an electric humidifier or indoor fountain.	Moderate, about 20 degrees. Bougainvillea loves fresh air, ventilate the room. But keep the plant away from drafts.
Summer			Moderate, tolerable high. Better up to 25 degrees, maximum 28. For the summer, put a pot of bougainvillea on the balcony or in the garden. Fresh air stimulates flowering. The place must be protected from the wind.
Autumn	With a reduction in daylight hours, add artificial lighting (fluorescent, LED or phytolamps). Abundant lighting during the dormant period is the key to plant health and future flowering.	Moderate, 50–60%, when kept cool. High, 60–70%, in a warm (+20) room. Humidify the air in all available ways. Do not place the plant near heating appliances.	Moderate, 20-25 degrees. Lower it gradually. Bring the plant back home.
Winter			The temperature is cool, +10-14 degrees. Bougainvillea does not tolerate below +5 degrees. At high temperatures, leaf fall may begin. Keep away from cold drafts.

How to organize summer content?

In the southern regions, bougainvillea is a garden plant. In the wild for a flowering Tropicanka, there is everything that she likes: a lot of space for growth, sun, fresh air and soil. In a more severe climate, bougainvillea is not averse to spending at least the summer outside. And it's great if there is an opportunity to send it to the garden or to the country. Russian lovers of this plant talk about the positive results of such "holidays". Bougainvillea pots without pallets are placed directly in the garden. Roots through drainage holes go into the ground. The growth over the summer can be half a meter. Bougainvilleas with this content eat with neighbors in the garden. Tropical beauty perfectly absorbs organic matter, for example, a solution based on horse manure. From such top dressing, the plants "twig like horses" are divided flower growers.

Bougainvillea has a whim: it does not take a change of place very well. You should not move the pot from room to room without special need or turn it so that the light falls evenly. It is especially important not to disturb bougainvillea during bud formation and flowering. From stress, she can start falling leaves. Determine a permanent place for the plant, taking into account its needs and do not touch it.

Bougainvillea does not like a change of place and a pot

Landing and transplant

Bougainvillea negatively tolerates moving not only from place to place, but also transplantation. The plant adapts for a long time after replacing the pot, does not want to bloom, dries the leaves. Therefore, a tropical beauty is transplanted when it is impossible otherwise: the roots stick out of the drainage holes, growth has stopped due to soil depletion. Then wait until spring and relocate it. In fact, it will not be a transplant, but a transshipment with the maximum preservation of the earthen coma.

A new container for bougainvillea should be 2-3 cm larger than the previous one. She doesn't need a big pot. If there is a lot of soil, it will begin to build up the root mass, then greenery, and flowering will be delayed. In addition, moisture stagnates more often in a large container, and this threatens to rot the roots. The material from which the pot is made does not really matter. But tall bougainvillea is better to plant in ceramic, it is heavier and more stable. But the presence and size of drainage holes are important. Excess moisture should not remain in the ground.

The soil of bougainvillea will like loose and moderately nutritious, with a neutral level of acidity. You can plant it in the soil for flowering plants by adding coarse sand or chopped moss. Or make your own substrate:

sheet and sod land, coarse sand - all equally, add a little vermiculite or brick chips for looseness;
1 part of leaf and sod land, 0.5 each of coarse sand and humus;
for 2 shares of any flower substrate, 1 each for vermiculite and soil for cacti;
sod land, peat, humus and sand in equal parts, add coal chips;
two parts of leaf and peat land plus one part of sod land and sand.

Make the drainage layer from expanded clay, small pebbles, broken red brick or crushed foam. The larger the pot, the more drainage.

We transplant a tropical vine

Prepare the pot, soil and drainage, sterilize everything.
We lay a drainage layer on the bottom of the pot, on top - a little soil substrate.
On the eve, do not water the bougainvillea so that the earthen ball dries out a little, so it is easier to get the plant out of the old pot.
Carefully remove the flower from the old container, inspect the roots. We remove the rotten ones. A few outer roots are carefully freed from the soil.
We install bougainvillea in a new pot, straighten the freed roots.
For better adaptation in a new pot, the roots can be sprayed with a stimulant (Epin, Zircon).
Slowly, we fill the space between the earthy clod and the walls of the pot, shaking it.
We compact the soil with our fingers, trying not to damage the roots.
We water the tree abundantly and spray its crown. Humid air will help to adapt faster.
We put the transplanted bougainvillea in a permanent place (necessarily sunny). But for about a week or, if necessary, we shade it longer.
When the plant is comfortable, we take care of it as usual.

Flower from the store

You brought the purchased bougainvillea home, do not rush to put it with the rest of the plants, but keep it in quarantine for two weeks. Give her a bright spot. Water with heated (+35) water. Let the bougainvillea get used to its new home.

After about 10 days, stop watering to dry out the soil.
Take the plant out of the pot.
Remove the film or seating container, if any.
Shake the substrate off the roots.
Transplant the bougainvillea into fresh soil, preferably a styrofoam drainage layer.
Do not deepen the root collar.

home care for bougainvillea

Bougainvillea will not let the grower get bored. It requires high humidity, walks in summer and relative coolness, yet the plant is tropical in winter. In addition, it needs to be cut and shaped, otherwise it will become messy. And, of course, watering and nutrition should correspond to the time of year.

Watering and feeding

In spring and summer, bougainvillea craves more water. It grows, blooms, so moisture is vital to it. Water the plant on average twice a week with lukewarm and soft water. But even in summer, you need to protect the roots from waterlogging. Be sure to drain the excess from the pan.

With the onset of autumn, watering is gradually reduced, increasing the interval and reducing the volume. In winter, follow the rule: the cooler the room, the more modestly we water. If the temperature is close to the minimum (+5), the soil should be dry. The signal for a complete cessation of watering is the dropping of leaves.

During growth and flowering, bougainvillea should be fed with organic matter and mineral fertilizers.

In the warm season, bougainvillea should be fed. At least three times a month. You can alternate organics (fermented manure) and mineral complexes. In early spring, fertilizers with a high nitrogen content can be given to help the foliage grow better. And from May, phosphorus and potassium will be more useful to support flowering.

During hibernation, bougainvillea is not fertilized.

Some flower growers advise feeding bougainvillea in winter, the diet should be unconventional - sweet or dairy. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of sugar in a glass of water. Or add 2 tablespoons of milk to a glass of water. Water the plant with such solutions every 10 days.

flowering period

Florists often complain that a healthy and well-groomed bougainvillea does not want to bloom. Perhaps this is due to errors in care or improper conditions of detention.

Bougainvillea blooms well after a cool winter and in bright sun.

Bougainvillea for lush and long flowering requires the following conditions:

coolness (+10–12, can be lower to +5) during the winter dormancy;
a lot of light (requires 4-5 hours of direct sun);
cramped pot;
food rich in phosphorus and potassium.

Bougainvillea flowering can be spurred on by arranging a drought for it. If the plant does not form buds, try to stop feeding and drastically limit watering. The shocked flower will begin to form buds, then water and fertilize the bougainvillea again so that it does not weaken.

Sometimes flowers appeared at the end of spring, withered, but there are no new ones. In this case, you need to cut off the faded branches, then the second wave of flowering will begin.

rest period

In winter, bougainvillea needs special care. The plant does not feel well without the sun, so all processes slow down. Tropical beauty becomes sleeping. She needs to be provided with a lighted, but cool place, with a temperature of +10–12 degrees or lower, up to +5. In warm regions, bougainvillea may well overwinter on a glazed balcony. In the northern regions it is more difficult to create optimal conditions. You can put it almost close to the cold window glass and fence it off from the rest of the room with a screen to keep it cool. With a cold content, a moderate level of air humidity is sufficient. It is necessary to cancel water procedures. Watering is limited to a minimum, top dressing is stopped.

In the southern latitudes, bougainvillea is left to winter on a sheltered veranda or loggia, at a temperature of +5 degrees and above. In order for the plant to comfortably survive the winter, it is necessary to insulate the roots. Under the flower pot, wrap with foam rubber, batting or other insulation and lay foam under it, mulch the top of the soil with peat or sawdust.

But it is possible and necessary to spray the foliage of bougainvillea if the temperature is about + 18–20 and above. Otherwise, dry air and heat will lead to leaf fall. During a warm winter, bougainvillea may bloom, but this is not good for the health of the plant. It will not have time to rest and accumulate strength for flourishing in the summer.

Light and during dormancy bougainvillea needs a lot, even in excess, especially for variegated varieties. Therefore, add artificial lighting. Ordinary incandescent lamps are not suitable. Install special phytolamps, gas discharge or fluorescent lamps. LED lights are the most efficient.

With the approach of spring, sleeping bougainvillea must be awakened: the temperature of the content is gradually increased, and the soil is moistened more strongly.

Proper pruning and shaping

Bougainvillea becomes disheveled and unkempt if left uncut. Haircut is done at any time of the year. In autumn, before leaving for winter rest, the branches are shortened by half. Thanks to this, the bush is rejuvenated, and the side shoots grow more actively. Pruning in the spring is a healing procedure. Extra, weak, uneven branches are removed, too long ones are made shorter. In summer, wilted brushes are removed, such pruning stimulates new flowering.

Bougainvillea tolerates pruning well at any time of the year.

Bougainvillea is positively pruned. And its branches are very plastic. Therefore, without much effort, they can be given an interesting shape. For example, plant plants with differently colored bracts in one pot and intertwine them. Place the vine on a support of any shape, grow a fluffy bush or trunk. Patients can experiment, I form bonsai from bougainvillea.

Mistakes care and help

Leaving error	Why is this happening	Correction
Bougainvillea is shedding leaves en masse.	In the middle of autumn - it's natural. Reaction to a transplant or change of location. In summer, the foliage falls due to drafts or temperature changes.	The plant will grow back in spring. To stop leaf fall, try increasing the humidity. Protect bougainvillea from cold drafts, do not place it in the wind.
Brown spots appear on the leaves.	High air humidity combined with low temperature. Fungal or bacterial disease.	When kept cool, do not spray the plant and do not humidify the air. Treatment methods in the following table.
Leaves and bracts turn pale.	Lack of lighting.	Place the bougainvillea in the sunniest spot.
Leaves turn yellow, fall off.	Waterlogging of the soil substrate.	Adjust watering schedule. Do not allow water to stand in the pan. If the problem persists, transplant the plant into fresh soil.
Leaves dry, blacken and die.	Dry soil.	Water bougainvillea generously in spring and summer.
The leaves have lost their elasticity after transplanting.	During the transplant, the roots were damaged.	Create greenhouse conditions for the flower. Spray and put on top of the bag. Put in a bright place, but without direct sun. Check the condition of the plant from time to time. It usually takes a week to recover.
Leaves and bracts are deformed, dry.	Dry air.	Remove from heating appliances, humidify the air.

If it looks like bougainvillea has dried up

On the eve of hibernation, after transplantation or other changes, bougainvillea can pretend to be completely dry and dead. She sheds all the leaves, only the bare stem and twigs remain. But do not despair and throw away the plant. Check if it's alive. Cut a branch and look, the cut is alive - it means that bougainvillea will come to life. If this happened in winter, keep it cool and dry, the soil should only be barely damp. If in the warm season, try the “bag on the head” method, arrange a greenhouse for the flower.

In winter, bougainvillea can look completely lifeless.

Diseases and pests: treatment and prevention (table)

Propagation of bougainvillea

Bougainvillea can be grown from cuttings, air layers and seeds. The first methods preserve the varietal characteristics of the plant.

cuttings

Cuttings are carried out in summer or late spring, while not all plants take root. There are especially "difficult" bougainvilleas that need a special substrate. Green immature shoots, as a rule, do not take root. The best effect will be when using greenhouses with bottom heating.

Video: propagation by cuttings

layering

Layers of bougainvillea take root much better than cuttings. And they carry out such reproduction at any time of the year. But this way you can get only a small number of plants.

Choose a healthy shoot, cut the bark on it around the circumference.
Bend it to the ground and attach it.
Sprinkle a light substrate on top.
Soon shoots will appear from the axillary buds.
When the layering gets stronger, separate it from the mother plant and plant it in a separate container. And you can immediately root the layering in another pot.

seeds

Seed propagation is very difficult. Because getting seeds from a home plant is almost impossible. In nature, bougainvillea is pollinated by hummingbirds or hawk moths. Artificial pollination fails due to the small size of the flower. However, some flower growers manage to find seeds via the Internet. But very often unidentified plants grow instead of bougainvillea. Although there are successful breeding experiments in this way.

Bougainvillea seeds are a rarity

bougainvillea- a small genus of tropical and subtropical plants that came to us from South Africa. Botanists refer to this genus 14 species of evergreens, which are small trees, shrubs or lianas with long flexible thorny creeping shoots. The popularity of bougainvillea has earned due to the lush long flowering, which in its homeland and in countries with a similar climate can last all year.

The leaves of bougainvillea can be smooth or pubescent (depending on the type of plant), but they are always characterized by the next arrangement on the stem. The flowers are inconspicuous, small, cream-colored, collected in racemose inflorescences. The main decorative value is represented by brightly colored perianths resembling crumpled paper in texture.

Features of growing bougainvillea

bougainvillea home

When growing bougainvillea, do not forget about its thermophilicity. In warm countries, the flower pleases with continuous flowering and does not have a dormant period, but it is not able to withstand temperatures below +5 ° C. In the subtropical regions of the Caucasus, the plant can sometimes be kept in open ground throughout the year, but even under these conditions, preventive shelter is required.

In the middle lane, bougainvillea is a greenhouse plant and is grown in greenhouses, greenhouses and houses.

The flower adapts well to conditions that differ from natural. Indoor bougainvillea has a distinct dormant period and is not capable of continuous flowering, but with good care it can please the owner with bright colors several times a year. In summer, bougainvillea will feel great in the garden, on the balcony or terrace.

The plant can be called relatively unpretentious. It does not require special conditions for keeping bougainvillea, but it is necessary to know the rules for caring for a flower in order to achieve maximum decorative effect. Even a novice florist should not have difficulty caring for a plant.

Proper planting is the main component of good growth and intensive flowering of bougainvillea.

There are 3 main components that should be considered when planting a plant:

optimal composition of the soil;
the right choice of pot;
choice of auspicious time.

Most often practiced planting plants in pots and tubs (depending on size).

When growing in a greenhouse, you can dig in plants with a flowerpot or simply plant them in the ground. In the latter case, bougainvillea grows very intensively for the first few years, but does not bloom.

Priming

For planting a plant, a nutritious, but light substrate, with good water and air permeability, is needed. You can simply use the universal potting mix for flowering plants, which is available in any flower shop. But experienced flower growers prefer to prepare the substrate for planting on their own.

To do this, take:

leaf ground (2 parts);
sod land (2 parts);
coarse sand (1 part);
humus (1 part).

Important! As additional components, a small amount of vermiculite, clay, chalk, ash, or other substances is sometimes added to the soil. Soil pH should be between 5.5 - 6.0.

In nature, bougainvillea often grows in a limited space, between stones, so a small pot must be chosen for planting and subsequent transplants. A spacious flowerpot stimulates the intensive growth of shoots and leaf mass to the detriment of flowering, and thin roots cannot always quickly master a new volume of soil, which leads to its acidification.

The new pot should exceed the diameter of the old one by only a few centimeters. The height of the flowerpot should be greater than the width, and a thick layer of expanded clay should be placed on the bottom.

Transfer time

In early spring, the plant wakes up after a winter dormant period and is ready to build up the underground and aboveground parts. This time is most favorable for planting and transplanting bougainvillea.

Bougainvillea care at home

Growing bougainvillea is much easier than it might seem at first glance. The main thing with room content is to bring the conditions as close as possible to natural ones.

Location and lighting

In nature, bougainvillea grows on rocky slopes and receives a lot of tropical sun, so at home you need to choose a place with maximum lighting, at least 5 hours of directional light per day. Even on sunny days, the plant does not need shading. The brightness of the bracts and color saturation depend on the intensity of illumination. Bright lighting is also necessary in winter, despite the dormant period.

ATTENTION! Bougainvillea does not like moving, so in an effort to find the best place, you should not move it from one room to another and twist it around its axis. Try to immediately choose a permanent place for the flower.

Air humidity

It is difficult to create at home the humidity characteristic of the tropics and subtropics, but this must be strived for. Bougainvillea loves high humidity and regular spraying. especially between blooms. During flowering, spraying can be stopped or carried out very carefully so that water does not fall on the bracts. The plant can be placed on a tray of wet pebbles to increase humidity.

Temperature regime

Bougainvillea is thermophilic and does not tolerate temperatures below 10 ° C. The optimum temperature for summer maintenance is 20-25 ° C, winter - 12-16 ° C. Lowering the temperature is important for laying flower buds and abundant flowering. If bougainvillea is kept in warmer conditions in winter, then it needs to provide additional lighting.

Watering

The plant needs abundant watering, especially during the period of active growth. However, you need to strike a balance between dryness and waterlogging. The earth ball must be kept moist, but not wet. Bougainvillea stops growing in autumn and prepares for a dormant period, so watering must be reduced, and then almost completely stopped. In the autumn-winter period, it is especially important not to overmoisten the substrate and just not to allow it to dry out too much.

top dressing

Bougainvillea from spring to autumn needs regular top dressing with liquid fertilizer. It is recommended to use fertilizers for flowering and budding as a top dressing, with a low nitrogen content and a high content of potassium, phosphorus and iron. Excess nitrogen delays and weakens flowering.

pruning- one of the most important moments of plant care. Pruning is necessary not only to form a beautiful plant, but also to stimulate flowering. This procedure is carried out several times a year. In the spring, pruning is carried out to remove dry and weak shoots that have dried up over the winter. In summer, inflorescences that have lost their decorative effect are cut off. Autumn pruning is carried out to give shape. Shoots are shortened by a third of the length or more, the extra ones are cut out.

Forming allows you to give the plant a certain appearance. It can be formed as a single-trunked tree, in a bonsai style, in the form of a multi-stemmed bush, or on a support, giving any bizarre shapes, depending on its configuration.

Several plants of different colors look extremely decorative, planted in one pot, the shoots of which were intertwined as they grew. Multi-colored plants can also be created by grafting onto a bole.

IMPORTANT! When pruning, be sure to leave 5-7 cm of the shoot of the current year, because. dormant buds on old shoots wake up very hard, and new shoots may not form.

Transfer

When choosing a pot, soil and time for transplanting, you must be guided by the same criteria as when planting. The new flowerpot should only be a few centimeters more spacious than the previous one. Choosing too large a pot is not worth it, because. this negatively affects both flowering and plant health. Thin roots are not able to quickly master the earthen clod and the earth can turn sour.

It is advisable not to damage the roots and earthen ball, but simply transfer the plant to a larger flowerpot, and fill the free space with soil. Transshipment is less traumatic for the roots than transplantation, so the plant tolerates this procedure more easily.

The frequency of transplants depends on the age and intensity of plant growth. Young bougainvilleas are recommended to be transplanted annually or 1 time in 2 years, adults - 1 time in 3-5 years, or as needed.

ATTENTION! Bougainvillea does not tolerate transplantation, especially adult specimens. Plants can get sick for a long time, shed their leaves and not bloom.

There are three main ways to propagate bougainvillea:

stem cuttings;
air layers;
seeds.

The seed method is the most difficult, since it is almost impossible to obtain seeds in the absence of a pollinator. In the wild, pollinators are hummingbirds that live only in tropical countries. In temperate climates, the hawk hawk moth can sometimes be a pollinator, but the formation of an ovary is very rare.

Stem cuttings are the most popular and easiest way to propagate. For propagation use summer semi-lignified cuttings, cut in June. Rooting is carried out at a temperature of 20-25 ° C and high humidity in a mixture of peat and sand. To create optimal conditions, you can use a greenhouse or simply cover the pot with cuttings with a plastic bag. Before planting, cuttings are recommended to be treated with a growth stimulator. The probability of rooting will increase if the bottom heating of the container with the cuttings is provided.

Propagation by air layering can be done at any time of the year. To do this, a pot of soil mixture is placed next to the plant, a young non-lignified shoot is bent down, pinned to the ground and lightly sprinkled. In the place of contact with the soil, it is necessary to apply small damage (scratches, incision) to stimulate the formation of roots. When the shoot takes root, you can separate the young plant.

Propagation by cuttings and layering makes it possible to preserve the variety of the plant. The probability of rooting layering is higher, but this method allows you to get only a few copies. When propagated by cuttings, not all planted plants take root, but this method is quite suitable for mass reproduction.

This is how flowering happens.

Due to the bright and long flowering, the plant has earned popularity among flower growers. Flower buds are laid in winter, and with the onset of spring, flowers bloom on the plant, the main charm of which lies in bright bracts.

The duration of flowering at home can be 6-7 months (May-November). In this case, the leaves of the plant can be completely hidden under bright bracts.

The color of the bracts of the plant may vary depending on the variety and species. They can be white, yellow, peach, lilac, purple, purple, pink. Especially beautiful is the terry buggenvillea, in which the bracts are arranged in several rows.

The flowers are short-lived, but the bracts adorn the plant for a long time. When the bracts lose their decorativeness, the shoot is cut off, leaving 7-8 buds of a young shoot. This pruning encourages re-blooming on young shoots.

Among the few species of bougainvillea, only a few can be grown at home. Most often you can find Brazilian species: naked bougainvillea (Bougainvillea glabra) and wonderful bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectabilis). But plant varieties are striking in diversity. They differ not only in shape, color, number of bracts, but also in the color of the leaves.

One of the best is bougainvillea sanderiana with purple bracts and abundant flowering. Bougainvillea is one of the most common varieties. Vera Deep Purple' with large fuchsia-crimson bracts and abundant flowering. Fans of variegated leaves will like the ‘Orange Ice’ bougainvillea, which impresses not only with the bright orange color of the bracts, but also with variegated variegated leaves. An interesting leaf color is also characteristic of the ‘Mini thai’ variety. Bright green leaf blades are framed by a fugitive border. In addition, the plant is compact and forms a well-leafy crown.

Bougainvillea ‘Double red’ with red flowers looks very impressive, thanks to terry bracts. Among the interestingly colored varieties, bougainvillea ‘Snowcap multi’ stands out, the bracts of which have a two-tone white-pink color.

Diseases and pests

The plant, despite its tropical origin, is resistant to diseases and pests. Most bougainvillea diseases are associated with care mistakes, due to which the plant loses its decorative effect and sheds leaves.

The flower is sometimes affected by scale insects, mealybugs and aphids. The control measures for these pests are the same as in the case of damage to other indoor plants.

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