Do these 5 things to grow huge Bougainvillea plant fast

Bougainvillea plants pose several problems to gardeners whenever they are maintaining the flowers. Some problems are easy to identify but hard to solve such as over watering the bougainvillea prefer dry soils and may develop root rot if the soil is constantly wet. Also, bougainvillea need direct sunlight to produce their rich colors and hence if there is a shortage of light, they struggle to grow and the flowering is sparse. Some of the diseases consist of the fungal disease affecting the stem, root rot, nematodes and pests such as aphids, spider mites and caterpillars may feed on the leaves and stems. Some of them include pruning to control the size and shape of the plant; however, right or excessive pruning affects the flowering of the plant. Ultimately, bougainvillea do not withstand frost and cold climatic conditions and therefore, the plant may lose its leaves or even ‘die back’.

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To make your bougainvillea bushier, follow these steps:

Pruning: This has the effect of creating good branching patterns and promoting a bushy growth habit and therefore requires more pruning than ‘three-stem’ for the same reason. Cut out any long shoots that are thin and slender and the ones which have been killed by frost, diseases etc. When pruning, try and cut at a node or just above it, especially if it is a leaf node since this encourages branch development.

Pinching: For the younger plants remove apical dominance by pinch off the apex of the growing shoots. They assist in redirecting energy towards the side shoots hence having many branches, leaves and looks bushier.

Provide Full Sun: It is a climbing vine that grows well in full sunlight and the more sunlight the plant receives the better it will grow and flower. So ensure that it is exposed to at least 6 hours of direct sunlight during the day.

Balanced Fertilizing: During the growing season, it is recommended that an equal-ratio fertilizer be used as a balanced between 10-10-10. also, do not apply too much nitrogen as it tends to give a lot of foliage at the expense of flowers.

Watering: If Bougainvilleas have to be grown in containers, it is best to allow a little drought stress in their life. Do not water your plant too often, but water it a lot when you do: wait until the soil surface is dry. Excess water leads to root rot and hence the plants grow weak.

When used in this conjunction, you will be promoting fuller and bushy bougainvillea with fantastic blooms of even more intensity.

Pot selection for Bougainvillea plant

When selecting a pot for bougainvillea, consider the following factors to ensure optimal growth and a bushier appearance:

1. Size: Select a pot that has slightly more space than the plant’s root ball so that it may continue to expand. When grown, Bougainvilleas do well in pots that are somewhat slightly root bound at the root base, so avoid overly large pots. Nine to sixteen inches is the right size of the pot for young plants and then you can progressively increase the size of the pot as the plants grows.
Material: The best pots should be the tera cotta or clay type of pots as this will ensure right drainage and do not retain water hence avoiding over watering which bougainvilleas deeply dislike. Plastic pots have a property of offering the plants a favorable soil condition as it comes with a ability to hold water hence be careful when watering plants on the plastic pots.
Drainage: Make sure that the pot is provided with many holes for drainage purposes. Bougainvilleas do not like having their roots in waterlogged soil and this is a sure way of getting root rot. They should have proper drainage systems since most of them are sensitive to water logging.
Weight: Bougainvilleas can grow quite tall and the plants can become quite hefty particularly where they develop more foliage. In case you intend placing the pot on a balcony or terrace then you need to think of the weight of the pot with the soil and your plant.

Hence when selecting a pot try to select the right size and fashioned out of the correct material to give your bougainvillea a healthy start to grow bushier.

Proper pruning technique for bougainvillea:-

Bougainvillea require adequate pruning, especially for them to branch out, grow bushy and flower prolifically. Here’s how to prune your bougainvillea effectively:

Timing the Pruning • Best Time to Prune: Generally, prune after the first blooming cycle of the winter or early spring before growth starts.This means that it can replace it and grow other branches that allow it to develop the next bloom.
Light Pruning: In the case of flowers, you can prune during the growing period to maintain shape as well as size, without having to strip the flowers away
.• Only prune when the weather is fine and use sharp and sterilized cutting tools for clean pruning to avoid tearing or spreading diseases.romoting healthy growth, bushiness, and abundant flowering.

Here’s how to prune your bougainvillea effectively:

Timing the Pruning

Best Time to Prune: Prune after the main flowering season, typically late winter or early spring, before the growing season begins. This allows the plant to recover and produce new growth for the next bloom.
Light Pruning: Throughout the growing season, you can perform light pruning to maintain shape and control size without removing too many flowers.

Tools • Use sharp, clean pruning shears or secateurs to make clean cuts and prevent damage or disease. Make sure that the blades are cleaned to a professional manner in order to prevent infections.
Identify What to Prune •
- Dead or Damaged Branches: This should be the first process after when you begin the pruning process, you should trim off all the dead, diseased or damaged branches.That is why it does not
- allow them to overtax the plant and contribute to its improved health.
  Long, Leggy Growth: Nip out and pinch out irreparably tall and thin appearing stems to ensure the plant is bushier.Prune at least half an inch above a node that is a leaf node will encourage the growth of new shoots.

Pruning for Shape • Cut at a 45-Degree Angle: Remember always to make your cuts at a slightly upward position from a node on anew branch or a leaf. It helps new side branches to grow fully in an outwards pattern and therefore makes the plant to be fuller.

Pinch or Cut Tips: To categorically encourage bushiness, use your fingers or a scissor and pinch or cut the emerging tips of branches.This uses up the plant’s energy in putting out side shoots rather than the growth that goes vertically.
Thin Out Crowded Areas: In case your bougainvillea has profuse growth with many branches crossing each other, prune inward some of the branches to allow air circulation. This helps in reduction of fungal problem and also allows sun light to filter down to the canopy layer.

Some homemade fertilizers for Bougainvillea :-

Making a homemade fertilizer for bougainvillea doesn’t have to be complicated, all you need is natural material that contains essential nutrients that bougainvillea requires.

Here are a few DIY options:

Banana Peel Fertilizer

Ingredients:

Banana peels (the inside portion contains potassium which triggers the flowering of plants)
Water

How to make:

Take bananas peals and make them into smaller chunks before putting them at the base of the bougainvillea plant.
Or it is washed by water, banana peels should be left to soak in water for 24-48 hours then the water used to water the plant.
This assists in the liberation of potassium and other alloy required for flowering other than enhancing vigor and strength.

Coffee Grounds

Ingredients: organic wastes like used coffee grounds due to high nitrogen contents.

How to use:

Caffeine is found in used coffee grounds, and applied on the base of the plant by having a thin layer on the soil.
The coffee grounds are slightly acidic, well-suited for bougainvillea, the organic nitrogen sources which release nutrients slowly.

Eggshell Fertilizer

Ingredients: Powdered eggshells (contain useful amounts of calcium)

How to make:

Carefully wash the eggshells with water and drain them Before processing,
put the eggshells in a mortar and grind them into a fine paste like powdered eggshells.
Scatter the crushed egg shells around the stems of this plant, preferably at its roots.
Calcium is required being used to form the cell cover as well as the cuticle in the different cells in the plant;
efficiency in the plant is enhanced.

Compost Tea

Ingredients: Blended tea compost (loaded with a great many nutrients)
Water