Hawaiian red bougainvillea. Planting and caring for bougainvillea at home

The romantic story behind the name and the frivolous image created by the delicate flowers certainly make the Brazilian visitor an attractive, exotic option to replenish the home garden. The article is devoted to the description of bougainvillea and advice on growing a tropical plant at home.

The heat-loving evergreen bougainvillea, named after one of the French navigators who circumnavigated the globe for the first time, stands out prominently in any area. Another name for bougainvillea, which belongs to the nyctagin family (night flowers), is a paper flower. In the wild, its distinctive features are reaching impressive sizes (up to 5 m), powerful stems, bright green hard foliage, sharp thorns and variegated inflorescences.

As a houseplant, bougainvillea also stands out from other plants - the flower can rise to 1.5 m. It is decorated with small snow-white flowers with five petals that fade quickly, so the shrub owes its decorative properties to bracts that resemble paper to the touch. The shades of the bracts vary from scarlet and purple to yellow and white. The period of active flowering occurs in spring and summer.

The period of active flowering of bougainvillea occurs in spring and summer.

One of the advantages of the plant is the ability to form any shape. as the paper flower undergoes regular pruning to maintain the correct size. Bougainvillea also has special processes that allow it to cling to any support and wrap around it. Thus, the plant can be both a shrub and a liana (standard tree).

The homeland of the flower is the tropical zones of Brazil and other areas in Central and South America, but today this shrub can be found even in the most remote corners of the planet, for example, it is grown in the Black Sea region of Russia, in Belarus and other temperate countries. In its natural environment, a paper flower settles on sunny edges and mountain slopes, where there is a lot of heat and light.

Gallery: bougainvillea (25 photos)

How to grow bougainvillea (video)

The best varieties of bougainvillea

Many years of breeding experience has made it possible to develop domesticated forms of a paper flower with a variety of decorative qualities. Below are the most popular varieties of bougainvillea today.

Bougainvillea Bois de roses

The variety is one of the most unusual, since by its example one can be convinced of the ability of garden bougainvillea to change the color of bracts over time. The large bracts of this variety are orange when they appear, and then acquire a rich pink hue, losing brightness as they fade. Bois de roses is hybrid variety, created by crossing bougainvillea smooth and Peruvian.

Bougainvillea Bois de roses

Bougainvillea Dauphine

The variety is highly valued by collectors, because the bred plant blooms magnificently: scarlet large bracts stand out favorably against the background of tricolor foliage. Each leaf has a unique pattern, formed by a light border on top of the main shade.

Bougainvillea Double Pink

This fabulously beautiful variety will want to start any grower: at the time of flowering, the plant acquires rich pink terry bracts that turn green towards the middle . The leaves are hard, juicy green.

Bougainvillea Double Pink

Bougainvillea Double Red

The variety differs from its counterparts in the unusual raspberry-fuchsia color of the bracts, which persists throughout the entire flowering period. The variety belongs to terry and blooms very profusely.

Bougainvillea California Gold

At the beginning of flowering, this garden culture has "golden" bracts, which subsequently turn pale and eventually become almost beige. At home, the rest period can shift, so sometimes the variety blooms in winter and not in summer.

Bougainvillea California Gold

Bougainvillea White Cascade

Variety refers to compact varieties. It blooms profusely, almost the same as many others, but the bracts are colored Ivory, occasionally there is a pink border. The leaves are large, deep dark green.

Bougainvillea Suprpise

The variety is a clear confirmation of the existence of such a phenomenon as a kidney mutation. The fact is that bracts on different branches can be of different colors, even diametrically opposed, for example, pink and white.

Bougainvillea Sanderiana

It is a hybrid created on the basis of naked bougainvillea. It stands out among others with a beautiful lilac shade of bracts, blooming against a background of dark green foliage.

Bougainvillea Sanderiana

Methods for propagating bougainvillea at home

The paper flower propagates in three traditional ways: from seeds, cuttings and air layering. The last two ways, in contrast to seed breeding, are the easiest to implement, so we will only talk about them below.

Reproduction by cuttings

It is better to cut the plant between May and July. This is when the plant is at its strongest. The cutting procedure begins with the extraction of shoots. It is necessary to cut off several half-lignified shoots of an adult plant about 10-12 cm long. They must be cut off under the kidney. Next, the young cuttings are processed as follows: the lower leaves are torn off, and the shoot itself is treated with a root system growth stimulator (kornevin, heteroauxin) and placed in a pot with the prepared soil mixture.

The soil can be both for an adult plant (with the addition of peat), and for young seedlings (instead of peat - humus). In addition to peat and humus, the mixture includes sand, sphagnum and charcoal. To speed up the rooting process of the cutting, it is recommended to cover it with a transparent material, maintain diffused light, as well as average humidity and temperature (about 23 ° C heat). The root system of the plant will develop within a few weeks.

How to transplant bougainvillea (video)

How to propagate bougainvillea by layering

This method is suitable for both outdoor and indoor plants. The technology includes the following procedures:

• First you need to provide additional space for the procedure. This can be either a space in a pot with an adult plant, or a container placed nearby;
• The second step - one of the branches is bent to the ground (for this we use an additionally provided place) and fixed so as to fit snugly against it;
• Several bark incisions are made on the bent shoot. The soil on which the branch lies must be loose and sufficiently moist;
• The last step is landing. After some time, young sprouts will appear at the incision sites, which will soon get stronger. Now you can safely separate them from the mother plant and root in separate pots.

Reproduction by layering is suitable for plants that grow outdoors and for indoor

Bougainvillea care at home

Many, especially inexperienced flower growers, get scared when they hear the words "tropical plant." Despite the fact that a paper flower is a rather exotic shrub, caring for it does not mean making a titanic effort. It is only necessary to observe a few conditions, and then the new home inhabitant will certainly bloom, expressing his gratitude for the care and attention.

Lighting, temperature and humidity

Bougainvillea loves sunlight, so the pot with it can be placed without hesitation in the most lit place in the house. This is usually the south, southwest and southeast sides of the house. However, the Brazilian beauty will withstand short-term shading. The main thing is that daylight hours last at least 12 hours.

As for temperature conditions, the situation is somewhat more complicated. The fact is that bougainvillea has a pronounced winter dormancy. Therefore, in the summer months, it is necessary to maintain the temperature in the range from +20 to +26°С, and in the cold season - from +10 to +16°С heat. So the plant will actively develop and bloom in summer, and in winter it will rest and gain strength for the next life cycle. With strict observance of the parameters characteristic of the summer season, bougainvillea can bloom almost all year round taking a breather in late autumn.

Bougainvillea loves sunshine

It is also worth noting that the flower loves Fresh air, so in the summer season it can be freely put on a balcony or terrace. At the same time, it is recommended to avoid situations in which the plant will be available to drafts and gusts of cold wind.

A paper flower is a native inhabitant of the tropics, and therefore humidity indicators should be maintained at a high level: at least 75-80%. To ensure this level, all known methods are suitable: an air humidifier, a sprayer, pallets and other containers with water.

Ground Requirements

Since bougainvillea is also a guest of tropical forests, it has a well-developed root system going deep into the ground. For the full development of the plant at home, you should select a soil that allows moisture and air to pass through well - in other words, you need an impressive layer of drainage. Drainage should be done with medium fraction material(chipped brick, shards, expanded clay).

For the full development of bougainvillea at home, you should select a soil that allows moisture and air to pass through well.

The soil mixture itself can be purchased at the store or prepared independently from four ingredients: turf, peat, fine sand and leafy earth, taken in a ratio of 3:2:1:3, respectively.

Important! The pot for bougainvillea should not be too spacious: the plant will be more comfortable if its roots completely wrap around an earthen ball in a few months.

Terms and rules for pruning bougainvillea

The paper flower is often grown as a bonsai., so the formation of the crown is one of the inevitable procedures for caring for bougainvillea. The main reason is the rapid growth of the plant, spreading its shoots and trying to occupy as much territory as possible.

Shrub pruning is carried out with two goals: stimulation of active growth and crown formation. The latter is held throughout the summer season. Before you get down to business, you need to get the right tool: a mini pruner is ideal.

Crown formation is one of the inevitable bougainvillea care procedures.

During cosmetic pruning, ugly, crooked branches that violate the general contour of the crown are carefully cut off.

Pruning for stimulation is carried out in spring and autumn:

• Spring. Branches should be cut selectively: too long, old or twisted shoots are cut off, and young ones are left, because they will soon give life to inflorescences;
• Autumn. It is recommended to cut absolutely all branches to the middle of the length. This stimulates the increased growth of lateral shoots, giving the bush splendor. Attention! Autumn pruning is carried out only for adult plants (3-4 years).

Watering and feeding

Bougainvillea watering regimen must be balanced: the plant does not tolerate both drought and an excess of moisture due to the likely decay of the roots. Optimal time for watering in summer and spring, this is the period when the soil has had time to dry out by at least 2 cm. After the procedure, it is also necessary to drain the remaining liquid from the pan.

In winter, if the plant is at rest, you can not water the bougainvillea at all if the soil in the pot is not too dry. Water for irrigation should be used infused, not chlorinated, medium temperature (+22°C). During watering, make sure that moisture does not get on the inflorescences.

To stimulate flowering and growth, you should feed the paper flower with fertilizers high in phosphorus and nitrogen.

The fertilizer application schedule is compiled taking into account the age of the plant: young bougainvillea is fed weekly, and an adult once every 2 weeks. To stimulate flowering and growth, you should feed the paper flower with fertilizers with a high content of phosphorus and nitrogen. In general organic and mineral complexes are suitable for bougainvillea, intended for flowering crops. During the dormant period, feeding is not carried out.

Possible problems when growing bougainvillea

Failure to comply with the conditions necessary for the full development of the flower entails negative consequences. However, there is a solution for every problem, so you should only carefully observe the plant and respond to its signals in time.

• Growth arrest- the plant lets you know that it is too crowded in a pot. Transplant the plant into a container with a large volume;
• Why doesn't bougainvillea bloom?? In order not to ask this question, provide the plant with proper ventilation and adjust the watering regime;
• The flower sheds its leaves in the summer season? It probably doesn't get enough sunlight. If the foliage dries up before falling off, more moisture is needed;
• small young leaves- you should immediately feed the plant;
• yellow foliage- a possible signal of stagnation of moisture in the pot. In this case, it is necessary to adjust the irrigation mode again;
• Small white spots on foliage is a sign of mold. There are several ways out of an unpleasant situation. First, you can put the flower in a well-ventilated place. Secondly, it is recommended to reduce the frequency of watering and spraying. Thirdly, you can treat the leaves with a fungicide or remove the mold mechanically by wiping the leaves with soapy water.
• Attack of aphids, scale insects, spider mites, mealybugs reflected by treatment with insecticides, actellik or alcohol.

How to prune bougainvillea (video)

Bougainvillea is a beautiful plant that can become the main decoration of a garden or home subtropical collection. A little attentive care - and the plant will bloom almost continuously, pleasing to the eye and radiating positive energy.

Estimate

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 color, over 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 flowers bougainvillea action - 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 used once a week, and only in warm time of the year.

Interesting facts about the bougainvillea plant

The flower was named after Louis Antoine de Bougainville, navigator, explorer 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.

Growing bougainvillea at home is not too laborious, although the plant is considered capricious. These profusely flowering climbing shrubs belong to the Noctaceae family. This name was given to the genus in honor of the traveler Louis Antoine de Bougainville, the leader of the first French expedition around the world.

Species and varieties

Bougainvillea is common in South America, it is found everywhere in parks, squares and adorns residential buildings. Plants are used to decorate walls, columns, pavilions and arbors, as their care is quite simple. The flowers of these vines are inconspicuous, small, but bracts of paper texture and various colors are very decorative.

Common types of bougainvillea

• Bougainvillea wonderful, or beautiful, is often used in landscape design, as it grows rapidly, forming "living walls". The bracts gradually turn pale, creating smooth transitions and giving the bushes a special charm.
• Bougainvillea Peruvian - blooms very long and luxuriantly, but branches poorly.
• Bougainvillea Butt (a hybrid of naked and Peruvian) is the founder of many modern varieties.
• Bougainvillea smooth - these vines have glossy leaves and colorful bracts, and are often used to create hybrids.

At home, two types are most often grown: smooth and wonderful bougainvillea. Terry hybrids are very attractive: bouquets of bright bracts, most often purple, completely cover the foliage during flowering.


Several popular varieties of this plant:

• Apple Blossom - white-pink bracts;
• Australian Gold - terry bracts, painted in orange-salmon color;
• Australian Pink - pink bracts, easy care, blooms profusely;
• Double Red - terry bracts, purple;
• Glabra Variegata- variegated variety, lilac bracts;
• Mini Thai - light pink or orange bracts.

Bougainvillea care after purchase

This shrub comes from Brazil, so I'm used to sunlight: southern windows suit him best. Home care is easy. Watering the plant needs moderate, but the soil should not dry out completely. After the purchase, for the first three days, the flower pot is shaded a little, then it must be placed on the most illuminated area in the house. Adult bougainvillea is able to withstand direct sunlight. With a lack of light and nutrition, the bracts turn pale and turn into green color. To adapt to a new place, the vine will need 2-3 weeks, after which it can be transplanted into another container.

If bougainvillea is sold as a discounted plant, and the store says that the flower is “disposable” and its cultivation in the room is problematic, there is no need to despair. Having provided good care, achieving repeated flowering at home is not as difficult as it seems. When purchasing a vine in a deplorable state, you can try to revive it by spraying it with a growth stimulator and covering it with a bag.

Fans of indoor exotics often order cuttings of rare plants by mail, including varietal hybrids of bougainvillea. Having received such a package, you need to examine the flower: if it is dried, the leaves have drooped, you can water it a little, in small portions, then the turgor should recover. If the soil in the cup is wet, nothing needs to be done. The cuttings are placed in a shaded place for the first few days.

It is best to transplant bougainvillea at home using the transshipment method. Her roots are very delicate and brittle, and if they are damaged, the leaves and bracts of the plant will begin to crumble, and the cuttings may die. If the bush is watered in advance, then it will be easier to free the earthen ball from the old container. Growing a vine in a pot that is too large increases the risk of flooding and negatively affects its growth and flowering. If a transplant is required for an adult plant, the new container should be 2-3 cm wider than the previous one. For the cutting, you need to take a small glass, slightly exceeding the volume of the root system.

A cramped pot has a positive effect on the flowering of vines at home. When transplanting, it is undesirable to deepen the root neck - it can rot. Young bougainvilleas are transplanted every spring, adults - once every 3-4 years. If the plant is in the transport soil, it needs to be shaken off a little, being careful not to damage the roots. It happens that young bushes or rooted cuttings are in the grid that remains from - it must be removed.
At the bottom of the tank you need to put a thick layer of drainage, it is advisable to use foam for this purpose, but expanded clay is also suitable. The substrate is taken nutritious, it can be made independently by mixing the same parts of sand, vermiculite, turf and leafy soil. Bougainvillea loves a neutral or slightly acidic substrate, with a pH of 6.8-7. You can add a few granules of superphosphate to it. The next top dressing is not earlier than 3 weeks after transplantation. With the loss of turgor, you can spray the vine with a growth stimulator and cover it with a bag for 2-3 days, periodically removing it for a few minutes.

Growing at home

Caring for bougainvillea in the summer is regular watering with warm water (about +35 ° C) and top dressing. An adult plant blooms at home all spring and autumn. In summer, it can be taken out into the garden, under direct sunlight, and left there until autumn. Feed the flower from March to April - 1 time in 7-10 days with complex mineral fertilizers, and from May to August you need to use a composition where there is more phosphorus and potassium.

If bougainvillea does not bloom even after proper wintering, its leaves turn yellow and fall off, and care seems to be optimal, watering should be reduced.

autumn or in early spring branches need to be cut - this stimulates flowering. But it should be remembered that it is possible to shorten the stems only in bushes up to the age of three. Plants grown from cuttings usually flower in their second year. Bougainvillea loves spraying and does not like drafts.

Winter care when growing bougainvillea at home is to provide a dormant period. Only he can complicate the cultivation of this vine. For wintering, they choose a cool and bright place where the temperature is about 10-15 ° C, for example, a glazed balcony. Some varieties of these shrubs tolerate a short-term drop in temperature to 0 ° C. Watering in the winter is reduced, but the earthy coma should not be allowed to dry out.

Propagation of bougainvillea

The best time to propagate bougainvillea at home is late spring. Most often, cuttings are used, for which they take semi-lignified shoots obtained during pruning, about 8 cm long. They are placed for several hours in warm water, then in a root formation stimulator. The cuttings are planted in moist soil, which you can prepare yourself by mixing peat, coal, finely chopped sphagnum and sand. Another option: a soil consisting of soddy soil, leaf humus, sand and peat in a ratio of 2:2:1:1.

After planting, the cutting needs special care: it is placed in a greenhouse, which must be regularly ventilated. It is removed only when the plant begins to grow. The temperature for successful rooting should be at least +26 ° C. You can use the bottom heating and additional lighting. It is very important to carefully transplant the cutting when it is rooted. Even if the roots are completely braided with an earthen ball, they can be easily damaged or broken off. It is better not to pull the bougainvillea by the trunk, but to cut the container in which it is located.

Diseases and pests

This vine is infrequently damaged by pests, but sometimes it is attacked by mealybugs, aphids or spider mite. Can be used against them folk remedies(an infusion of garlic, ash, green soap) or immediately purchase special preparations. To prevent a tick, you can try this method: spray the plant once a week with warm water with the addition of any essential oil(10 drops per 1.5 l).

Bougainvillea can get sick with chlorosis - while the leaves will lose their color. It can be caused by a lack of nutrients, such as iron. Then you need to increase the dose of fertilizer and spray the flower with iron chelate. When the earthen coma is waterlogged, the plant may be susceptible to fungal diseases. You can save the bush by drying the soil and treating it with a fungicide.

Conclusion

Caring for this plant is simple: it consists in regular moderate watering and top dressing. For laying flower buds, a dormant period in winter and formative pruning are necessary. When transplanting, try not to damage the root system.

Growing bougainvillea at home can be overshadowed by the diseases of this plant. It should be remembered that proper care of the vine strengthens its immunity and helps to resist diseases and pests. A little care - and this unusual bush will delight its owners with abundant flowering.

BOugainvillea(Bougainvillea) - the genus is a very original climbing plants, numbering 14 South American species. They can be in the form of low shrubs, can form a hedge, while reaching 5 m. Most bougainvilleas have stems covered with prickly thorns, but some of the newer varieties are almost thornless or have minor thorns that are not dangerous.

To date, many beautiful interspecific hybrids are grown with small and inconspicuous flowers, surrounded by colorful bracts that resemble colored crumpled paper. Very beautiful varieties with strikingly bright, purple, lavender, fuchsia, snow-white, orange, yellow or pink-red bracts ... (see "Bougainvillea - paper flower")

The photo shows Bougainvillea spectabilis-x-glabra (Bougainvillea x spectoglabra), which is a hybrid of B. beautiful and B. naked. The leaves are small, dark green, the spikes are numerous and curved. The flowers are small, almost white. Bracts pinkish-purple or purple. Blooms several times a year. Branches well. Bougainvillea naked and beautiful (wonderful) are very similar in appearance, so only since the mid-1980s have they been finally identified as different kinds. At home, low smooth (naked) bougainvillea is often grown.

Bougainvillea wonderful, or beautiful(Bougainvillea spectabilis)
Homeland - tropical regions of Brazil; grows on open rocky slopes. In culture since the first half of the 19th century. Woody climber with spiny shoots and hairy pubescent stems, petioles and leaf margins. The leaves are alternate, oval, short-petiolate, pointed, entire, have a velvety pubescence. Flowers of this species form long, up to 2-5 cm, solitary or 2-5, surrounded by 2-3 large purple or pink-red bracts, fading as they fade. Perianth tubular, yellowish green. It grows quickly and densely, the length of the shoot can reach 9 m.

Known garden form "Lateritia" with brick-red bracts. Bougainvillea wonderful, or beautiful, is used as an ampelous plant or in the form of a liana. Can grow in open ground on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. In warm countries, they are used to decorate gazebos and create impenetrable barriers.

Bougainvillea naked or smooth
Described by the Swiss botanist Jacques Denis Choisy in 1850. In the wild, this plant grows in relatively dry regions of Brazil, on rocky places with carbonate soils. Curly or climbing woody liana with a bare, sometimes prickly, strongly branched stem, in nature up to 5 m tall. Often cultivated as a low growing upright shrub. It differs from other species by less spiny and pubescent parts. This species has glossy bare oval dark green leaves with a sharp tip, 10-15 cm long, 4-6 cm wide. Forms with white, lemon yellow, apricot, pink, purple, orange and red color of bracts are known. Flowering is abundant and long.

The growth rate of bougainvillea naked is average; this species is most often used for bonsai. It can be given the shape of a bush using pruning, or you can plant several pieces with bracts of different colors and intertwining young shoots to form a very interesting plant. This plant can also be found thousands of kilometers from its homeland, for example, on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus.

bougainvillea peruvian(Bougainvillea peruviana)
It was first identified in 1810 by the German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt. In this species, the leaves are strongly ovate, long, thin, not pubescent. A distinctive feature is the green bark. The spikes are short and straight. The flowers are yellow, the bracts are round, pink or purple, and may be slightly wrinkled. Peruvian bougainvillea may bloom several times a year if there are dry periods between flowering cycles. It is not prone to branching, pruning is necessary to achieve splendor. This type of bougainvillea is the most stable, least variable of the three.

The most common hybrid that has produced the most modern cultivars is the one between Bougainvillea naked and Peruvian. It was discovered in the Spanish city of Cartagena in own garden Mrs. R. V. Butt, after whom the bougainvillea Butt (Bougainvillea x buttiana) is named, which is now often incorrectly called B. Butt. Later it turned out that this was not the new kind, but a natural hybrid.

Very common are hybrids of B. beautiful and B. Peruvian, united under the name Bougainvillea x spectoperuviana. The leaves are large, dark green, ovate, usually glabrous. The spikes are straight, the flowers are cream, the bracts are copper-red at the beginning of flowering, turning into various shades of purple or pink as they age. May bloom several times a year. Grow powerfully and bushy.

The most popular varieties of bougainvillea

Varieties of bougainvillea are very diverse, differ in shape (terry, non-double, triangular or oval), size of bracts, their color. The best of the bougainvilleas can be considered the following: B. glabra "Sanderiana", a profusely flowering plant with beautiful purple bracts; B. glabra "Cypheri" with pink bracts; 'Maud Chettleburgh' with pink-purple bracts. From the newest 'Mrs Butt' with scarlet red bracts and 'Crimson Lake' with carmine red bracts. Variety "Tomato Red" has large red non-double bracts, the variety "Double Red" has red and double bracts. Very beautiful terry varieties "Double Pink" (transitions Pink colour) and "Double Lilarose" (dark pink with purple).

There are cultivars with multicolored bracts. Variety "Surprise" is the so-called bud mutation (But sport), some branches differ in the color of the bracts from the rest of the branches of the mother plant. Bracts can be pink and marbled pink-white at the same time. These varieties are propagated exclusively by vegetative means. There are compact conical varieties (Mini Thai).

Variegated varieties occupy a special place. One group of varieties has green leaves, branches, veins, thorns. A cream stripe runs along the edge of the leaf - for example, in the Raspberry Ice variety. Bracts in color in this group are very diverse. In another group of varieties, leaves, branches, veins, thorns are yellow or golden. Such varieties grow more slowly, are more finicky, and require increased attention. However, their variability is most impressive, ranging from small gold or cream spots and streaks, to extensive irregular patches of gold and green. However, the bracts are usually only red (Tiger, Queen Marble, Strawberry, Red September).

List of common varieties of bougainvillea

• "Australian Gold" - a variety with double bracts, which, when blooming orange, later become salmon.
• "Australian Pink" - a variety with large coral-pink bracts. Flowering is plentiful.
• "Beggum Sikkander" is a beautiful variety with variegated flowers! White bracts with purple edges. Purple color can be more or less.
• "Black India Red" - a variety with raspberry-purple bracts; dark green leaf.
• "Bois De Roses" - orange bracts at the beginning of flowering, towards the end - bright pink and very large.
• "Brilliant" - has a very beautiful pink shade.
• "California Gold" - large, non-double, bright yellow at the beginning and lighter at the end of flowering.
• "Chitra" - an abundance of white with crimson, pure white and crimson bracts. Just a miracle!
• "Dauphine" - Very beautiful variety! Dark ruby-red large bracts against a background of dark green foliage with white edging.
• 'Delta Dawn' - gorgeous golden yellow bracts set against creamy white and green foliage.
• "Donya" - this variety has beautiful, large, bright pink bracts. The foliage is usually light green and blooms repeat throughout the year.
• "Double Lilarose" - lilac-pink terry bracts.
• "Double Orange" - with double orange bracts; abundant flowering.
• "Double Pink" - Terry pink bracts with a greenish center.
• "Double Red" - with terry fuchsia-crimson bracts, the color remains the same throughout the flowering; flowering is profuse.
• "Double Salmon" - with double yellow-orange bracts with a pink middle.
• "Glabra" - with lilac-purple bracts.
• "Glabra Donker" - with lilac-purple flowers. Super-abundant blooms!
• "Glabra Variegata" - lilac-purple flowers; green foliage with a white border.
• "Golden Tango" - bright bracts golden hue; abundant flowering.
• 'Jamaica White' with very large and white throughout the bloom.
• "Killy Campbell" - large coral pink bracts, bright pink at the end of flowering.
• "La Jolla" - large dark orange bracts.
• "Lateritia" - with pale pink bracts.
• "Lila Variegata" - bright lilac-pink bracts. Green foliage with a white border.
• "Limberlost Beauty" - terry white (sometimes with pink). Flowering is very abundant.
• "Magic" - pink-white variegated bracts. Abundant flowering.
• "Mary Palmer" - a variety with variegated flowers - lavender with white spots, white and lavender bracts make up a beautiful bouquet.
• 'Mini Thai Variegata' is a compact cultivar with crimson bracts against a stunning variegated foliage of bright green with a white border.
• "Mrs Alice" - with large white bracts; abundant flowering.
• 'Mrs Butt Compact' is a brick red at the beginning and a bright crimson at the end. Very large and abundant flowers.
• "New Violet" - with large purple bracts.
• "Orange Ice" - orange at the beginning and pink at the end of flowering bracts on the background beautiful green foliage with white, yellow and pale green shades.
• "Panda" - with white bracts; variegated green leaves with a white edge.
• "Penelope" - with white bracts. Abundant bloom!
• "Pink Cluster" - pale pink preflowers. Blooms profusely.
• 'Rosenka' is a compact variety with golden orange at the beginning and pink at the end of flowering.
• "Rubiana" - dark ruby ​​when flowering, becoming lighter over time.
• "Rusberry Ice Rosso" - with bright pink bracts.
• "Sakura" - the most delicate variety, at first pale pink, at the end almost white with pink streaks. Bushes well. Blooms later than others.
• "Salmon Variegata" - salmon-colored bracts. The leaf is green with a white border.
• "San Diego Red Variegata" - with red bracts; leaves are green with a white border.
• "Snowcap Multi" is an unusual variety. One plant may have crimson, white and variegated bracts. At the beginning of flowering, red-raspberry with yellow, at the end - raspberry with white.
• "Thai Gold" - an amazing variety with terry fluffy bracts, bright orange at the beginning of flowering, gradually becoming pale pink; flowering is profuse.
• "Vera Deep Purple" - the most common variety with bright fuchsia-raspberry bracts; flowering is profuse.

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 middle lane bougainvillea is an indoor plant and is grown in greenhouses, conservatories 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 fit is key 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 drop 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 sometimes a small amount of vermiculite, clay, chalk, ash, or other substances is added to the soil. Soil pH should be between 5.5 - 6.0.

In nature, bougainvillea often grows in a limited space, between stones, therefore, for planting and subsequent transplants, it is necessary to choose not big pot. 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 movement, so in an effort to find the best place, you should not move it from one room to another and rotate 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 points 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.

Shaping 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 shoot 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 free space fill 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.

Popular questions about the care and maintenance of bougainvillea

What is the lifespan of a bougainvillea?

When kept at home, life expectancy does not exceed 5-10 years. The plant does not die, but becomes very woody and ceases to bloom. In greenhouses, individual specimens can live up to 30 years.

Is the plant poisonous?

Bougainvillea is not poisonous. indoor plants and safe for humans and pets.

Why doesn't bougainvillea bloom?

There are several reasons for the lack of flowering:

• lowering the temperature during the dormant period is not provided;
• insufficient lighting;
• excess nitrogen in the soil.

Why do bougainvillea leaves fall?

Leaves may fall naturally as the plant prepares for winter. In summer, leaf fall may be due to the movement of the plant from place to place or a draft.

Why do the leaves turn yellow (dry)? Yellowing of the leaves most often occurs when the plant is flooded.

How does the plant overwinter? In winter, it is recommended to lower the temperature of the content. Bougainvillea partially sheds leaves and this is normal. During this period, you need to water and spray the plant less.