agriculture review
by aditya abhishek
Bougainvillea is an amazing climbing plant that is famous for its large colourful modified leaves that surround its flower. And if you are beginner then you must grow this plant.
Bougainvillea plant loves to grow in hot and dry tropical to sub tropical climate. USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and 11 are good for these plants.
Well drained loamy to sandy loam soil is good. Prepare potting mix with 50% garden soil + 40% organic compost + 10% river sand.
Select ½ inch or thicker stems with at least 2 to 4 nodes for stem cuttings. Dip the bottom end in rooting hormone and plant them in spring season.
Daily 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight promotes vegetative growth and flowering in this plant. Avoid keeping them in low light condition.
Bougainvillea can tolerate draught but soggy soil can damage this plant. Hence apply water only when top layer of soil becomes completely dry.
From spring to fall feed with two to three handful of leaf compost + 250 ml of diluted banana or onion peel fertilizer once after every 15 days. Or use NPK (10:26:26) 5 gm / litre water.
Practice pruning once flowering stops, remove all dead and weak branches, pruning old branches promotes new growth and flowering in next season.
thanks for reading!