Bougainvillea spp. vines are hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 and 11 and require regular fertilization and full sun to stay healthy and produce lush cascading flowers. Use a balanced fertilizer with a nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N-P-K) ratio, such as 5-5-5 or 10-10-10, to promote good health and abundant blooming of bougainvillea. Too much nitrogen promotes vegetative growth at the expense of shoots, so slow-release nitrogen fertilizers are best.
What is bougainvillea fertilizer?
Bouganvillea fertilizers are compounds that are added to plants to increase their strength, yield and aesthetics. Three basic compounds are required for healthy bougainvillea to grow and produce the stunning textured bracts we love. The three compounds are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Adding these three nutrients to the soil is often necessary because plants, including bougainvillea, require high amounts of nutrients.
Yes, plants existed in their current form long before the time of humanity and this targeted approach to plant health. But times have changed. Human industry and our constant manipulation of the natural world has altered soil composition and bioavailability of truly fertile soils, and we generally don’t like waiting for grass to grow, so to speak. Fertilizers exist to meet our need for faster growing plants that are more resistant to small animals and bad weather, and to increase flower and fruit production, making plants more valuable and beautiful.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is widely regarded as the most important ingredient for supporting healthy plant growth. Nitrogen is found in fertile soil and is the energy plant needs to maintain its own life cycle. Nitrogen is also part of the chlorophyll molecule, which gives plants their green color and facilitates the process of photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is the natural process green plants use to convert basic components like carbon dioxide and water into the starch and sugars that plants use to grow. The leaves of the beautiful bougainvillea drink in the sun and manufacture all the nutrients they need to survive. Photosynthesis literally means “making stuff out of light.”
A lack of nitrogen can cause plants to turn yellow, a condition called chlorosis. Nitrogen favors younger growth compared to older parts of the plant. So when your bougainvillea plants are nitrogen deficient, any available nitrogen is pushed into new growth, starving old growth of essential nutrients.
Nitrogen is also one of the important components of plant protoplasm. This is the translucent substance that makes up the biological cells of plants. Protoplasts are required for flower differentiation and increase the speed and affinity of healthy plant growth. So when you see the beautiful bracts and modest blooms of your bougainvillea, you can see the effect of healthy protoplasm production. Protoplasts are also catalysts for other minerals and processes within plants.
Nitrogen generally contributes to the healthy growth of green shrubs. So if you want your bougainvillea to bloom desperately without worrying too much about bud formation, nitrogen is your garden’s best friend.
see more :
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is another essential nutrient for bougainvillea to survive. Phosphorus is vital to plants for three reasons:
It plays a huge role in photosynthesis, helping plants convert sunlight into usable energy, sugars and starches.
Phosphorus is an essential component of plant respiration and energy transfer through adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
Phosphorus is part of the basic biological makeup of plants, in the form of ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid (also known as RNA and DNA).
Without an adequate supply of phosphorus, your bougainvillea will not grow well; it will not be able to replicate. Therefore, it cannot pass its genetic material to the next generation. This would be a huge waste of such a beautiful plant.
Phosphorus is also part of the larger life cycle of plants. When your bougainvillea dies, the phosphorus it contains returns to the soil, where microbes and other plants can use its nutrients to sustain their life cycle. This is the life cycle of phosphorus.
Potassium
In terms of essential phytonutrients, potassium is the last of the three elements. Simply put, potassium is the bougainvillea’s transport system, transporting other key nutrients from the roots and using the plant’s organic structure to distribute them where they’re needed. This botanical miracle drug also activates a series of enzymes that are essential for specific internal functions of the plant.
Potassium also plays a role in photosynthesis; it regulates the opening and closing of plant stomata, thereby maintaining control over how much carbon dioxide the plant absorbs. This important process increases the effectiveness of photosynthesis in plants.
No matter how you prune, these three are the most important nutrients for bougainvillea, and a lack of any of them can lead to chlorosis and eventual plant death. Now that we’ve covered what fertilizer actually is and what it contains, let’s move on to the practical aspects of fertilization.
How to Fertilize Bougainvillea
step 1
Fertilize soil growing bougainvillea vines twice a year: once in spring and once in midsummer. Topdress the vines with a slow-release all-purpose fertilizer such as 10-10-10 at a rate of 1/2 cup per 4 feet of plant height. Gently scrape it into the soil surface with a cultivator or trowel. Water thoroughly with a watering can.
Step 2
Feed container-grown bougainvillea vines monthly with an all-purpose water-soluble 5-5-5 fertilizer. Mix 1 tablespoon of fertilizer with 1 gallon of water and water the plant’s soil. Bougainvillea blooms best on the dry side. In areas with constant summer rainfall, stimulate flowering by allowing container plants to dry out regularly.
Step 3
Cut back longer shoots to increase fertilizer and stimulate flowering – bougainvillea vines will bloom on new growth. Cut back long or crowded branches throughout the growing season. Use sharp hand-held bypass pruning shears and sanitize the blades with household disinfectant before and after pruning to prevent the spread of disease.
What’s the best way to take care of my bougainvillea?
The best way to care for bougainvillea is to fertilize with liquid fertilizer every two weeks or use an all-purpose organic fertilizer.
How to make bougainvillea bloom?
Of course, in order for bougainvillea to bloom for a long time, regular fertilization and pruning are required.
And cut each branch a few centimeters. After the bougainvillea blooms, trim the bushes with sharp scissors.
If you don’t want to rebloom on your bougainvillea, avoid watering while it’s blooming. Bougainvillea are heavy feeders and need to be fertilized with an all-purpose fertilizer at least once a month.
Note that if you don’t fertilize your bougainvillea, it will stop blooming after a while.
When is the Best Time to Fertilize Bougainvillea?
The best time to fertilize bougainvillea is early in the year or after the plant has been pruned.
How to grow beautiful bougainvillea plants in pots?
To grow a bougainvillea plant in a pot, it needs well-drained soil. If your pots are filled with regular garden soil, use sand or peat moss to add some drainage properties to the mix.
Choose a container that is at least 12 inches in diameter and fill it to two-thirds of its height with potting soil and compost. Plant bougainvillea in this pot, 15 inches of soil below the surface.
In spring and summer (March, May, July), water less and fertilize every other month. Add a layer of mulch on top to retain moisture in the soil. This will keep your bougainvillea blooming year round!