Page 25 - Cornwall Issue 4 2024

GARDENING

vailable in red, purple/
mauve, white, yellow,
orange, magenta and
many shades of pink,
Bougainvilleas are
Astunning but rather
sensitive when young.

As ‘adolescents’ they have easily
damageable, brittle root systems. When
planting, wet the soil thoroughly before
transplanting from the nursery bag or
container. Do not loosen the soil away
from the roots during this process to avoid
transplant shock.

Top tip: Bougainvilleas love warm, sunny
spots with well-drained, rich, loamy soil.
They prefer infrequent but deep watering.

STYLING AND TRAINING
Bougainvillea plants are essentially
creepers but with nifty pruning, they can
be trained to grow into several styles
and shapes, for example neat formal
hedges using mesh or wooden trellises. In
smaller gardens, they can be controlled by
frequent pruning and even styled into ball
shapes called superballs or standards.
Depending on the size of the ball or the
height required, bold columns can also be
created and are real show-stopping décor
elements. lit. Prune indoor plants
regularly and be careful
Top tip: Choose low-growing varieties and not to overwater them.
experiment with hedging styles and wall When selecting your
cover-ups. Remember to tie down the container,
plants with string while still in training look for pots with
school. plenty of drainage
holes (don’t forget
PRUNING the saucer), and
Pruning should be carried out once your remember that the
Bougainvillea has finished flowering. This pot’s size will also
encourages new growth upon which the affect the size of the
next flush of flowers will grow. A good plant’s growth.
general rule is that regular, light pruning
will keep them in good shape with near- Top tip: Try special
constant regrowth and blooms. Pruning container growing
also helps reduce disease and extends Bougainvillea varieties such
the life of the plant. Pruning during winter as vera purple/white, flame,
will set the tone for the new season and ruby and rijnstar.
give the plant a great head start.
FEEDING, FROST AND PESTS
Top tip: Pinch off tender ends that are A balanced foliar fertiliser can be Top tip: Look out for aphids and red
about to bloom to promote denser, applied every four weeks during the spider mites that may spawn during
brighter flowers. growing period. Alternatively, a slow- spring. Fortunately, these are easy to
release 3:1:5 fertiliser every two to three take care of with the variety of organic
CONTAINERS AND INDOORS months is also good. Ask your nursery for and chemical pesticides available at
TEXT AND PHOTOS COURTESY OF LIFE IS A GARDEN Bougainvilleas will also thrive in advice and recommendations on feeding nurseries.
WWW.LIFEISAGARDEN.CO.ZA containers if the potting mix is well- solutions. Another great thing about Remember to mulch around all
drained and nutritious and receives
Bougainvilleas is that they are virtually
infrequent but deep watering. They need disease-free, provided they have lots of Bougainvillea beds and containers to
as much sun as possible but will tolerate sunlight. During winter in particularly cold retain soil moisture and reduce weed
some shade during the day. When regions, a frost cloth should be used for growth. Follow these tips for best
growing indoors, choose a spot that protection, but they are generally quite results and may your growing journey be
receives some sun and is always well- resistant and grow back well. successful!

Cornwall View • Issue 4 2024 23