Page 16 - IFV Issue 6 June 2024

Gardening

well-lit. Prune indoor bougies regularly
and be careful not to overwater them.
When selecting your container, look for
pots with plenty of drainage holes (don’t
forget the saucer), and remember that
the pot’s size will also affect the size of
your bougie growth.
STYLE YOUR BOUGIE growing bougainvillea varieties such
Top tip: Try special container

as vera purple/white, flame, ruby, and
Get the best from your Bougainvillea rijnstar.

Feeding, frost and pests
A balanced foliar fertiliser can be applied
he bougainvillea is an all-time into ball shapes called superballs or every four weeks during the growing
favourite in the garden and never standards. Depending on the size of the period. Alternatively, a slow-release 3:1:5
Tdisappoints in the bold colour, ball or the height required, bold bougie fertiliser every two to three months will
daring height, and textural intrigue they columns can also be created and are real also do wonders. Ask your local nursery
bring to spaces. Get the best from your show-stopping décor elements. for advice and recommendations on
bougie this month with Life is a Garden’s Top tip: Choose low-growing feeding solutions. Another great thing
insights on pruning styles, container varieties and experiment with hedging about bougies is that they are virtually
planting, fertilising, indoor growing, styles and wall cover-ups. Remember disease-free, provided they have lots of
caring tips and more. to tie down your bougies with string sunlight. During winter in particularly
while still in training school. cold regions, a frost cloth should be used
Planting tips for youngsters for protection, but they are generally
Available in red, purple/mauve, white, Pruning yays and nays quite resistant and grow back well.
yellow, orange, magenta and many Pruning should be carried out once your Top tip: Look out for aphids and red
shades of pink, bougainvilleas are simply Bougainvillea has finished flowering. spider mites that may spawn during
stunning but rather sensitive when This encourages new growth upon spring. Luckily, these are easy to take
young. As an adolescent, bougies have which the next flush of fabulous flowers care of with the variety of organic
easily damageable, brittle root systems. will grow. A good general rule is that and chemical pesticides available at
When planting, we recommend wetting regular light pruning will keep them nurseries.
the soil thoroughly before transplanting in good shape with near-constant Remember to mulch around all
from the nursery bag or container. Do regrowth and beautiful blooms. Pruning bougainvillea beds and containers to
not loosen the soil away from the roots also helps reduce disease and extends retain soil moisture and reduce weed
during this process to avoid transplant the life of the plant. Pruning during growth. Follow these tips for the best
shock, which really takes its toll on new winter will set the tone for the new bougie growing and may your creeping
arrivals. season and give your bougie a great and hedging journey be flamboyant and
Top tip: Bougainvilleas love warm, head start. ever successful!
sunny spots with well-drained, rich, Top tip: Pinch off tender ends that
loamy soil. They prefer infrequent but are about to bloom to promote denser, Article courtesy of Life is a Garden
deep watering. brighter blooms.

Styling and bougie training Containers and indoors
Bougainvillea plants are essentially Bougainvillea will also thrive in
creepers, but with nifty pruning, they containers if the potting mix is well-
can be trained to grow into several drained and nutritious and receives
styles and shapes. Teach your bougies infrequent but deep watering. They
to grow into neat formal hedges using need as much sun as possible but will
mesh or wooden trellises. In smaller tolerate some shade during the day.
gardens, they can be controlled by When growing indoors, choose a spot
frequent pruning and even styled that receives some sun and is always

14 • Issue 6 2024 • The Villager