Page 38 - Intra Muros November Issue 2025

GARDENING

BOUGAINVILLEA

vailable in red, purple/mauve, white,
yellow, orange, magenta and many
Ashades of pink, Bougainvillea are
stunning 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 constant regrowth and blooms. Pruning Feeding, frost and pests
height required, bold columns can also be also helps reduce disease and extends the A balanced foliar fertiliser can be applied
created and are real show-stopping décor life of the plant. Pruning during winter will every four weeks during the growing
elements. set the tone for the new season and give period. Alternatively, a slow-release 3:1:5
the plant a great head start. fertiliser every two to three months is
Top tip: Choose low-growing varieties also good. Ask your nursery for advice and
and experiment with hedging styles and Top tip: Pinch off tender ends that are recommendations on feeding solutions.
wall cover-ups. Remember to tie down about to bloom to promote denser, Another great thing about Bougainvilleas
the plants with a string while still in brighter flowers. is that they are virtually disease-free,
training school.
provided they have lots of sunlight. During
Containers and indoors winter in particularly cold regions, a frost
Pruning Bougainvilleas will also thrive in containers cloth should be used for protection, but
Pruning should be carried out once your if the potting mix is well-drained and they are generally quite resistant and grow
Bougainvillea has finished flowering. This nutritious and receives infrequent but back well.
encourages new growth upon which the deep watering. They need as much sun
next flush of flowers will grow. A good as possible but will tolerate some shade Top tip: Look out for aphids and red
general rule is that regular, light pruning during the day. When growing indoors, spider mites that may spawn during
will keep them in good shape with near-
choose a spot that receives some sun spring. Fortunately, these are easy to
and is always well-lit. Prune indoor plants take care of with the variety of organic
regularly and be careful not to overwater and chemical pesticides available at
them. When selecting your container, nurseries.
look for pots with plenty of drainage holes
(don’t forget the saucer), and remember Remember to mulch around all
that the pot’s size will also affect the size of Bougainvillea beds and containers to retain
the plant’s growth. soil moisture and reduce weed growth.
Follow these tips for best results and may
Top tip: Try special container growing your growing journey be successful!
Bougainvillea varieties such as vera
purple/white, flame, ruby and Rijnstar.
Article courtesy of Life is a Garden

36 | INTRAMUROS NOVEMBER 2025