Do you love the colors of bougainvillea? Learn how to grow it in pots and find out how to make it climb

Cultivation and Care:

1. When to Plant: Choose spring for operations like seeding, transplanting, or cutting, as the climate supports bougainvillea’s life cycle.
2. Location and Temperature: Bougainvillea thrives in full sun, adapting well to temperatures above 40°C. In winter, shield it from temperatures below 10°C and cold winds.
3. Soil and Fertilization: Opt for well-drained, low-limestone soil. Use a flowering plant fertilizer rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and microelements every two to three weeks.
4. Watering: While bougainvillea tolerates drought, provide periodic watering, avoiding stagnation that may lead to root rot.
5. Flowering: Expose the plant to at least 5 hours of sunlight daily to witness vibrant summer flowering.
6. Pruning: Prune at the end of winter to thin out foliage, remove dry branches, and encourage new growth.
7. Diseases and Parasites: Hardy but susceptible to aphids and scale insects. Use a broad-spectrum insecticide to counter insect attacks.
8. Winter Care: Protect bougainvillea from cold by sheltering it from wind and insulating the pot with polystyrene. Minimize watering and move potted bougainvillea indoors in extremely cold climates.

Expert Tips: Stefano Pagano, a seasoned gardener, recommends:

• Place bougainvillea in full sun for rapid growth.
• Maintain soil at a slightly acidic pH, using specific soils for acidophilic plants.
• Generously fertilize from May onward with ready-made liquid fertilizers, diluted every 15 days.

Embrace the sun-soaked allure of bougainvillea by cultivating this radiant climber, turning your balcony into a burst of tropical colors.