Bougainvillea is a popular ornamental plant that many people choose to grow in their homes. This plant can thrive and bloom year-round, is drought-tolerant, and is relatively low maintenance. Bougainvillea also comes in a variety of colors, so you can choose your favorite shade, be it pink, red, purple, yellow, or white.
Watering Bougainvillea in Summer
Bougainvillea is highly drought-tolerant and adapts well to hot and sunny conditions. Therefore, you don’t need to water it too frequently. However, there are some important things to keep in mind when watering this plant. This is a crucial step if you want your bougainvillea to bloom abundantly.
For newly planted bougainvillea, increase the watering frequency compared to more established plants. Water once per day, preferably in the cooler times of the day, such as early morning or late afternoon, to avoid water stress. Additionally, you may want to shield young plants from strong winds to help them adapt to their new environment and promote healthy growth.
For older, well-established bougainvillea, watering can be reduced to three to four times per week. This is usually enough to keep the soil moist and prevent root rot while still providing adequate hydration. Remember to water during cooler periods to avoid water stress.
Withholding Water to Encourage Blooming
One important step to encourage blooming in bougainvillea is to stop watering it completely for a period. Your plant needs to experience a dry and thirsty period to stimulate flower production.
Withhold water for about 10 days. During this time, the leaves may wilt, but as long as they remain attached to the branches, there’s no cause for concern. You can provide a small amount of water to keep the plant alive during this dry period.
After the 10-day dry period, you can resume watering your bougainvillea, but do so gradually, starting with small amounts and increasing over time to avoid shocking the plant. You’ll soon see an increase in flower buds. It’s important to continue watering during this blooming phase; discontinuing will cause bud drop and reduce the number of flowers.
Types of Water for Bougainvillea
- Clean Water
Clean water is essential for bougainvillea at all times of the year. If you’re using tap water, it’s best to let it sit in a bucket or container overnight to allow the chlorine (added for disinfection) to evaporate. Water without chlorine is preferable for your plant’s health.
- Diluted Vinegar Water
Bougainvillea thrives in acidic soil, with an ideal pH range of 5.5 to 6.0. To maintain this acidity, you can water your plant with a mixture of vinegar and water (about 150ml of vinegar per 4 liters of water) once a week. The rest of the time, plain water is fine.
Vinegar water not only helps maintain the optimal pH level but also provides some extra nutrients for the roots, promoting healthy growth.
- Diluted Beer
Beer is not just for drinking; it can also be used as a fertilizer for your bougainvillea! Many plants benefit from the sugars, phosphates, and trace elements found in beer. Beer also helps prevent stem hardening in young plants.
Use leftover beer or beer past its best-before date to water your bougainvillea. However, do not pour beer directly onto the plant, as it may burn the roots. Instead, let the beer sit out to allow the alcohol to evaporate, then mix one part beer with three parts water, and apply this mixture to the soil around the base of the plant. Doing this once every 20 days is usually sufficient.
Watering your bougainvillea is crucial for its health, especially during the summer months. While it is drought-tolerant, regular watering with clean water is essential. Additionally, using diluted vinegar water or beer can provide extra benefits. Remember, if you want to see an abundance of flowers, don’t forget the importance of withholding water for short periods!
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