Lighting:
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Likes full sun, but move from indoors outdoors
gradually to prevent leaf-burn.
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Temperature:
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In its native climate, and locales of similar warmth,
Bougainvillea is an evergreen species. In colder climates, it
becomes deciduous. It may lose most of its leaves, even if
indoors. Should be kept at 49-54F if possible, but never below 45F.
If it does not get a rest period during the winter followed by a
warm, sunny summer, it will probably not flower.
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Watering:
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For the most part, bougs like it dry, and should be
watered sparingly. It may be necessary to withold water for up
to a week at the beginning of summer, to encourage flowering.
During the flowering period, bougainvilleas need an increased
amount of water.
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Feeding:
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Feeding recommendations on the Boug are all over the
place! All the experts agree that the boug needs more food
while flowering. The recommendations range from every week to
10 days to two weeks. During its rest period, recommendations
range from feeding monthly to every six weeks to not feeding it
at all. It may be best to experiment, for what will work will
vary with your climatic conditions (for example, whether you are
growing it as an indoor or outdoor plant). I've been using "
Flower Cracker," a gentle, low-nitrogen fertilizer which is
supposed to encourage - you guessed it - flowering. Other
recommendations include using Superbloom (similar to Flower
Cracker), Miracle Gro, Miracid, ordinary 20-20-20, a bonsai
fertilizer such as Pokon etc. etc. etc. It looks like almost
everything will work, except I would NOT recommend using a high
nitrogen grass-type fertilizer (put that on your bamboo instead!)
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Repotting:
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Every 2-4 years - roots will grow more vigorously in
sunny climates, requiring more frequent repotting. The best time
is in spring, before new growth, although Lesniewicz says early fall
is possible also. I've read both that it dislikes severe root pruning,
and that it can take a loss of at least 50% of the root ball. My
suspicion is that if you are growing it outdoors in a sunny area,
the roots will grow more vigorously and it can take extensive pruning.
If you are keeping it indoors any part of the year, I would recommend
being more conservative. The soil should be rich in organics, but
also very well-drained.
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Styling:
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May be pruned at any time, but flowers sprout from the
tips of new growth, therefore, if flowers are desired, avoid
pruning all the shoots. Lesniewicz recommends waiting until after
flowering, then cutting back hard, into old wood. I've heard, however,
that some bougs flower almost constantly, which would make this plan a
little tough to carry out! Follow up by pinching new growth back to 2-3
leaves. Wire young branches during growth, as older branches are hard to
shape. It can thrive with jins and/or a hollow trunk.
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Propagation:
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Cuttings in spring or summer, which need 72F bottom heat to
root. Also by seed or air-layering.
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Pests etc.:
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aphids, scale, greenfly, chlorosis
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