CARE OF BOUGAINVILLEAS - The Worlds most versatile & colourful plant

Bougainvilleas can be grown to the size and shape required. You can grow them as Bonsai, standard, bush, hanging baskets, espaliers, pyramid or over and arch or the ceiling to provide shade. Bougainvillea have a long life span, we have a 200 year old Bonsai in our showhouse. Treat your Bougainvillea as a Pelargonium and you can't go wrong.

Full sun, can be grown on a windowsill, in a porch or a conservatory. They call be placed outside during summer.

Give a good soak and then allow to dry between waterings in the summer. Water sparingly in the winter

Feed every 7 days from mid February to October. We recommend Vitax 301, a high nitrogen feed for encouraging growth development. When growth is sufficient, change to a high potash feed, we recommend Vitax 111, to enhance colour development of the bracts. Before the bracts are at their best we change back to Vitax 301 to encourage the next young shots that will go on to produce bracts. NB: Do not feed plant on dry roots. If due a feed and is overly dry, moisten today and feed tomorrow.

DO NOT EXCEED DOSAGE of 1 Level Teaspoon per 2 gallons of water.

Bougainvilleas are best grown in Terracotta pots. Keep the Bougainvilleas fairly pot bound. Do not repot plants until they have climatised to your conditions (2-3 weeks). When potting, support the rootball, place compost into position and water in to settle.

DO NOT COMPRESS THE ROOTS. In warm weather you may find it beneficial to soak the pot in water before repotting. We use Vitax Q4 Potting Compost.

We do our main pruning at the end of February. You can prune lightly after each flush of flower.

Must be kept in a frost free position in winter. Can be stored at 2-3°C. Under 1O°C will tend to go deciduous, but will leaf up again when it gets warmer.