Well-drained

The Bougainvillea is a warm climate loving plant, native to South America and a favorite among gardening enthusiasts because of its uniqueness, being part tree part vine. You can choose to grow it as a shrub in your garden, as ground cover or as a bonsai.

If it’s the bonsai form you choose you should place it in a spot where it can enjoy full sunlight.

Do not keep it outside if you don’t live in a warm environment, because this little fellow likes temperatures above 45 degrees.

Do not over water it as it dislikes moisture and when you re-pot it – which should occur once every 2-3 years, during early spring, the soil should be well-drained and porous. If it suffers a shock after being re-potted, don’t panic, new leaves should appear within 2 weeks.

Fertilization should be done once in spring and once in autumn and it is advisable you use natural compost or at least one low in nitrogen.

Pruning should be done to keep the bonsai happy and beautiful so when you see the blooms have started to fade you should trim the branches a bit shorter than desired then seal the cuts to prevent rot. Any rot should be removed immediately and to reduce the probability of pest infestation you should get a pesticide or fungicide for common pests like scale, aphids, caterpillars and others.

If well taken care of, your Bougainvillea bonsai will reward you with beautiful blooms.

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