Looking for the most effervescent climbing, flowering plant to grow in a pot? Bougainvillea in pots are definitely what you are looking for. This colourful plant which originated in South America can very well thrive everywhere in Australia. It did come originally from subtropical regions. However, there are numerous hardy bougainvillea varieties that can thrive in areas with cold weather. The beauty of the bougainvillea plant however, is not its flower. Although of course most people will most likely say that. But that is mainly because there is a bit of a confusion. The colourful part of this plant is not actually its flower but rather its bracts. Bougainvillea bracts are the modified leaves surrounding the tiny little, almost unnoticeable flower.
Growing and Care
All bougainvillea plant species have thorns which could probably be a deal breaker for some novice gardeners. It however depends on what the gardener has in mind. For example, if you want to cover up a tall boring porch or fence beautifully, watering and fertilising it regularly will easily do the trick for you in less time than you have imagined. If you, on the other hand, want colourful plants to grow in a pot to liven up your open garden or courtyard, bougainvillea in pots are a choice you will not regret going for. After a year, when the bougainvillea plant grows into an ideally-sized plant for your purpose, you should stop watering it. It doesn’t need fertilisers either because slowing down its growth is the key to them giving you more flowers.
Growing bougainvillea in pots is the way to tame them. Its roots lose the ability to expand giving the plant a shrub-like characteristic. For a beautiful trailing effect, bougainvillea can also be grown in hanging containers around your house or garden. This full-coloured plant can give off a tropical air in the area you place them in especially that they stay bright and colourful all throughout the hot summer season. Want another big plus? Not only does this amazing plant come in various different colours, there is actually a variety that features two different bract colours, and yes, in one plant only. Now isn’t bougainvillea such a beauty?
Hello. Great article. I have a bougainvillea in a 30cm plastic pot with plenty of drainage holes. It continually flowers however the branches don’t seem to be growing in length/height. It’s only about 2 years old. I’ve tried pruning it to stimulate the growth, it’s also in full hot sun. Any recommendations as to how to stimulate the growth?
I’m not a horticulturist, but it would seem that it is root bound. I would take it out of the pot, cut away at the roots https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+fix+a+pot+bound+plant&oq=how+to+fix+a+pot+bound+plant&aqs=chrome..69i57j0.7750j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
And re-pot it in a larger pot with high quality potting mix.