Quote:
Originally Posted by gomoho
Excellent suggestion Uptown - I'm curious about your earlier post about bougenveilla. I understand they do best when stressed and pot bound. I recently purchased a very small plant that I intend to grow in shrub form; however I am stumped about how to plant it. If it like to be pot bound that certainly won't be accomplished if planted right in the ground, but the pot it came in is so small I don't know if it would be appropriate to use your suggestion of cutting out the bottom. I thought feeder roots were near the soil level and don't understand how these roots could establish if contained in a small pot.
I had one landscaper suggest I put it in an amended hole and concentrate on growing a good strong plant initially with a good root system then worry about blooms. Your thoughts or suggestions???
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As I understand, the roots of young Bougainvillea are actually very delicate and can be broken easily with rough handling. But I have seen roots of established specimens splitting open a plastic pot, which I believe will eventually happen to the one I planted in the ground, although it will take awhile.
The one I planted was tub sized- I'm guessing 25 gallon so it was the preferred way for the reasons i mentioned earlier. A little pot with a baby in it doesn't have to be planted that way.
I agree that, the primary thing is to get them established before worrying about bloom, but I do not subscribe to the idea that they bloom any better pot bound and stressed.
Most important for bloom is full sun (6+ hours a day) a drier spot (NOT soggy)
Being fed regularly helps too. I use a once a month granular food by Bougain and get great blooms, but have seen glorious old specimens in the Mediterranean LOADED with blooms growing through a crack with no extraordinary care at all.
The one in our own Spanish Springs takes my breath away!