Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea, also known as ‘paper flower’, is a kind of beautiful ornamental plant. In early spring, its colorful bracts bloom like butterflies, giving people an inspiring and warm feeling. 
The plant has three small flowers gathered in three paper-thin bracts. The large outer bracts are varied in red, yellow, purple, white and so on. It is worth noticing that these colorful bracts are not the petal. In fact, bract is an organ of plant related to leaf. 
Placing on the porch, courtyard or the entrance of hall, paper flower is an ideal plant for decoration and has a high ornamental value. It also has the function for anti-sulfur dioxide, and is beneficial for environmental protection. 
The flowering period of this plant is relatively long, starting from November to the following June. Paper flower prefers a warm, moist, sunny environment and is not resistant to cold. The optimum growth temperature is around 20 ~ 30℃. The soil needs to be loose and good in drainage. Lack of sunshine will affect the growth of flower. 
Propagation by stem is widely used for this plant. Buried the stem into the soil, paper flower will gradually grow some roots from the stem and become another plant. Choose a strong stem with some leaves, which will carry out photosynthesis. Leaves can help to make organic nutrients downward to the new roots. 
After selecting the branches, remove a round of bark with a knife, and then bury the branches in moist soil. You may fill the below area of the branches with soil, leaving it with no gaps. Remember to compress the soil slightly, and pour sufficient water onto the plant. 
After burying the stem, you may take care to keep the soil moist. Water the plant thoroughly every 2 to 3 days, according to the weather conditions. After about 25 days, you will find that the root has grown from the cutting point of the branch. It can be transplanted to a new pot in a few days. 
Before transplanting, you may stop watering for 2 or 3 days, in order to avoid the separation of the new roots and soil. After transplanting, secured the plant with a stick, and place it in the shade for 1 to 2 days. 
During winter frost, you can move the plant into the greenhouse and keep the temperature above 3℃. Paper flower grows well in moist soil, but it is recommended to reduce the water supply in winter, in order to make the plant being fully dormancy. 
The amount of fertilizer also varies in different seasons. Sufficient fertilizer needs to be applied in spring, and spry some phosphorus fertilizer before blooming can help the growth of flower. 

3-6 hours of sun per day, with protection from intense mid-day sun

Water sparingly, allowing the mix to nearly dry out between watering.

Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea

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