Bougainvillea, commonly known as veranera, trinitaria, bougainvillea, bougainvillea or bugambilia, belongs to the family Noctuidae. It is native to the humid tropical forests of South America, mainly distributed in Brazil, Peru and northern Argentina, and is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas. Paper flowers, santa rita (bougainvillea) or small bougainvillea is the plant species of this climbing plant.
this santa rita It is characterized by bright green leaves and magenta bracts. It is a perennial climbing woody plant that can reach a height of 10 meters. Its flowers are very small and white. Its branches have sharp thorns. This mini shrub is perfect for growing in gardens and pots. Also suitable for making bonsai.
With striking colors ranging from white, orange, and red to fuchsia or pink, this showy plant blooms year-round, even through frost, but during the warmest months of the year, their flowers Reach the most gorgeous level. Although santa rita It does not require much care and a series of tips must be followed for optimal flowering and proper maintenance of the species.
How to Care for Santa Rita
Unlike other plants, santa rita It does not require much care to grow healthily. But that doesn’t mean it should be ignored. Some details to consider are:
- Location: In a sunny location with stagnant water. This climbing plant requires at least 4 hours of direct sunlight, so it is not convenient to keep indoors. It is best to plant it in soil rather than in a pot.
- Pruning: Pruning is best done in early spring to remove old, damaged branches or branches affected by frost.
- Soil: Does not perform well in calcareous soils, your best option is a 50/50 mix of leaf mulch and garden soil.this santa rita Prefers well-drained soil.
- Irrigation: Moderate, scarce in winter. It is recommended to always use warm water without lime. Irrigation should be done when the substrate is dry, otherwise there is a risk of damaging the plant, as too much water can cause root rot.
- Fertilizer: Apply mineral fertilizer once a month in spring and summer to promote flowering. This species does not like too much fertilizer. This is enough for flowers all year round.
- Planting: It is advisable to plant at the beginning of spring to allow it to adapt to the terrain before the first winter. Although transplantation should only be done when absolutely necessary as it does not tolerate transplantation well and may die from the changes.
- Pests and Diseases: If conditions are very dry, you may be susceptible to whitefly infestations. Its leaves fall off if the weather is cold, but they curl up if exposed to direct sunlight.Other possible pests santa rita: Aphids, mites and whiteflies.