If you want to save yourself an expensive and time-consuming trip to the south, simply bring southern flair to your balcony - bougainvilleas are the epitome of southern floral splendor and create a real holiday atmosphere.
How do I care for a bougainvillea on the balcony?
In order to successfully cultivate a bougainvillea on the balcony, it needs a lot of sun, regular watering without waterlogging and a nutrient-rich, permeable substrate. A south-facing, wind-protected balcony with a climbing aid and heat-storing house wall is ideal.
The spell of bougainvillea
Bougainvilleas are not one of the most popular climbing plants for nothing: with their intensely colored bracts that surround their flowers, they provide a wonderful spectacle for the eye. However, some plant lovers and hobby gardeners shy away from cultivating them - after all, they are a bit diva-like with their sensitive location requirements. Nevertheless, you can successfully grow the South American beauty even in these non-tropical climes - it can thrive beautifully in a pot on the balcony.
The benefits of bougainvillea on the balcony
Basically, the attractiveness of a bougainvillea should not be hidden in the house. So if you don't have a garden, or at least a balcony, you should use it as much as possible to optimally enjoy the bougainvillea. This can even result in very significant advantages:
- The balcony, if facing south, can provide a well-protected “microclimate” for the bougainvillea
- You can take advantage of the proximity to the heat-retaining wall of the house, which your bougainvillea will love
- A balcony railing offers an ideal climbing device for the climbing plant
- The high location allows the entire surrounding area to share in the beauty of the flowers
What to consider when caring for bougainvillea on the balcony
Basically, the following applies to the climbing plant that comes from subtropical South America:
- Lots of sun and warmth
- Watering regularly, but definitely avoid waterlogging
- nutrient-rich, permeable substrate
If you want to cultivate a bougainvillea on the balcony, it should face south if possible and not be restricted from full sunlight by nearby tall trees or buildings. It's best to choose a smaller specimen for the pot - a tight root ball bed promotes flower formation in relation to the leaf mass. You can add some clay to the substrate that contains as much minerals as possible. You should water regularly so that the root ball does not dry out. This is particularly important on a small, sunny and therefore evaporative balcony. Under no circumstances should waterlogging occur.
Bring it in for the winter
When the first frost arrives, the balcony holiday is usually over anyway - so bring the frost-sensitive bougainvillea into the house in time to overwinter.
