order: caryophyllales
family: nyctaginaceae
genus: bougainvillea
species: spectabilis
cultivar: 'Vera Deep Purple'
This is a patented Bougainvillea spectabilis cultivar, named 'Vera Deep Purple' registered under Rpboug 327. It was discovered as a mutated plant in a group of 'Vera Light Purple' cultivar, showing deeper purple bracts. Both of these are dwarf cultivars of the spectabilis species which is marked by their compact growth habit and 'nearly' thornless stems. Also the cultivars are more floriferous than the species.
I acquired this plant in early spring this year, while it was in bloom. The bracts were so compact that hardly any light could get to the leaves. For two months, the plant didn't grow any new leaf, but consistently threw out bracts. I was worried that the plant was quite stressed but didn't know what to do. In the summer I was away from home for three or four days. The morning before I left I submerged the plant in water until the soil became completely saturated. Then I placed it back to its usual place on a sunny window sill outdoors. As I came home, I was surprised to find that the pot was still soaking wet and skipped watering for the next few days. Then the plant started to shed bracts and leaves while the soil was still soaking wet. At this moment I was certain that the plant was suffering from root rot. So I immediately repotted the plant, adding fresh dry soil around the soggy rootball, and moved it to a shadier place sheltered from wind. It took almost two months for the poor plant to fully recover. Now it's full of lush green foliage and since mid September it is also in bloom. The lesson is, never soak a bougainvillea in water.
Although bougainvillea has been said to withstand short term of coldspell down to near freezing temperature, I noticed that the bracts began to hang lowly as the temperature dropped below 7°C. So I would rather recommend to set 7°C as the minimum. If day temperature is permanently below 12°C in autumn, there's no point leaving the plant outdoors any longer. Bring it indoors; provide maximum natural light. Keep cool in winter (15°C is ideal).
family: nyctaginaceae
genus: bougainvillea
species: spectabilis
cultivar: 'Vera Deep Purple'
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| B. 'vera deep purple' in October 2012. |
This is a patented Bougainvillea spectabilis cultivar, named 'Vera Deep Purple' registered under Rpboug 327. It was discovered as a mutated plant in a group of 'Vera Light Purple' cultivar, showing deeper purple bracts. Both of these are dwarf cultivars of the spectabilis species which is marked by their compact growth habit and 'nearly' thornless stems. Also the cultivars are more floriferous than the species.
I acquired this plant in early spring this year, while it was in bloom. The bracts were so compact that hardly any light could get to the leaves. For two months, the plant didn't grow any new leaf, but consistently threw out bracts. I was worried that the plant was quite stressed but didn't know what to do. In the summer I was away from home for three or four days. The morning before I left I submerged the plant in water until the soil became completely saturated. Then I placed it back to its usual place on a sunny window sill outdoors. As I came home, I was surprised to find that the pot was still soaking wet and skipped watering for the next few days. Then the plant started to shed bracts and leaves while the soil was still soaking wet. At this moment I was certain that the plant was suffering from root rot. So I immediately repotted the plant, adding fresh dry soil around the soggy rootball, and moved it to a shadier place sheltered from wind. It took almost two months for the poor plant to fully recover. Now it's full of lush green foliage and since mid September it is also in bloom. The lesson is, never soak a bougainvillea in water.
Although bougainvillea has been said to withstand short term of coldspell down to near freezing temperature, I noticed that the bracts began to hang lowly as the temperature dropped below 7°C. So I would rather recommend to set 7°C as the minimum. If day temperature is permanently below 12°C in autumn, there's no point leaving the plant outdoors any longer. Bring it indoors; provide maximum natural light. Keep cool in winter (15°C is ideal).
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| march 2013. plant leafing out on some branches. |
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