Grow Your Own Magazine

Hello all,

after a trip to the Med I decided I would like to grow my own Bougainvillea but ... I'm not sure if I can grow one outdoors or whether I should keep it in a greenhouse. Has anyone tried growing one outdoors?! And did it survive?!!! (I live in Leeds)

Thanks

Welcome to the Vine Adrastea. I know why you want to grow Bougainvillea - it's just lovely. But I've never seen it growing in this country and I think the problem is it needs a lot more sunshine than it can get here. Maybe it could be grown in a conservatory - but they do get very big. Sorry if you're disappointed. What else did you see in the Med that you could grow here.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

My mum tried to grow some here a few years back & had no success(sorry),But that's not to say it's not worth a try!Winters seem to be a lot milder now(for now!)so it could survive?If you can get some seed then give it a go & good luck!(but I def wouldn't go spending a fortune on seed~could you get someone to bring you some back if they going~or better still perfect excuse for a return trip to the med!!

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the fates lead him who will;him who won't they drag.

Happiness is not having what you want,but wanting what you have.xx

It doesnt even grow here and we are not that far off the med - its the winters - wouldnt even try outside, only in a greenhouse - a far nicer plant for me is a bignonia with orange trumpet flowers

I've grown Bougainvillea in a conservatory.

"What else did you see in the Med that you could grow here"

What about Oleanda? That reminds me of the Med. Would need to be in a container that you can bring in for the winter, but my garden centre is selling that - don't think they have labeled it as being half-hardy either (Maybe it is hardy??)

Thanks everyone,

I saw lots of Bougainvilleas at Tatton Park so when I found one in my local nursery... I ended up buying one before I started this thread as I was impulsive!!! (tut tut) So now I have one that I have to try and keep alive. But after reading your replies I think I won't chance it outside, I will keep it in a greenhouse as I don't have a conservatory. Just got to put the greenhouse together again now. I wonder how much heat I will need to provide. I also have a Lantana and loved the olive trees and grapes that grew absolutely everywhere over there! I'll have to look the other plants up in my book

I am growing one I bought in Morrisons supermarket this yr for £1.99 and the girl had soaked it and buy tiem got to checkout ifell out of container so they gave me another on.

I have since repotted and is in a 5"pot an din full bloom its beautiful but will take indoors before any frost.

I will take a photo and post ,but not sure how to upload image here being new.

Thanks for your replies, Jardiniere...can you tell me the name of the bignonia with orange trumpet flowers that you mentioned as I saw that one too and I agree it's really lovely? Can I get it over here and the Oleanders?

Scotkat you can upload images from the 'Manage Attachments' button beneath your message bar and attach files already stored on your computer. To upload an image from the internet you can use the postcard icon in the message toolbar - hope that helps as I'd like to see your pic!! Unfortunately all the flowers have gone from mine so it is just a leafy bush at the moment - wasn't yours a good find at the supermarket though!

Hi
I grow Bougainvillea and a number of oleanders that live in pots. Both are flowering well at the moment. THe oleanders get tucked up in my cold greenhouse over the winter whilst the Bougainvillea comes into the house. The key though is the keep them dryish as it is the wet more than the cold that finishes them off. My biggest oleander stays in a pot up against the south side of my house all year around and flourishes. I have had it for some years now.

Hi

Ive recently brought my bougainvillea into the house and all the leaves are dropping off!! It is a warm, bright room. I got the plant in a sale and the compost is not snug in the pot so can I repot it now? The compost keeps drying out-can i give it enough water if it is indoors, or should I keep the compost dry inside also? Any advice appreciated!

Visited the botanical gardens in Padua a couple of weeks ago- the oldest botanical gardens in Europe (1545) and they were amazing!
I think you can click to enlarge

Hi
I'm not an expert but I would say the plant has gone into shock!!!! I would take a chance and re-pot into a slightly bigger pot with a well drained compost and keep the compost dryish. Move it back outside into a semi shaded sheltered spot and then pray it comes out of shock!
Mine is still outside and covered in fuschia pink and deep pinky peach flowers. I keep the compost just moist in the growing season. I will not bring it indoors until it gets really cold and my cool greenhouse does not provide enough frost protection.
The gardens in Padua look lovely. Lucky you!

sorry not replied before - dont know where you can get bignonia is england i'm afraid...so not much help!!!

I feel so awful-my poor beloved Bougainvillea! Thanks Shushkin, will repot and put in the greenhouse until it gets too cold.

I have a young Bouginvilla plant and happy to same ealry in summer saw one in Morrisons for £1.99 overwatered and a bit poorly ,I took i thome gave a bit TLC .

its still in a 5"pot and gave me summer pleasure beautifull pink stunning infact.

I left it out through rain etc now taken indoors to my conservatory and will grow on as ahouseplant there .

She is delighting me with new leaves and has the shape of a Bonsai so I may grow in a Bonsai dish.

I would just like to say that I replanted it and put it back in the greenhouse and it has perked up no end! Thank you for the advice Shushkin!