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Bouganvilleas
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Posted by barlews Rhodes, Greece (My Page) on Tue, Jun 9, 09 at 9:48
Hi
We have now been here 14 months and finding things an uphill struggle.
We put in three bouganvilleas last May by three consecutive supports on our pergola which is virtually south facing, one white and two pink.
The white one put on lots of growth but did not flower until about September when it was spectacular and is now flowering and growing quite happily.
The two pink ones flowered last summer but put on little growth. September time I thought they were growing but was told to cut them off as they were thornless suckers. I noticed then that some of the tips were curling although not falling off.
This year they are not flowering but have grown a bit, about 3-4 foot high now but all the tips are curled.
I have cut off one shoot, tapped it over a piece of paper and looked through a magnifying glass and can see no insects, which I suppose means watering problems. I have been giving them a really good soaking about once a week. Our soil is not very deep although we dug about a 15" hole but on advice did not add any compost.
Any advice?
Also we are having problems with wind as the house sits on top of a hill near the sea and the wind comes from all directions and in the winter the rain is torrential and on our shallow soil we lost quite a few plants over winter, presumably because of waterlogging. We would like to get some trees in but do not want to spoil the spectacular views so nothing too dense.
Can anyone in a similar situation tell us what does well.
Thanks a lot
Barlews |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Bouganvilleas
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| Hi, we live on Kefalonia and I have two bouganvilleas. One has been in 18 months and the other planted in the spring. Both are doing exceptionally well without much attention. The one I planted in April did not start to shoot at all, so I cut it down to about 6 inches above soil level and low and behold it started to shoot. The first leaves did get wind damaged but it quickly recovered. We suffer dreadfully with the wind. I am still a novice as we have only been here 3 years. I give my bouganvilleas very little water although we have been experiencing 40 degree temperatures. I was told by the market lady to prune them in the spring. I did buy several oleander bushes the first year we were here and when they flowered saved the seeds which I planted. They germinated very easily and now have around 50 healthy plants to start going around the boundary of the garden. The joy of these are you can keep them as low as you want. Pinks (Dianthus) also do well - I take cuttings. The same with geraniums. This autumn I am redeveloping the border around the house so am also looking for advice on appropriate plants. We grow all our own veggies also. |
RE: Bouganvilleas
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| Hello barlews and medgirl Bougainvilleas can take years to establish, even if it appears they are doing well initially. I have 5 climbing, one shrub and two standard done with three each. Three of the climbing ones were planted in 2005 and seemed to settle in .... and then decided to 'take a break' and only this year are springing to life again. I do understand they develop their roots first and we are on red clay and rock so many things take their time here in establishing. I also would suggest Oleander, I have two doubles, one an offshoot of the other. They tolerate just about anything natures throws at them. Myoporum acuminatum (in English the Waterbush or Australian Blueberry Tree or the Boobiala) is a lovely evergreen and is used as a hedge here but I have trained one into a canopy tree ... only cost about a Euro for one half a meter tall so a very economical choice. They are both drought and frost tolerant. My garden is now established having commenced its creation in 1997 and I have succeeded in developing a vertible 'jungle' out of a wasteland so will assist as much as I can. Victoria |
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