Bouvardia is a member of the Rubiaceae family. The native land of the plant is the tropical and subtropical zones of Central America, mainly Mexico. Bouvardia is a flowering evergreen shrub that can grow from half a meter to one and a half meters. On straight, weakly branched stems, there are elongated or rounded leaves with a sharp tip, from 3 to 10 cm in length. They can be arranged opposite or collected in whorls.
Blooming bouvardia lasts from late spring - early summer to autumn. Inflorescences in the form of scutes, up to 15 cm in diameter, with tubular flowers of red, pink, white, which are located at the ends of young twigs.
In some species, flowering begins in May and lasts until December.
Caring for bouvardia at home
Lighting
Caring for a bouvardia is not very difficult. The flower needs bright light, a south window is ideal. In the summer, the bouvardia can be kept outdoors.
Temperature
During the growing season of bouvardia, a room temperature of 20-25 degrees is suitable, but in winter the temperature must be lowered to 10-12 degrees, but not lower than 7. Bouvardia, which blooms in winter, does not need a temperature drop.
Air humidity
Spraying bouvardia is not necessary, but dust is clearly visible on the smooth leaves of the plant, which can be washed off from time to time in the shower.
Watering
Bouvardia is watered moderately in spring and summer, allowing the top layer of the substrate to dry out. Watering in winter is reduced so that the leaves are not planted. Over-watering can lead to root and leaf rot.
The soil
For bouvardia, ready-made soil for decorative flowering plants is suitable. You can prepare a mixture yourself, consisting of turf, peat, leafy soil and sand in a ratio of 4: 2: 1: 1.
Top dressing and fertilization
From March to August, every two weeks, the flower is fed with fertilizers for decorative flowering plants. With a lack of nutrients in the bouvardia, the lower leaves may turn yellow and fall off.
Pruning
Over the winter, bouvardia can stretch out strongly. It needs to be cut shortly and young shoots should be pinched until the end of summer. Pinching and pruning is needed not only to give the plant a more decorative look, but also to stimulate flowering.
Transfer
Bouvardia is transplanted in the spring. Usually, after the plant has faded in the second year of life, the cuttings are rooted, and the old bush is thrown away. This is due to the fact that the most beautiful and abundant flowering occurs at this time. Subsequently, the plant either does not bloom at all, or its flowering is meager and uninteresting. It is best grown as a biennial plant.
Reproduction bouvardia
Bouvardia propagates by apical cuttings. You can propagate the plant by dividing the bush, but it does not make sense, since the divided bush will not bloom anyway.
Apical cuttings can be rooted either in water or in soil at a temperature of 20-25 degrees.
Diseases and pests
Bouvardia can be annoyed by spider mites and aphids, but in general, the plant is rarely affected by pests.
With overflow or lack of drainage, the bouvardia will easily get sick with root rot and will most likely die. Root the cuttings so you don't lose the plant at all.
Types of bouvardia
In natural conditions, the plant has about 30 species, some are used as indoor flowers.
Bouvardia Smooth-flowered (Bouvardia leiantha) is an evergreen bush about 60 cm high with whorled rounded leaves. Flowers are collected in corymbose inflorescences and are salmon and light red in color.
Bouvardia longiflora (Bouvardia longiflora) - it is a bush up to 90 cm in height, with oblong, opposite leaves and a large number of fragrant white inflorescences.
Bouvardia Yellow (Bouvardia flava) - shrub up to one meter with elongated leaves and yellow flowers.
Bouvardia jasminiflora winter blooming species with white flowers smelling of jasmine. The plant grows up to 60 cm.
Bouvardia Domestica (Bouvardia domestica) most common in indoor floriculture. A shrub that grows up to 70 cm in height with elliptical leaves up to 5 cm in length. Flowers can be either double or simple, in all shades of pink and crimson.
