Bou Gain a Villa

I had collected these pruned branches from the park area near my place. I remember mentioning this in my last post where I found the orchids and the beehive ginger. As the result, these bougainvillea had sprouted and had become a nice plant. I planted it last Oct. and it took practically about 4 months for this to grow into nice plant.

I manage to make about 10 -15 cuttings from them but only one managed to survive . So, that's explains the difficulty I had faced, those countless times which I had failed in propagating a bougainvillea.
I guess, the variegated types are very challenging. Next time, I would consider buying this plant from a nursery than propagating it.

These leaves are broader and the colours are lesser due the environment where is very much shaded. I had seen many bougainvilleas along the street sides where its constantly go through a lot of abuse but somehow it seemed to thrive much better with the hardship.

One thing about this plant - you either would love it or hate it. I wonder how I had changed from the hating part to the loving part - it must be the variegated leaves. I resent those dried paper flowers, often litter the gardens and does in most cases create a nuisance, like those Styrofoam packaging stuff (flying all over)

I can't recall what had changed my mind, probably I got used seeing it too often, those planted by the street sides and shopping malls. Or perhaps those sold in nursery where many varieties coloured flowers and leaves are grafted in one tree.

Perhaps its the waiting and watching part, whether this plant is for real or like those types which are sold for a short-term basis. And again, it could also be the cost part - any new plants introduced in the market are usually expensive and I'm not that adventurous type of person.

Above all, there is one thing about bougainvilleas - there are also the variegated type, so if you don't get the flowers, you can still enjoy the coloured foliage.