A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion New Members Innovative or risky?

Hi all!
What a great site and I'm so glad to become a member finally after reading so many wonderful posts here. I have a question. My fiance and I live in Woodland Hills area in California and have a lovely hillside home. We're currently working on our garden, or rather I am and he's pitching in to help. Yesterday he went out and bought a bougainvillea to plant against a wall next to our garage and planted it because he loves the colours. The wall is a huge 20 foot brick wall but it never gets direct sun although it's very warm. I pointed out that bougainvillea need full sun and today he's positioned a mirror across the driveway to reflect the sun over to this plant. He says once it has grown up to the top it will get plenty of sun. I had to laugh at his innovation but wonder if this is going to work. I worry that this will have the magnifier effect and fry the plant. Any ideas? Also any help with how to care for it would be appreciated. If worst comes to worst and we have to move it, how should we do so?

It's time like these that I wish I knew more about optic theory! (Doesn't intensity attenuate with distance? Is any mirror surface perfectly reflective?)

I'm sorry I can't help but I just had to comment that I applaud his efforts & ingenuity. For the cost of a bougainvillea, I'd run the experiment all the way through to its logical conclusion, come what may.

Be sure to take pictures!

Good luck!

Marica