My Bougainvillea Was Hit Hard by Wind.. Will the Flower Bloom Again

Maria is a master gardener and master of public health. She & her hubby, known online as The Gardener & The Cook, live in littoral Alabama.

Maria Montgomery

Bougainvillea Thrives in Temperate Climates

These cute vines are rapid growers and climbers, besides every bit prolific bloomers. They demand a warm climate, full sun, and very good drainage. How to pronounce it? Information technology'southward pronounced "boo-gan-vee-ah".

Bougainvillea is native to Cardinal America, virtually of S America, the Caribbean Islands, Espana, parts of the United States, and many other warm climates. This gorgeous vine is available in many colors including hot pink (my favorite) crimson, purple, lavender, yellow, orange, pale pink, white, and white with pinkish-tipped edges.

What We'll Cover Here

• Planting tips
• Growing tips
• Jump bougainvillea care
• Keeping caterpillars away
• Summer bougainvillea intendance
• Wintertime bougainvillea care
• How to prune a bougainvillea
• The best bougainvillea for pots and containers

Questions I Ofttimes Get About Planting Bougainvillea

Having a bougainvillea in your garden, either in a pot or in the ground, is always joyful due to the gorgeous flush of color. Like all plants, bougainvillea starts out relatively small, but will speedily take over the space provided, and so some. In spring and autumn with the right care, these beauties will explode into a profusion of color, spreading their thorny branches to cover a wall or fence completely.

Where does bougainvillea grow best?

Bougainvillea is a hardy perennial vine, only it prefers the temperate climates of USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9 through xi. (Not certain which zone yous alive in? See the map below — just click on the source link to see a larger version.) Bougainvillea can also exist grown as an annual or every bit a houseplant outside those zones. If y'all choose to grow them as annuals, be aware doing this can be quite expensive. A 3-foot tall bougainvillea tin price as much as $50.

How quickly does bougainvillea abound?

Bougainvillea is among the fastest growing plants. Typically it will put on a startling 36 inches of growth every yr, upwards to a limit of about 30 feet. With this in listen, choose a spot against a warm, protected wall or argue where y'all want to add a BIG splash of colour. Residuum assured, you don't accept to let the plant get that big! Meet tips for pruning your bougainvillea beneath, and exist aware that, if you put information technology almost a garden path, or near the door to your abode, you will be pruning it oftentimes. Very frequently!

Is bougainvillea evergreen?

Yes. All plants drop leaves periodically, merely equally we humans lose a few hairs daily. While your bougainvillea volition drib some leaves throughout the yr, it is classified as evergreen in balmy climates and keeps its leaves year-round.

Does bougainvillea flower all year?

No, a bougainvillea will typically blossom from November or December to April hither in the U.Due south., with the heaviest bloom-fourth dimension in spring and autumn. This can vary depending on where you alive. For example, when we lived in key Florida, our heaviest bloom-fourth dimension was early-to-mid spring and late fall (i.e., Dec), both of which are times when the weather is libation. I once saw them blooming profusely in San Francisco in July — the daytime temperature there was in the mid-60s.

How should I fertilize my bougainvillea?

Some gardeners recommend using a tablespoon of hibiscus fertilizer every 3 to 4 weeks in the spring and summer. Bougainvillea needs rich, acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.0. Now that nosotros have moved to Zone 8b, I no longer abound this vine, only when we lived in Florida, I sprinkled used coffee grounds around the i I had. I also put coffee grounds around my azaleas, which require acidic soil, besides. If we don't potable all the coffee made in the mornings, I dilute it with obviously water for my acid-loving plants, and pour it around them.

This is the USDA Map of Gardening Zones, based on cold hardiness. The column on the correct indicates the different zones by color.

Planting Tips:

1. First, ready the planting hole. The hole should be wide plenty that you can easily rake soil into information technology around the root ball. It should be deep plenty that the top of the root ball is just slightly higher up the surrounding soil level. This allows h2o to drain away, and prevents continuing h2o at times of heavy pelting.
2. Bougainvillea likes a lot of h2o when it is kickoff planted, but in one case established, it does improve with its soil a lilliputian on the dry out side. Take care to plant information technology in an surface area with really good drainage.
3. Have care when planting or replanting a bougainvillea. Don't handle the root brawl any more than necessary, as the roots are delicate and tin easily break. If the plant has been in the pot too long, and the roots are going circular and round, they volition need to be loosened. Otherwise, they will proceed to go round and round, when they should be spreading out in their new home. In fact, when because any plant for purchase, it'south a good idea to lift the root ball out of the pot to see if the roots are going round and circular. If they are, choose a different one.
4. If it becomes necessary to prune any plant when installing information technology (for example, if a limb gets cleaved) always place your cut immediately in a higher place a joint, taking care to cut on an angle, so water will run off rather than soaking into the raw woods.

Growing a Healthy Bougainvillea

Again, to confirm which zone yous live in, consult the USDA Constitute Hardiness Zone map above.

Climate	Annual or Perennial?	Care and Watering	Seasonal Tips
Zones nine - xi	Grows perennially with flowers Apr to December.	When get-go planted or transplanted, the soil effectually a bougainvillea should exist kept moist. Be certain to plant where it will have good drainage. After the institute is established it will prefer to be left on the dry out side.	Prune your bougainvillea in wintertime later on it has finished blooming (January is a practiced time). Always cutting at a joint. Don't exist afraid to clip aggressively, if needed. New growth will brainstorm to emerge in a few weeks.
Zone 1 - 8	Grows as an annual outdoors or every bit a perennial in a container indoors.	For outdoor plants, protect the establish from freezing temps past covering it with a cloth all the manner to the ground, and mulching the roots. Indoor potted plants will flower from May to December. Proceed the institute well watered when first planted, only then keep dry out for more flowers once established.	Prune the potted plant severely before cold weather sets in, and take indoors. Apply a tablespoon of hibiscus fertilizer every 3 to 4 weeks in spring and summertime. If information technology is grown outdoors, be prepared to lose the plant if your wintertime is less than balmy.

Bougainvillea bracts and flowers.

Maria Logan Montgomery

Curl to Continue

Read More From Dengarden

Caterpillars and the Damage They Tin Practise

I plucked this caterpillar off of my institute. This is the guy that created all this harm to my bougainvillea.

Maria Logan Montgomery

Spring Bougainvillea Care

When the spring pinnacle of blooming has passed, your bougainvillea volition still be blooming but with far fewer flowers. It'south fourth dimension to be on the lookout for pests that volition swallow the leaves, and leave you with an unsightly found that has no flowers.

How to Proceed Destructive Caterpillars Away

The photo above shows what caterpillars did to my once-beautiful hot-pink bougainvillea. At that place was merely ane flower left on the unabridged plant, then I was not a happy gardener. The first photo is of i of the pests that did this. These guys come out only at night, but are sometimes still at that place in early morning. Sometimes they are and so still they look like small sticks, or similar the fiddling brown stems left backside by spent bracts.

Occasionally, they can be seen hanging from a tiny string of spider web, or on a leaf, boring into it. The ones I have seen range from most 1 to three inches long. Most are almost an inch (2.54 cm). The smallest ones are greenish in color. The largest ones are a greenish-brown. This 1 was a picayune over an inch long.

This happened before I became a master gardener, so I took this guy (in a goose egg-closed bag) to my local main gardeners for expert advice. They said it was a caterpillar and not the kind that soon becomes a beautiful butterfly! I was told to get an organic product chosen Neem, and to spray my plant with information technology in the early morning or in the evening. The main gardeners I spoke with said they knew Lowe's, Dwelling house Depot, and some independent local stores all carry Neem.

I found it at Home Depot. I tried Ace Hardware kickoff, equally they were closer to my habitation, but they did not take this product. Maybe they will got information technology later, as they said they had had several requests for it. Neem comes in a highly concentrated course, in a tiny canteen. Mix information technology two tablespoons per gallon of h2o, then pour some into a spray canteen for easy use. I used an empty gallon milk jug to mix it. Be sure to read the section beneath on summer intendance for using Neem oil.

Summer Bougainvillea Care

In the summer estrus, Neem oil — or any oil — will melt and slide right off of your plants. At times of temperatures in the high-80s Fahrenheit or higher up, insecticidal soaps volition work best.

It is truthful that the insecticidal soaps volition need to be sprayed after each rain, merely they practise work. I used to spray my pansies and mondo grass with cayenne pepper dissolved in h2o to prevent rabbits and squirrels from eating them. It, too, has to be re-sprayed later on a pelting, but it's a lot cheaper than insecticidal soaps, and y'all probably already have some in your pantry.

Winter Bougainvillea Care

Your bougainvillea will be in total bloom in tardily wintertime/earlyspring and autumn. Equally the weather gets cooler and cooler, be sure your bougainvillea has good drainage to prevent possible root rot from having "soggy feet".

Besides, make sure it is secured to its trellis, wall, or debate to forbid wind damage. The older canes are thick, difficult, and sturdy, only the new wood volition be tender and very flexible. They can get broken in high winds.

Wind and freeze damage tin be cut abroad, assuasive new growth to emerge. You may want to consider pruning information technology back a fleck — after it finishes blooming, of grade. When pruning those larger canes with huge thorns, I oft used wire cutters to clip off the thorns on the sections to exist removed, and so used my pruners or loppers to remove the canes.

Impairment From a Hard Freeze

Freeze damage on my neighbor's bougainvillea. This damage tin exist cut away, allowing new growth to emerge.

Maria Logan Montgomery

Protecting Bougainvillea in Freezing Temperatures

In central Florida (Zone 9a), where I lived when I beginning wrote this commodity, a hard freeze is considered iv hours or more, at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Difficult freezes there are infrequent, but practise happen from fourth dimension to time. In January, 2018, a difficult freeze damaged a lot of plants, including some freestanding bougainvillea; that is, those not protected by a wall or contend, a trellis, or the side of a building.

Mine was planted confronting a trellis on the wall of our garage, and was protected past that wall, as well equally by the eaves of the roof overhang. My neighbour's bougainvillea (shown in the freeze damage photograph higher up) and some hibiscus bushes are in a large planting bed that is in an open up area of her backyard. Usually, this is not a problem, but in the event of a prolonged freeze, it leaves these tropical plants quite vulnerable; so they must be covered.

The plant in that photo suffered severe damage but information technology did survive. Greenish leaves can be seen on the bottom half of the found. The dead portions tin can be always cut away after danger of additional freezing temps has passed. This will let new growth to emerge at the site of the pruning, and on salubrious areas below.

All gratuitous-continuing tropical plants should be covered if in that location is a danger of a hard freeze, simply DO Not apply plastic bags or sheets of plastic. Anywhere plastic touches the plant, information technology will be damaged. Practise be sure to remove coverings as soon as possible after the sun is shining on the plants. It can become very warm underneath the coverings even if information technology is even so common cold outdoors. You don't want your plants to bake under the roofing.

Want to Try Rooting a Cutting?

My bougainvillea when it was first planted.

Maria Montgomery

These Vines Are Fast-Growing

I take loved bougainvillea since I get-go saw ane on a trip to San Francisco. When nosotros relocated to Florida, I could finally grow my own. I purchased the one in the photograph above about a month after we moved into our new dwelling. Beneath is a photo of how it looked the 24-hour interval it was planted in belatedly wintertime of 2013. In less than 12 months, it reached the roof of the firm and almost covered the entire wall backside it. It also grew behind the downspout, and as the tender petty tendrils became thick, hardened vines, it began to loosen the downspout. That footling trellis had to be replaced with three larger and stronger ones in the summer of 2014. Unfortunately, getting it onto those trellises required some pruning, and so it was no longer laying on our roof. When it began putting out new growth, I trained it to abound away from the downspout.

This is the first bougainvillea I e'er saw. Information technology was growing on a balcony, set against an ominous looking sky in San Francisco.

Maria Logan Montgomery

How to Clip Your Bougainvillea

Be forewarned, this gorgeous flowering vine can become quite invasive. I decided to clip mine in the way that a vineyard director prunes grape vines, only not as severely. After all, information technology is only the new growth that produces flowers. Take care when pruning a bougainvillea, as it has big, sharp thorns that tin cause skin rashes.

Mine was on a wall nigh my forepart door, so I couldn't allow it to drift out over the front walk.

• I removed the everyman branches that wandered beyond the ground by clipping them at their articulation with the master trunk.
• Whenever possible, I threaded college branches into the trellis, or behind other branches that were securely trellised.
• Whatever that grew out toward the walk that led to our front door, I clipped at the indicate where the co-operative left the main trunk, taking care not to scar the trunk.

Practise not let anyone tell you that you tin simply snip off the ends of the branches to encourage new growth. You volition become new growth, but y'all will be snipping off the blossom buds. Bougainvillea blooms but on the tips of new growth. Every bit branches become older, little side shoots will emerge, and they will blossom on their tips, too. This is how larger plants appear to be covered in a solid mass of flowers.

My Favorite Loppers

Dissolve cayenne pepper in warm water, and then spray it on plants to discourage pests.

Maria Logan Montgomery

Something to Call back

The sap of bougainvillea is mildly toxic. If ingested in large plenty amounts, it tin can atomic number 82 to illness. While the leaves are not toxic, a prick from the thorns can atomic number 82 to dermatitis, a peel rash that is typically acquired by an allergic reaction.

– Maria Logan Montgomery

Master Gardener

These Vines Grow Apace, and Must exist Managed

Here you can encounter how this plant gets into soffits and roof shingles if non managed properly.

Maria Montgomery

Best Bougainvillea for Pots and Containers

Growing a bougainvillea in a pot isn't that different from growing it in the ground, though if you alive where frost is an issue you will accept to move any outdoor potted found indoors during the wintertime. Some varieties are better than others for pots. Hither are some that do well equally potted plants:

• "Miss Alice" (white bracts)
• "Bambino Infant Sophia" (orangish bracts)
• "Rosenka" and "Singapore Pink" (pink bracts)
• "La Jolla" and "Crimson Jewel" (carmine bracts)
• "Oo-La-La" and "Raspberry Ice" (magenta bracts)
• "Vera Deep Regal" (royal bracts)

Some Pretty Photos. Others, Not And then Much.

Less than 12 months subsequently being planted, our bougainvillea outgrew the original trellis. It is now on 3 trellises. Unfortunately, getting it on these trellises required pruning.

This content is accurate and truthful to the best of the author's knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Questions & Answers

Question: We simply arrived back in the Phoenix expanse and our Bougainvillea is sad, wilted and no color. What should we exercise now?

Reply: If I count correctly, you wrote to me in October. That'south when they should exist blooming like crazy, at to the lowest degree around here, it is. I recommend checking for as well much or likewise little h2o -- they need good drainage. Y'all could bank check for pests -- mealy bugs almost killed mine. I'm non familiar with the soils, seasons in Phoenix. Information technology would exist a good idea to cheque with a local chief gardener at your local county extension part.

Question: My bougainvillea has faded and looks sick. What can I practice to liven it up?

Answer: Bougainvillea blooms twice per year: leap and fall or early winter. The colorful bracts will fade when spent, and so will brown and drop to the ground.

Question: I pruned back a bed of bougainvillea today at piece of work. Will they bloom back properly? I know the best time is in January.

Reply: Bougainvillea will survive astringent pruning, and bloom beautifully again. The timing for when to prune depends on where you lot alive and work. They can be pruned pretty much any time, only the all-time time is in early leap earlier the plant has set up its blossom buds. In January, in cardinal Florida (Zone ix) they have just finished the autumn bloom cycle, and so it is a adept time for that area.

Question: What is the ratio of water to coffee for fertilizing? You lot mentioned that you dilute extra java.

Answer: I don't recommend whatsoever item ratio. My coffee is not overly strong, then I utilise it equally is. My hubby's coffee, on the other paw, is very potent, so I put some water in it -- probably about fifty/50.

Question: When pruning Bougainvillea do I cut off the sharp thorns?

Answer: It's not necessary, only I often did when I had a bougainvillea. It fabricated handling the branches I had removed much easier.

Question: Exercise I fertilize and cutting off leaves and flowers in winter?

Answer: I repent for being and so long in replying. I haven't logged on for quite a while. The spent blooms volition drop off when they are done. Fertilize twice per year, in early leap and mid-summer, using a wearisome-release fertilizer.

Question: My indoor institute is wilting. How do I bring it back ?

Answer: Information technology could exist needing water, information technology could be that it has had too much h2o, or it could exist getting too much or too little light. Perchance information technology needs establish food (fertilizer). If the leaves accept turned brown, information technology needs h2o and/or fertilizer. On the other manus, if the leaves have turned yellow, it has too much water. You lot didn't say what type of establish it is. Some need bright, indirect lite. Others need depression light.

Question: I have a bougainvillea tree in a large pot, which I bring indoors in the winter. Can I prune information technology before I bring it indoors?

Answer: Yeah, you tin can. Exist sure to remove no more 1/3 of any branch at whatsoever i time. If it needs more that removed, await 2 or iii weeks, then remove a little more.

Question: Do Bougainvilleas do well in pots?

Answer: They may exist fine in large pots, only pots will require two things of you:

one. More frequent watering, as the small amount of soil, will dry out more than quickly, peculiarly in hot weather condition.

2. In a pot, the root brawl is surrounded with cold air in wintertime which makes it more susceptible to freeze impairment.

Question: I repotted my bougainvillea a week ago, and it was doing fine. I watered yesterday, and this morning information technology seems to be either wilted or peradventure sun-scorched. I moved information technology into a more shaded area. How can I save my bougainvilleas?

Respond: Is there any chance at that place could be air pockets in the soil that are allowing air to be around the roots? Y'all can check this by pressing the soil down with your hands to ensure information technology is well packed, just not compacted. When yous watered information technology, was there a saucer nether the pot to grab the water that ran out the drainage holes? If so, how long was the plant allowed to sit in that h2o? Thirty minutes is the max to permit the pot sit in water. If it is wilted, information technology may appreciate a short time in the shade, just remember this is a sun-loving plant. It needs good drainage & lots of sunshine.

Question: I have recently purchased young potted cuttings of bougainvillea. I am in zone 7. How should I care for them over the winter?

Answer: In zone vii, yous will need to have them indoors over the winter. They volition need at least 6 hours of sun per 24-hour interval, and good drainage.

Question: What soil helps zone 9 purple bougainvillea go along purple?

Respond: All the purple ones I have seen have remained purple. Are the flowers fading from dark imperial to light imperial, or changing colour completely? Information technology could be a lack of nutrients. These plants adopt a slightly acidic soil, so you may desire to exam the pH of the soil.

Question: Why practice the bougainvillea's color fade away?

Respond: The color on any plant volition fade as the blossoms and bracts age.

Question: Can I go along Bougainvillea low growing hedge like?

Answer: Bougainvillea are vines or trained into very small ornamental trees, much like tree-roses. Trying to make a hedge out of a vine would crave installation of a lot of supports, as well as constant tying of new growth to the supports; OR a huge amount of pruning. It would be less frustrating to found something that naturally makes a hedge.

Question: Would a bougainvillea grow improve in a plastic or terra cotta container?

Respond: Either is fine. If yous apply plastic, exist sure there are some drainage holes in the bottom. All the terra cotta pots I take ever seen already have drainage holes. You may have to h2o the plant more frequently in terra cotta, as it is a porous material, and so it "breathes" a bit. This tin can be skilful if the plant is over-watered. Information technology can be not so good in dry weather, requiring you lot to h2o more than often. Bougainvillea does require good drainage, so keep that in mind when choosing your container. Enjoy your beautiful plant.

Question: What causes bourgainvillea bracts to dry?

Answer: All flowers and bracts have a short life-bridge. When spent, they naturally dry out, plow brown, and are dropped.

Question: We live in Hawaii, and I am planting bougainvillea in a large planter box (with good drainage) hopefully to grow up the lattice wall. What kind of soil should we use? I was considering mixing palm/cactus soil with regular potting soil.

Answer: I recommend using regular potting soil. I'm not familiar with cactus soil, and even after living in Florida for 7 years, going to the master gardener'south palm school, and working the plant clinics, I have never heard of palm soil. Palms practice have specific nutrient requirements. Your bougainvillea requires mainly good rich soil with good drainage, and full lord's day. Information technology will be beautiful on your lattice.

Question: Is bougainvillea poisonous?

Respond: The sap of bougainvillea is mildly toxic. If ingested in big plenty amounts, it can lead to illness. While the leaves are not toxic, a prick from the thorns can pb to dermatitis, a skin rash that is typically caused past an allergic reaction.

Question: I live in Flagler County, Florida. it's mid-February. My bougainvillea has a lot of thorny branches, but not one leaf. Why wouldn't my bougainvillea accept more than leaves?

Answer: Without more information, it is difficult to say. Does your bougainvillea become adequate sunlight? Does information technology take good drainage? Both are must-haves for it to flourish. When there were leaves, were they problems-eaten? Or did they simply turn brown or yellowish, and fall off? If they turned yellow, the plan was getting besides much water. I'm really sad I can't provide more of an answer, but I volition need more information in order to do and so.

Question: Does bougainvillea graft well onto certain types of trees to adorn an already-hardy-&-mature root system/established tree?

Respond: I've never heard of grafting a bougainvillea onto a tree no matter how mature the tree may be. Be aware that in plant-speak, the word hardy means information technology tin withstand common cold temperatures. Do yous want the bougainvillea to climb a tree similar to the way wild wisteria does? If so, why not just plant the bougainvillea next to the tree? These vines grow chop-chop, and will before long be climbing the tree. Information technology is possible, even so, that as the vines grow older and larger (virtually as big effectually my wrist) they can damage the tree in a choking way.

Question: I alive in a small boondocks by a large lake. I put both bougainvilleas in hanging baskets in my green house for the winter. When I took them out today, one looks great with lots of flowers the other 1 looks bad, no flowers and a lot of chocolate-brown bracts should I trim off the dark-brown parts?

Answer: Yeah, I would trim off the brownish parts. Any chance the brown one got too much water, maybe from a leaky roof or window in the greenhouse? Or maybe not enough sun?

Question: What contrasting drought tolerant shrub pairs well with bougainvillea?

Answer: All shrubs, once established, will survive all but extreme drought. Around here, shrubs abound and so very large they would cake the view of the beautiful bougainvillea flowers. Also, bougainvillea grows quite large -- I mean really large. When I had i on a trellis, I planted daylilies in front of it considering they are drought-tolerant, too, and they grow but about eighteen-24 inches loftier. Depending on what zone you are in, you could also utilise bearded iris, every bit they are very drought tolerant. Unfortunately, they don't do well hither in fundamental Florida because the winters are not cold plenty for long enough. I'm merely not certain shrubs would be good to plant virtually a bougainvillea unless you have the free-standing type that has been trained to grow equally a small tree -- this type will need constant pruning and shaping, and so would any shrub planted near it.

Question: Can you propagate Bougainvillea from a cut?

Answer: I accept never tried, but you probably can. You could cut off a small branch. The smaller the improve. Moisture the cut end, then dip it in rooting medium, then put it into a small-scale pot of good soil. The way I would exercise it if my plant had a branch close to the footing, is to scrape a picayune of the bark off the underside of the co-operative. You tin can do this with your thumbnail or a pocket-size knife. And then press the cutting side to the basis, put a little soil over it, and weight information technology downwardly with a stone or a brick. Give it a few weeks to take root -- a few months if you desire lots of good potent roots. After information technology grows some roots, you tin can cutting it off of the female parent constitute and relocate information technology to whatever sunny spot you would like. I practise this frequently with azaleas. It works every time. Thanks for reading my article, and for your question.

Question: Is it normal for a bougainvillea to lose all the flowers at once? It is mid December in Yucatan, Mexico.

Answer: I've never seen ane lose all the flowers literally at in one case. They do, all the same, typically bloom twice per year: spring and autumn. They need good drainage and full sun. If those needs are existence met, it may demand a good fertilizer.

Question: Would a vygie (lampranthus) in anyway hamper the growth of the bougainvillea?

Answer: Both are drought tolerant, so water needs are compatible.

Question: I have bougainvillea growing around rebar in a pot -- should I cutting out the rebar and constitute it for it to thrive?

Respond: I recall you are request if you should found information technology in the basis instead of in a pot. It will grow far larger if in the ground. If you have cold winters you will need to go along it potted, but if you're in zone 9, 10, or 11, it should exist fine in the ground.

Question: I have a pocket-size tree Bougainvillea. Do all the aforementioned rules apply? I'chiliad in San Diego, CA.

Answer: They certain do.

Question: Where can I purchase bougainvilleas ?

Answer: If you live in an area where they can be successfully grown, whatsoever expert garden centre, even the big box stores will have them.

Question: I have my young bougainvillea in a pot, and volition bring information technology within for the winter. How practice I intendance for it?

Answer: Just exist sure it gets total sunday (at least 6 hours per day) and that it has expert drainage. Information technology doesn't similar soggy soil.

© 2014 MariaMontgomery

MariaMontgomery (author) from Coastal Alabama, United states on September 02, 2020:

Do you mean the roots have grown through cracks in the sides of the pot, or that they have grown through the drainage holes on the lesser of the pot? That volition make a large deviation in the advice I requite you.

Based on what you take told me, I would say, if you lot interruption off the pot, you should dig a hole, and put the root ball into the basis. Dig a nice hole that is twice as big effectually as the pot or root ball. Set up the plant a little high in the basis so it will have good drainage. This plant does non like soggy soil.

It would aid if you could send me a close-upward photo of the pot and roots. If you want to do that , please send it to gardenerandcookblog@gmail.com. Skilful luck with replanting your bougainvillea, and cheers for reading my article.

Luis Montanez on September 02, 2020:

i have a large bougainvillea in a clay pot that is breaking from age. The plant'south roots arr on the ground off the pot, but some of the trunk is within the soil on the pot. Can I only break off the pot and clean the soil from the trunk and let it stay on the ground? Thank you

MariaMontgomery (author) from Coastal Alabama, USA on August 14, 2020:

If the establish were in the footing, I would say twice per calendar week is fine (assuming no rain). You didn't say where you are, but I believe I can safely assume that, if you lot're growing a bougainvillea, you probably live where there are hot summers. Plants grown in pots dry far more quickly than those in the footing. If yous've had a really hot summer, and not enough pelting, you lot should probably exist watering more. Just feel the pinnacle one inch of soil with your finger. If the acme one inch is dry, it's time to water. Withholding water will trigger blooming, but withholding too much volition besides trigger leaf loss. I fear this may be what has happened. I hope this helps you, and thank y'all for for reading my article.

WALTER POUNDS on August fourteen, 2020:

We have a Bouainvillea and is blooming great but all the leaves have fallen off only the blooms are notwithstanding there. Its watered virtually twice a week and is in a pot

MariaMontgomery (author) from Coastal Alabama, Us on July 27, 2020:

Yes, bone meal is a good source of phosphorous. Information technology'southward the center number in the 3 numbers on numberless of fertilizer. You merely reminded me of an article I meant to write about the three numbers, what they mean, and what each of the chemicals are for. Thanks!

Barry Allen on July 24, 2020:

Do Bougainvillea like os meal fertilizer in order to encourage blooming? I used some organic bone repast for my outdoor potted bougainvillea hoping for blooms in late July. I live in the desert in Las Vegas. Thank y'all!

MariaMontgomery (writer) from Coastal Alabama, The states on July 17, 2020:

Root rot is rare in bougainvillea, only it could be root rot caused by too much water. If it is root rot, remove the found immediately and trash it. Also remove some of the soil and any affected mulch effectually the base of the plant.

Information technology could also be powdery mildew. This can be treated past spraying it with a fungicide. There are organic ones that are safer to use. Likewise, whatsoever branches with this mildew should be removed and trashed, non composted.

By any chance are the leaves turning stake dark-green or xanthous? If you desire, you lot can send me a shut-up photo of the bawl and leaves at gardenerandcookblog@gmail.com. I'll take a wait at it and run into if I can recollect of anything else that might help.

Sally Holmes on July 17, 2020:

Assist, my HUGE bougainvillea in Portugal seems to be dying. The bawl seems to take mould patches on information technology ! This fourth dimension of the year is should exist thriving, but the last 2 weeks information technology has started going really down hill

MariaMontgomery (writer) from Coastal Alabama, United states on June 29, 2020:

Typically, with potted plants, a adept measure of whether they need h2o is to put your finger into the soil. If the acme 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) is dry out, the plant needs water. Bougainvillea, even so, prefers to dry a chip betwixt waterings, and needs adept drainage. When your plants are dry out, just water thoroughly. If the water runs out the bottom of the pot speedily, be sure to put a plant saucer nether it. Later on nearly thirty minutes, cascade off any remaining water in the saucer. I hope this helps you lot with those gorgeous plants, and thanks for reading my article.

Ozayr Adam on June 26, 2020:

Hi, I have 2x potted bougeinvillea plants (300mm in diameter) on my balustrade which ensure they get enough daily lord's day. Can you please advise on watering instructions. I am well-nigh concerned with how many litres of water i should requite these pots and how ofttimes i should water them weekly. Information is quite vague online in this regards and its difficult for me to ascertain whether i am over or nether watering them

MariaMontgomery (author) from Littoral Alabama, U.s. on June 25, 2020:

This is a tropical institute, so yeah, you most definitely should put it in a pot. Information technology needs full sun, so that side of your home is best.

MariaMontgomery (author) from Coastal Alabama, U.s.a. on May 08, 2020:

Rust is a fungal disease that attacks many plants. Depression low-cal or not enough hours per day of sunlight, coupled with high humidity and warm temps encourage rust. Y'all tin treat this with a broad-spectrum fungicide. Be sure to rake away whatever afflicted leaves that have fallen to the ground as rain and irrigation water volition splash the spores back onto your establish, also as onto neighboring plants. Be sure your irrigation system, if you apply one, is non spraying overhead, but close to the ground, and also exist sure to water in the early morning hours so the leaves have plenty of time to dry before the evening brings lower temperatures. I promise your bougainvillea perks up.

Paula Stockwell on May 06, 2020:

Why would the leaves start turning brown and rusty looking?

Karen Ryan on May 02, 2020:

My husband takes his trimmer saw every two wks or and so and "trims" our bougainvillea every bit if it is a green shrub. It looks hideous and all the blooms are cut off. It started out huge and overgrown when we moved here, but now information technology looks like a dwarf bush. He will NOT heed to me. He does the same with pentas. Do you Ever trim bushes with flowers on them? I say no. Nosotros live in SWFl. We too have a bush-league with blue flowers, that he just cut down to the ground, even though information technology was blooming. Delight help!!! We are used to flowers in NEPA, where we would cut down the plants right earlier frost and nosotros had a beautiful garden. I am clueless down here.

MariaMontgomery (author) from Coastal Alabama, USA on April xi, 2020:

My experience with bougainvillea is in Zones 9a & 8b. Southwest Florida is in Zone 11a & 11b. I am not sure when the blooming cycles are in your area, but no matter where you are, pruning should be done immediately afterward blooming. If it had not finished a winter bloom cycle at the time y'all pruned, information technology'south possible you could have cut off any blossom buds.

You said you lot added more than organic soil & more mulch. Did you remove some sometime soil before adding more than soil? If not, the roots of the plant may now be too deep. The point at which it comes out of the footing should be set slightly higher than the surrounding soil level to encourage amend drainage. Deep mulch (about six inches) is good except against the trunk of any constitute or tree, where information technology should non be upwardly confronting the body. Go along the mulch adequately sparse in the beginning few inches from the body. I hope this helps.

rachel on April 04, 2020:

Help! I live in SW Florida, My bougainvillea is barely flowering. i did a hard trim back in early Feb. which seemed to assistance a flake. the plants receive about viii hours of sun, I have cutting dorsum on watering, i utilize coffee grounds 2X a calendar week, bougainvillea food, removed, the juniper effectually it, added more mulch, more organic soil, simply the leaves are all green, and accept maybe 6 flowers between 7 bougainvilleas plants. no root rut, drainage is skilful, no bugs. assist!?

MariaMontgomery (writer) from Littoral Alabama, USA on October fifteen, 2019:

I but Googled Tomball, Tx, and learned yous are in Zone 9a, aforementioned as me. I'g non sure why it never bloomed again, only information technology blooms only twice per year: spring and autumn/wintertime. You should never leave it in the pot it came in if you are putting it in the basis, then I'g glad y'all didn't. It does need well drained soil, and total sunday. Wait and meet if it blooms around November or December. They seem to have more flowers and colorful bracts then than they do in the jump. Proficient luck with it. If y'all have fourth dimension, let me know how information technology does.

Carnell M Hight on Oct eleven, 2019:

I alive in Texas, Tomball, Tx 77375 I believe zone 9 non sure if information technology is zone a or b, Anyway I planted my Bougainvillea well-nigh vi months agone. All blooms brutal off and never bloomed over again. I did establish my Bougainvillea in the basis and did not know it was best to go out in the the pot it came in . Well I recall the Bougainvillea in one of the almost beautiful plants I have ever seen. Please aid. Thank yous.

MariaMontgomery (author) from Coastal Alabama, United states of america on August 24, 2019:

Bougainvillea is prolific in any warm climate, and volition flower year later on yr. Of course, it performs best if it is happy: good soil, adept drainage, full sun.

johnevance1999@gmail.com on August 23, 2019:

why is it that in kenya bougainvillea produces flower after years

Sonia on May 28, 2019:

I have No pink flowers left on my bougainvillea, we are towards the cease of spring in Texas. Do we know why this is happened?

AnnieG on April 16, 2019:

We live in Phoenix, AZ and have grown bougainvillea earlier, however, in our new habitation we'd beloved to plant Miss Alice (the dwarf white thornless diverseness) but cannot observe it in any plant nursery. Does the white variety non do well in the AZ summers?

Kathy Green on April 04, 2019:

I bought my bogainvelia from home depot in January 2019; it had beautiful hot pinkish near red looking blooms all over information technology. I live in southwest Florida and had planted 2 bogainvelia plants last yr. I was told to water them everday in the summer. I did that and fertilized every viii weeks. They only grew maybe a foot taller if that lost all bracts and flowers but got a lot of new growth leaves merely. I still have them planted in full sun and they blossom some of the time. They are still live simply some branches are merely getting new growth on the ends. Should I cutting the branch way back information technology has no other branches extending from it. My newly planted bogainvelia of about x weeks already lost almost all its blooms. I am paranoid almost the watering because I think I watered as well much on my older ones. We have sandy soil so I add compost with cow manure and bogainvelia fertilizer. I dig downwards in the soil around it to try and ascertain if information technology is damp enough. I cannot tell because the soil always feels damper a little deeper merely how exercise I know how often to water? How many months is considered well established? Thanks for your help!

MariaMontgomery (writer) from Coastal Alabama, USA on December 20, 2018:

Bougainvillea typically stay true to colour, unlike hydrangea which modify with the pH of the soil. Has yours faded in colour, or changed in some other way? If so, please let me know, and I will research this for you. If you desire, you can e-mail me at and send a photo of your plant. Thank you so much for reading my article.

Georgia l Munson on December 19, 2018:

I'm in Zone 9 .

Arizona. I love deep purple bougainvillea. What is the a expert additives for the soil to keep information technology purple.?

Ballad on December 04, 2018:

Don't worry if your newly planted bougie is stuck in neutral. We live in the desert southwest and our vine bougie dropped all its leaves inside a month of planting and looked almost dead for near ii years! We were thinking of pulling it up and trying another type of vine. And so, suddenly it turned into a beast! It grows new branches overnight and is taller than our roof! So, be patient and give the roots time to settle in and get established.

MariaMontgomery (author) from Coastal Alabama, USA on August 27, 2018:

Do you mean underneath the root ball? If you lot accept poor drainage, that would exist a good thought. You could also found it a tiny fleck high, so the soil slopes away from information technology. If you lot mean on tiptop of the soil around the plant, please don't do that. Rocks get actually hot in the summertime. They besides are heavy and contribute to soil compaction which makes information technology difficult for roots to describe oxygen from the soil. Thanks for visiting my commodity.

Natalie on August 24, 2018:

Is it a good idea to put some small river rocks at the base of my bougainvillea?

Nazia on July 11, 2018:

I haveVera deep royal I want to transfer it in big pot

N. on Apr thirteen, 2018:

What is the lowest temperature at dark that BOUGAINVILLEA notwithstanding tolerate? I live in NC, took plant inside for winter. Want to take information technology out outside, when can i practise it?

Sarbari Sarkar on August 31, 2017:

I have a keen variety of bougainvillea plants, including purple, orange,peach and lots of other shades. I just love them.... wonderful colours,no maintenance to speak of,just lots of sunshine.

MariaMontgomery (author) from Coastal Alabama, U.s. on May 12, 2017:

I write a garden web log called "In the Garden with Maria". On it I answer my readers' gardening questions. Hither'due south the link to one entitled, "Why Won't My Bougainvillea Bloom?" I hope you relish it, and that it helps. https://inthegardenwithmaria.com/2016/05/26/bougai... You can as well reach the blog by clicking on the source proper name under the intro photo on this hub. Thanks for visiting, and good luck with your bougainvillea.

Debby on May 08, 2017:

I have 2 bougainvillea that have never bloomed. I accept tried what I retrieve to exist everything. Should I throw them out and start over over again? They are in the ground and I fertilize with the right stuff, but notwithstanding nothing. So bummed!

MariaMontgomery (writer) from Littoral Alabama, USA on April 05, 2017:

In Atlanta you will need to grow Bougainvillea in a big pot that tin can exist taken indoors during winter. When I lived in Charlotte NC, I visited Key West where I bought a bougainvillea from a woman who assured me it would survive the winter if it became established earlier winter arrived. That was definitely not truthful.

Carla on April 03, 2017:

Will these grow year round in the south (Atlanta)?

MariaMontgomery (author) from Coastal Alabama, Usa on May 26, 2015:

You're welcome. So glad you enjoyed my article. Thanks for visiting.

Thelma Alberts from Deutschland on May 25, 2015:

I love bougainvillea. I have some of these flowers in my tropical garden which is in my domicile state Philippines. I wish I have that purple bougainvillea too. Thanks for sharing some informations virtually this beautiful plant.

MariaMontgomery (writer) from Coastal Alabama, USA on February fourteen, 2015:

You would probably demand to grow it in a large pot, then move it indoors in temps below 40 degrees. Maybe even below fifty degrees if it is not in a protected area such every bit confronting a wall. Information technology would be a lot of trouble, simply well worth it if you dearest prolific flowers. Let me know if y'all effort information technology.

Gregory Jones from IL on February xiii, 2015:

I landscaped in Florida for about x years and dear the big varieties of color of bougainvillea. I wish we could grow it up hither in IL year 'circular.

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on February 13, 2015:

This is a tough one to grow in our cervix of the woods. I've seen information technology done, but it sure takes a lot of care. We are just besides cool and clammy hither....but I would love to grow ane successfully.

MariaMontgomery (author) from Littoral Alabama, USA on February 13, 2015:

I dearest them, also, BigMarble. Wouldn't it be wonderful if they would grow everywhere?

MariaMontgomery (author) from Coastal Alabama, USA on September xix, 2014:

Hi, Paula! I beginning saw them, and fell in beloved, too, in San Francisco. Then again in Key West. I'grand and then glad I tin grow them now.

MariaMontgomery (author) from Coastal Alabama, Us on September nineteen, 2014:

The all-time times are in between bloom cycles. Mine is just now beginning to put out new growth. If it were to be pruned now, information technology would lose all the flower buds that volition shortly be coming. I propose waiting until it has finished blooming. Of course, if is has grown too large, y'all could selectively remove some of the canes. I don't recall whether I covered this in the article, only if the thorns are a huge trouble for you, accept a pair of wire cutters, and prune off the thorns so you can safely handle the branches.

Paula Atwell from Cleveland, OH on September 16, 2014:

Nosotros don't take these in our surface area, but I vicious in love with them when I visited my sister in LA. So, so very beautiful. :)

Audrey Howitt from California on September xvi, 2014:

Well, I had been wondering how to trim my establish and you answered that question--I wonder if it matters when I clip it??

MariaMontgomery (author) from Littoral Alabama, U.s.a. on July ten, 2014:

@burntchestnut: I need to add orange to my listing of colors for this institute. Do y'all know whether it comes in any other colors I didn't mention? Thank you for the squidlike and comment. Both are appreciated. Run across you effectually Squidoo.

MariaMontgomery (writer) from Coastal Alabama, USA on July x, 2014:

@tracy-arizmendi: Thanks, Tracy1973. I call back they are almost gone now, but the constitute notwithstanding has to recover. It has lots of stripped leaves. Cheers for the squidlike and for the nice comment.

Tracy Arizmendi from Northern Virginia on July 08, 2014:

Great article! Very informative and well written. I promise you take gotten rid of those pesky caterpillars!

burntchestnut on July 08, 2014:

I alive in San Antonio and there are bougainvilleas everywhere and in many colors.

campbellnothas.blogspot.com

Source: https://dengarden.com/gardening/care-for-bougainvillea

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