Caring and pruning are important to enhance growth and blooming of your bougainvillea. The bougainvillea can bud from old wood after hard pruning. Pruning and training Bougainvilleas require a trellis or pillar for support and can be trained as a standard and spur-pruned to restrict size. Bougainvillea can require a lot of space to overwinter. Pruning your bougainvillea is necessary to keep them the size and shape that you want them. When choosing a vessel to plant your bougainvillea in, always opt for a larger size than you think you need. This is done by raking the soil away, then pruning back the roots. The Flowering Bougainvillea will thrive indoors in high light and appreciates being kept outdoors during the spring and summer. Bougainvillea is not your typical houseplantâin its natural state, it's a sprawling climber and shrub with formidable thorns, often found on the exterior of buildings (like climbing up a trellis or over a fence) or in gardens in subtropical-to-tropical climates. Move it into a dark location above freezing until the following spring. Bougainvillea is native to arid areas and prefers a site with drier soil and full sun. Once the plant is large enough, aim to repot it every two years. Whether you are gifted with a green thumb or not, our guide will help you grow the perfect houseplants. Remove large, obstructive branches. Grows as an annual outdoors or as a perennial in a container indoors. A cascade bougainvillea. Native to South America, bougainvillea was named in honor of Louis Antoine de Bougainville, a sailor and explorer during the late 1700s. Top your mixture with compost to ensure a rich, nutritious soil, and opt for a pot with at least one drainage hole in the base to lower the risk of root rot. If you don't live in a warm enough climate to successfully grow bougainvillea outdoors year-round, you're in luckâthe shrub is surprisingly easy to grow indoors in containers or pots and can thrive if the right conditions are maintained. Question: I have a beautiful bougainvillea that has bloomed all summer.I was told that I could keep it indoors in the winter, but how? Because of this, many growers choose to move their potted bougainvillea outdoors during the summer months in order to ensure it gets enough rays. During a recent visit to botanical gardens in Florida, I was especially fascinated by one huge bougainvillea vine that had been pruned and trained to grow like a cascading ornamental tree at the edge of a koi pond. A bonsai bougainvillea requires regular pruning to keep it in your desired shape. This form of propagation has the advantage that the young plants posses all the beautiful attributes of their mother plant. It prospers best in tropical or semi-tropical environments, and will therefore require lots of water and sunlight whether planted indoors or outdoors. Bougainvillea needs to be trimmed to maintain its shape, but too much aggressive pruning of new growth will reduce bloom color. Exposure â full sun Soil â rather light. Bougainvillea plants will also tolerate shaping, light trimming and deadheading anytime of the year, but major pruning jobs should be left until the plant is somewhat dormant. 02/22/2020 Bougainvillea Pruning Tips: What You Need to Know If you share my passion for gardening and live in a warmer climate, youâll love bougainvillea. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board, Bougainvillea, lesser bougainvillea, paper flower, 15â40 ft. tall, 15â40 ft. wide (outdoors); 2â6 ft. tall, 1â3 ft. wide (indoors). Because Bougainvillea generally blooms on new growth, each branch, as blooms begin to fade, should be cut back to a ⦠Bougainvillea spreads rapidly and, in suitable environments, will quickly grow into small trees or large shrubs several feet high. Once the first set of bracts shape and drop in the spring, at that time prune the excess growth on the plant. Pruning and wiring: Cut the shoots after flowering, leaving two leaves on each and prune twigs and branches in autumn or winter. Best planted in the spring, bougainvillea is a quick grower, often adding more than 36 inches in length per year. Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea glabra) is an evergreen, ornamental, vigorous climbing shrub with thorny stems. In this case, there really is no right or wrong way to prune a bougainvillea. Once used primarily as an outdoor plant, they are now commonly used as spectacular looking indoor houseplants. During the winter months (or if choosing to keep your plant indoors full-time), opt for a sunny spot near a big window and consider rotating your plant throughout the house as the day progresses to get it enough light. Pruning, Trimming and Pinching 1. Pruning is the technique that will keep the plant looking colorful all the time and maintaining its shape and compactness. If your child or pet has ingested the sap of bougainvillea and is experiencing any nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, contact a doctor immediately. In its warmest zones, it may seem evergreen and can bloom most of the year. You will be required to prune leaves, branches and roots. is a spiny climbing subtropical shrub that can bloom on and on for months, even all year long under very good conditions. These plants are considered poisonous and should be kept away from pets and children. The flowers are actually very small and inconspicuous; it is the colorful modified leaves, called "bracts" that produce the fabulous show that makes bougainvillea a spectacular accent plant. You can trim to... Take the Bougainvillea plant pot out of the soil and then be careful to handle the roots so you do not damage them. In my chilly, northern climate, bougainvillea can only be grown as a tropical houseplant. Cut out any dead or diseased wood and also remove any crowded branches that prevent good air flow throughout the plant. Bougainvillea plants are easy to grow inside with the right warmth, sunlight and watering. It’s also a good idea to treat plants for pests and diseases before overwintering indoors. Bougainvillea Bonsai Plant add a colorful flair to your outdoor patio or indoor decor. Pruning Bougainvillea Plants Speaking of prolific, this always requires some pruning care from the gardener in order to force betting blooming performance. Cut away dead or diseased portions of the plant. To keep things manageable in containers, control the plant's growth with yearly repotting and root pruning in the spring. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Water your bougainvillea to saturation, then let the first inch or so of soil dry out before watering again. Cut off yellow leaves, weak stems and broken branches. Mealybugs appear most often on the stems and leaves of a plant, identifiable by the fuzzy, white mass they create as they group together. Once the plant is large enough, aim to repot it every two years. Just cut it back to a manageable size and take it indoors before there is any chance of frost in your area. Despite its showy nature, bougainvillea is not a particularly high-maintenance plant. Pruning can be done regularly, but use caution when wiring mature branches. If you want the tree to flower, don't pinch and trim it too much in summer. There are several fertilizer blends specifically geared toward bougainvillea on the market, but one formulated for other tropical plants, like hibiscus, can work too. If you’re asking yourself, “When should I prune bougainvillea,” this really depends on where and how the plant is growing. Outdoors, bougainvillea can experience a few pests, most notably bougainvillea looper caterpillar, which feeds on the leaves of the plant. The startling colors of the plant are actually from bracts or modified leaves, not flowers as they appear. Continue reading to learn how to prune bougainvillea. If the plant was in a hanging basket or small container, cut it back and place it in a sunny indoor spot. When it comes to soil, bougainvillea plants thrive in a moist but well-drained potting mix that's slightly acidic (between a 5.5 and 6.0 pH level). Good safety wear is important, but the most important thing for pruning any plant is sharp, sanitized and strong pruners. Another important note: The color saturation of your bougainvillea relates to how much sunlight it getsâmore light equals brighter hues. If any person or pet comes in contact with the thorns bougainvillea and experiences painful itching, stinging, or burning skin, or notices any blisters or sores, contact a doctor immediately. Prune your bonsai once a month during its growing season, removing only a little at a time. Expect that the bougainvillea may drop leaves in response to you moving it indoors. Pruning should open up the plant and allow it to grow into a healthy shape. In zone 9-11 landscapes, late winter/early spring is the best time for bougainvillea pruning. Most plants will be in a semi-dormant state in mid to late winter and won’t be harmed by even severe pruning. Furthermore, there is the possibility of growing additional Bougainvillea plants during the whole course of the vegetation phase with the help of cuttings. I have no ⦠Iâll tell you from experience, bougainvillea isnât hard to shape but it can take some work! The colorful bracts surround the actual flower, which is usually small and white. If the bougainvillea continues to drop leaves to the point of losing them all, stop watering the plant and allow it to remain dormant throughout the winter. Don't be afraid to prune aggressively, if needed. Name â Bougainvillea Family â Nyctaginaceae Type â climbing shrub. Bougainvillea flowers appear on branches 18â³-20â³ long. Bougainvillea. Common Pests & Diseases Probably larger than you would want. 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Due to its tropical origins, humidity is helpful, tooâspritzing the plant with water isn't necessary, but if your home is particularly dry a small humidifier near your bougainvillea can help. If you bring your potted Bougainvillea indoors, it might cease blooming if it does not obtain full sun. Should foliage on a bougainvillea get damaged by frost, this can simply be trimmed off. This is the first major step when it comes to pruning. Wearing a long sleeve shirt while pruning can also help prevent nasty cuts and scrapes. It is best to prune your bougainvillea bonsai after the blooms has fallen off. That being said, for your bougainvillea to truly thrive indoors, maintain temperatures around 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. As subtropical trees, they cannot endure frost and like lots of sun. They respond well to pruning, trimming and pinching for a better growth habit and shape. Make all cuts clean, as ripped and ragged edges take longer to heal over, which gives pests and disease more opportunity to infect a plant. Whether grown as an indoor or outdoor tropical vine, pruning a bougainvillea may seem like a daunting task, especially if you have the more common thorny types. Bougainvillea are very beautiful Mediterranean climbing shrubs.. It can be used as a houseplant or hanging basket in cooler climates or bonsai. In addition, the plant possesses sharp thorns throughout its shrubbery, which can cause scratches or skin irritation. Climate Bougainvillea can be grown from warm temperate to tropical areas with ease, and is very comfortable growing in coastal gardens. Of course, the problem with training, pruning or trimming bougainvillea plants is the nasty, long thorns most varieties have. The best time to prune bougainvillea for cuttings is in late winter to earliest spring before new growth has flushed, but when bud nodes are swelling. To rid your bougainvillea of mealybugs, treat it with neem oil weekly until they've died off. Just cut it back to a manageable size and take it indoors before there is any chance of frost in your area. Bougainvillea is a relatively hardy plant, able to withstand a range of temperatures, from tropical highs of 80 degrees Fahrenheit and above, all the way down to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Bougainvilleas are tropical plants that produce bright red, orange, purple, white or pink papery flowers. Postpone dramatic pruning until after the bougainvillea's bloom period. Too much water can lead to overly-green growth and eventually root rot; too little, and the plant can wilt. In the landscape, bougainvillea can also be trimmed back to grow as a shrubby, groundcover or foundation planting for hot, dry areas. Use cut paste on larger cut wounds. This is a natural reaction. Move to a cool location where it ⦠Uses Easy to grow indoors or outdoors in pots or beds. Cut a cutting off underneath a dormant bud and dip the cut surface into rooting p⦠To keep things manageable in containers, control the plant's growth with yearly repotting and root pruning in the spring. When pruning anything thorny, I first put on my thick, leather rose pruning gloves. Jon VanZile is a Master Gardener and the author of "Houseplants for a Healthy Home. Bougainvillea requires a lot of nutrition to produce blooms throughout the season, especially indoors (where almost all plants are less likely to bloom as frequently). All lignified, non-blossoming shoot tips with a length of 10 to 15 cm are suitable. As bougainvillea generally blooms on new growth, you should cut back the branches that have finished flowering. However, when indoors, you may want to keep an eye out for mealybugs, a common indoor pest. Bougainvillea plants are lovers of sunlight and need full daily exposure in order to thrive. Bougainvillea spreads rapidly and, in suitable environments, will quickly grow into small trees or large shrubs several feet high. ", How to Grow Kalanchoe daigremontiana (Mother of Thousands), How to Grow Japanese Aralia (Fatsia Japonica) Indoors, How to Grow Donkey's Tail Succulents (Burro's Tail). There were many hundred podocarpus and the majority of the rest were bougainvillea, leaving only hundreds of other species. To ensure that bougainvillea blooms abundantly, strategically put it at a location where it is exposed to the direct⦠Good quality gloves usually cover the forearm as well as the hands. How much should I prune it? Pruning encourages new growth. Bougainvillea is a deciduous, tropical vine, hardy in zones 9-11. If grown as tropical container plants in cool climates, you will probably have to cut back plants every fall to move them to a sheltered location. In this case, there really is no right or wrong way to prune a bougainvillea. Every trim provides you with an abundance of usable materials for vegetative propagation. Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter. For the best chance at a successfully full plant, feed your bougainvillea every seven to ten days using a weak liquid fertilizer. After a flowering cycle has ended, prune them a little to keep the plantâs desired shape. How To Prune A Bonsai Bougainvillea Pruning of bonsai bougainvillea is an important step to keep your bonsai bougainvillea flowering all year round. Description. How to prune bougainvillea: Bougainvillea plants need hard pruning to force blooming and maintain its shape. Paperflower grows up to three to four meter tall, occasionally up to nine meters. They can grow and climb and invade new parts of a flower bed easily. I will for sure follow the other tips you shared! Mealybugs feed off of new growth, eventually damaging the leaves and causing them to yellow and die. Positioning Your Bougainvillea Bonsai. Pruning. It's known for its green foliage and vibrant pink, purple, and orange hues that most people assume are the plant's flowersâhowever, they're actually petal-like bracts that hide bougainvillea's true blooms, which are typically small white or yellow buds. The Bougainvillea takes well to pruning; a useful attribute in styling bonsai because it allows the individual the freedom to shape their bonsai in any form they wish. Add a colorful flair to your outdoor patio or indoor decor by growing a bougainvillea bonsai. Bougainvillea trees should be grown outdoors where they can receive lots of sunlight in the summer but will still be able to go dormant in the winter. Keep your plant evenly moist during the spring, summer, and fall months, and nearly dry in winter (bougainvillea blooms better with drier winter conditions). However, in zones 9-11, bougainvillea can grow outdoors year round, climbing and covering as much as you let it, taking only a short semi-dormancy break in early spring. The vine-y shrub typically blooms three times a year once established, often going dormant and losing its leaves, bracts, and flowers during the cooler winter months. Although vigorous, bougainvilleas tend to have particularly tender roots. If you suspect any pests or disease problems with the plant you are pruning, sanitize pruners between each cut by dipping them in to bleach water. Thank you! âHard pinchingâ is when a gardener removes almost all of the branches from a bougainvillea plant so it does not extend past the container. Basic Bougainvillea facts. Deadheading the wilted blooms can ⦠Learn how to care for indoor bougainvilleas with tips from a gardener in this free plant care video. There are now cultivars and crosses from several parent specimens that range in color, size and hardiness. The idea at this point is to give it a head start on summer. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! As bougainvillea has thorns, it is important to wear strong garden gloves and take a bit of extra care at planting and pruning time. Even in its proper zones, bougainvillea is extremely sensitive and can be nipped by frost in abnormal weather. The plant will probably go dormant after a hard pruning but will fill back out in spring. This is in a Buddhist nunnery in Hong Kong noted for bonsai. The bougainvillea pruning in pots or garden bed will force plant to produce new growth and bougainvillea to bloom. 2. When night time temperatures drop below 45 degrees we suggest that you place the tree on a windowsill or on a table in front of one. They flower on the current seasons growth so pruning in late winter or early spring, just before growth begins. The vegetative, or flowerless, growth cycle begins at that time. June 26, 2013 - 4:29 am Your article, âGrowing Bougainvillea Indoors â Gardenerâs Journal,â was indeed definitely worth writing a comment down here in the comment section! The plant will probably go dormant after a hard pruning but will fill back out in spring. Zone 1 - 8. Bougainvillea is a vigorous grower and needs pruning throughout the year. Prune your bougainvillea in winter after it is finished blooming (January is a good time). riteturnonly.com. Bougainvillea patio plants tend to grow in large containers. Use pruning shears to cut back bougainvillea plants using the âhard pinchâ technique immediately prior to moving them indoors if you live in a cold climate. Those heal over slowly. The best approach is to prune in the fall after the growing season is complete so the plant will bloom from next seasonâs new growth. In pots, during the summer they are allowed to climb and cover as much as they can, but each autumn they must be cut back and taken indoors to survive winter. Sign up for our newsletter. Maude Archibald. While not dangerously toxic, the sap of bougainvillea is known to cause a mild reaction in both pets and children if ingested in large enough quantities. New growth will begin to emerge in a few weeks. Because they love the hot, intense afternoon sun that we try to escape from, bougainvillea plants are excellent for training up pergolas. This is also the time for a bit of pruning. Answer: The bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.) How often, how severe, and the shape the plant will take on depends on where you live, what shape or form itâs growing in now and what shape to want it to take on. Always cut at a joint. Foliage â evergreen Flowering â May to November. 3. Since bougainvilleas bloom on new wood, you can cut them back quite severely and that should stimulate the growth of more branches and therefore more bloom in the months to come.