Tuesday, April 28, 2009

What soil does bougainvillea like?

Mine are planted in straight dirt. I live in south california, And they are 20 to 30 ft tall. They use very little water, and love to be pruned. I prune mine into tree shapes in Feb. and they flourish.

What soil does bougainvillea like?
For containers, any well drained potting soil mix is suitable for growing Bougainvillea. Use a mix consisting of 4 parts of well rotted pine bark, 3 parts peat moss and 2 parts of coarse perlite. To about 5 gallons of this mix add 1/2 cup of Osmocote and 2 tablespoons of 19-5-9 slow release lawn fertilizer.


I nursed my bougainvillea inside during the winter and it's come back very nicely. How do I continue its care?

A gardening talk show host told a caller to treat the bougainvillea poorly and it would bloom better! So minimal fertilizer, water when dry and let it be. Here in south Texas some of the prettiest bougainvillea are on fences and look as though they are lucky to get watered once in awhile!

I nursed my bougainvillea inside during the winter and it's come back very nicely. How do I continue its care?
If you are going to place it outside again make sure you slowly let it get used to the outside . Don't take it from the house to full sun or you will just burn the plant. The first day put it in a shady area 2nd day let it have some morning sun for maybe a hour


3rd day maybe an hour and 15 min. but make sure it's early morning. Do this for about a week or so until you feel it can take full sun.


Do animals eat bougainvillea leaves and flowers?

No they do not as the plant which is a scrambler ; has protective thorns that hurt the animals .





This is the reason why it is used as protective fence around a property..

Do animals eat bougainvillea leaves and flowers?
they like garbage better
Reply:some do, most don't


Which type of bougainvillea is the richest in color and has the most flowers.?

all bougainvillea are beautiful and difficult to choose from


.1) mary palmer is a variety which has 2 colours dark pink and white, it flowers profusely.


2) Shubra is a variety white in colour.


3) Dr. thimma is derived from mary palmer the only difference is that it has variegated leaves so when it is not flowering the bush till is good to see.


4) a golden variety is known as lady mary baring. I am sorry i can't choose between the last three. Remember one thing 'the best bougainvillea are those that are at a place which is most neglected'


well all these varieties are from INDIA i am not aware which place you are from.


shrirammullick@yahoo.co.in

Which type of bougainvillea is the richest in color and has the most flowers.?
Bougainvillea spectabilis is a vigorous climber . The flower panicles, 9-12 in. long with magenta bracts, are produced from June to September. There are cerise, scarlet and deep pink varieties in cultivation.Bougainvillea spectabilis is showy and can tolerate cooler temperatures.
Reply:The purple variety has the riches colour %26amp; they seem to hold there colour longer.To get a lot of flowers you should put bougainvillea in a sunny poistion, the plant can even handle western sun if the soil is kept moist. To encourage better flowering thin out the oldest wood %26amp; shorten back the flowering this should be done after plant has flowered.

kick scooter

I have a bougainvillea) .Every year the plants grows but there is few flowers that grow,Help?

Feed with Miracle Gro and they will go nuts. Water every 2-3 days, bloom only from growing tips, so do not prune away new growth until you are ready to have no blooms for a month or so.

I have a bougainvillea) .Every year the plants grows but there is few flowers that grow,Help?
In the Philippines we grow them in rice husk


any compost high in nitrogen mixed with peat moss work large amounts in around your plants


water deep every month but not every day
Reply:Full sun is the primary key. I had some for years that never bloomed, put them in a window with direct light and they started blooming
Reply:I agree with goldwing. They usually need to grow as much as a few feet before they bloom, so don't trim them during the bloom season.


Do animals eat bougainvillea leaves and flowers? Why?

please answer the why.

Do animals eat bougainvillea leaves and flowers? Why?
No they do not as the plant which is a scrambler ; has protective thorns that hurt the animals .





This is the reason why it is used as protective fence around a property..


Bougainvillea? Is there a way i can grow a bougainvillea succesfully in Zone 6-7- Westchester New York?

Can you give me details on how to do it?





can i grow it in a pot and bring it outside in May? How about planting outside? How do i protect it?





I just love them but i am in the wrong zone i guess...

Bougainvillea? Is there a way i can grow a bougainvillea succesfully in Zone 6-7- Westchester New York?
They need a warmer climate as they do not tolerate cold well.





If you keep it in a pot, you could bring it in for the entire cold season, but it does not make for a good indoor plant as it requires full sun and has serious thorns.
Reply:Keep it in the house in winter and move it outside in the spring. it's tropical


Will my Bougainvillea bloom again this year??

Bouganvilleas bloom quite readily. Just make you don't water them very often. The less you water, the more they bloom.

Will my Bougainvillea bloom again this year??
Bougainvelleas actually need short days and cooler nights to initiate flowers. Though they grow much slower during the cooler months you should begin to see flowers as you move into winter and spring.
Reply:Depends on the weather are you in a sunny spot? If so it should keep flowering

omar

X :lotus,bougainvillea,pong pong tree. Y : Lantana, Allamanda,oleander.?

provide a suitable heading for x and y

X :lotus,bougainvillea,pong pong tree. Y : Lantana, Allamanda,oleander.?
xy smells really good!


Should my bougainvillea have some green by now? I dont know if its dead no leafs?

after winter I live in modesto CA.

Should my bougainvillea have some green by now? I dont know if its dead no leafs?
i don't know, it's still probably alive, just keep watering it at least 2-3 times a week.
Reply:it is probably still dormant. give it more time.


Can a Bougainvillea grow like a vine?

Or do you have to tie it to what ever you are growing it on?

Can a Bougainvillea grow like a vine?
They will vine out yes..I had a large one when in the Florida keys that was proabably 20 foot high(very old plant)...the limbs will string out and grow..no need to tie down just wrap and weave it a little as it grows over the area you want it to vine too..cut back the areas you do not want it to grow..We had ours vining out over 40 feet for I made a archway arbor over our backyard entry and weaved it as it grew this way..then weaved it on down the fence line...
Reply:Yes,it grows like a Vine.We have one.
Reply:it's not possible...





bougain's are a bush not vine.





sorry
Reply:it will grow like a vine and look spectacular!


Will the Bougainvillea Vine that I have come back...?

After winter...I live in Arkansas.

Will the Bougainvillea Vine that I have come back...?
Yes , it should. Ours froze,really froze,and its growing again! getting time to trim it as matter of fact! Give it some Quick Start.Bye
Reply:Use the "finger nail" test on the branches. Just scrape your fingernail to see if there is any green under the top layer. If not, the branch is dead and should be cut off. Keep trimming off the dead wood until you get to a little green. When you find some green, then water the plant well and keep it watered.





My two North-facing Bougainvillea's completely died. But, my South-facing Bougainvillea is going to make it. The branches that reached the second story had to be cut off. I left about 2 feet of the main stem and kept it watered. Just this week, I saw some new growth coming up from the base of the plant. The roots are still alive!!! I watered and fed my baby!!





Good Luck!!

games hardware

My bougainvillea is losing it's flowers not it's leaves. What is wrong?

not enough warmth, possibly not enough sun.








keep moist and warm IN THE 80s. also add some plant food

My bougainvillea is losing it's flowers not it's leaves. What is wrong?
Sounds like the flowers are going by, they don't last forever.


My Bougainvillea plant is never blooming inspite of growing tall and big?

should i prune/cut it, but i dont know how dats done....and should i add fertilizers like Grow-Fast for the plant to bloom ? i water it every day once in the morning, and is placed in my balcony with plenty of sunshine (though no direct sunshine)....thnx :)

My Bougainvillea plant is never blooming inspite of growing tall and big?
I sorta agree with 'sugar'. Bougainvillea is a tropical plant. Lots of sun is sorta essential, I'd also recommend allowing it to dry out between watering's. Lastly, heat is an important factor.





I used to work for a retail nursery in Michigan, we would get Bougainvillea as a tropical porch plant. They would be in bloom when we got them, but soon there after, the flowers would mostly fall off. Once it warmed up in the summer, the flowers would return. I've also had one indoors, which would only bloom in the winter, when the heat was on.





I would also keep the nitrogen to a minimum. Use a fertilizer with higher phosphorus (the middle number on the package). Also use something with a soil acidifier, iron or another such soil amendment that will help out too.





I hope that this helps


Good luck-
Reply:I'm willing to bet that your vine is near a nice green lawn that gets plenty of fertilizer. If the vine gets the same kind of fertilizer in the process, it's going to keep growing happily, and will never be prodded to bloom. You need to keep lawn fertilizer (or any other high-nitrogen [first number] fertilizer) away from blooming plants. They will grow madly, but never be stressed enough to bloom. Instead, feed it a fertilizer with a high middle number to encourage it to bloom. Keep the lawn fertilizer away from the roots of the plant; hopefully within a year or two, your vine will start blooming.





Good luck!
Reply:too much water. they like it on the dry side.
Reply:POTTING: They may be grown in large pots filled with a compost of two-thirds loam and one-third leaf mold, sand and broken brick, however, they are most beautiful when planted in a bed of soil and trained up wires tied to the roof in the spring or fall. In the spring, a few inches of topsoil are removed and replaced with fresh compost. A minimum winter temperature of 55 degrees is required. During the summer, an abundance of water is necessary, but in the winter the soil can be kept almost dry. In February, the lateral shoots should be pruned to within two buds of the base.
Reply:I think you are being too kind to your plant. these plants need a bit of a harsh treatment. Being a desert plant they are adapted to that.





Bougainvilleas need three things to bloom- firstly pruning-- just cut one third of all the stems. Secondly, don't over water it as it is a desert plant. Just let it dry a bit in-between waterings especially when it is not flowering. And most importantly- give it plenty of sun. Bougainvilleas won't form buds if they don't get sun.


Don't fertilize it too much - just twice a year may be. and when you do fertilize, make sure it is a high potash fertilizer.
Reply:When pruning, cut back the side shoots leaving three to four buds. Provide a high nitrogen feed when it comes into growth, followed by a high potash feed when the buds appear. Keep just moist in winter.


Should bougainvillea be pruned in the Fall?

Sounds like mixed signals from the other answers. You don't want to encourage new growth that might get hit by frost. If you do prune in Fall that's what will happen. Therefor it is not reccommended to prune in Fall. Prune in Spring and Summer.





Good luck :-)

Should bougainvillea be pruned in the Fall?
yes
Reply:Skyeblue is correct. Bougainvillea blooms on new growth. You don't have to cut it back, but you won't do it any harm if you do. It all depends how much space you have, what shape you want to maintain, etc.
Reply:yep when most of the flowers have finished and harder the better!!!
Reply:You don't have to prune Bougainvillea in the fall, but it will fill out more for spring and have more blooms. Also, if you live in an area that freezes, it will die back some and not be as pretty for you, in the spring and summer. So, I recommend pruning every fall. Make sure after all danger of frost is gone, water well the first time and next watering, use a fertilizer such as 15-30-15 by Miracle Grow. This is an all around good food and you will be pleased with the results.


Bougainvillea (A.K.A paper flowers)??

Where can i buy these flowers in western australia??

Bougainvillea (A.K.A paper flowers)??
Check with your florist and home and garden centers in your area..........good luck.

gert

Bougainvillea plant problems.....?

i just bought a beautiful hanging bougainvillia with lots of blooms about 3 weeks ago, but since i've brought it home its flowers and foliage have been dropping. i have it on my west facing patio so it gets afternoon sun (the tag said it likes sun) and possibly have watered too much. what i don't understand is this plant was so full of leaves and flowers when i bought it, yet the nursery had it in a shady area of the nursery. how could they have been doing everything the tag said not to do with excellent results and i'm struggling to keep it from dying. should i move it to more shade? and i read that if i let the soil dry between waterings it will produce more blooms. when i bought the plant the soil was quite moist. i'm so confused!

Bougainvillea plant problems.....?
Bougainvillea plants are one of a few that prefers to be neglected. They seem to do better when the soil is kept on the dry side. The plant you purchased at the nursery must have just been watered.





I received a bougainvillea several years ago and assumed the same as you....... I watered it twice a week and the blooms began falling off. Once I began watering it once every 10 to 14 days, it began to show signs of recovery and now it's growing beautifully. I'd recommend keeping the soil on the dry side and see if starts to show signs of improvement. For fertilizing, I've been using Peter's 20-20-20 and apply it half-strength once a month.





Remember to keep the soil slightly acidic (pH between 5.5 to 6.0). Try not to use a soil that contains too much peat since it retains too much water. They love the sun........the more the better!





Good luck!
Reply:they freeze at 40 degrees so are you keeping them warm enough and alot of sun light
Reply:they thrive on heat to bloom and grow i have all mine in full sun untill they are established even then they like heat to bloom....as like hibiscus


Bougainvillea dropping flowers, only had it for two days!!! HELP?

I just got 3 bougainvilleas from Walmart 2 days ago. I just looked at them and two of them have dropped about half their flowers. One is worse than the other.





Otherwise they look perfectly healthy.





Now, I may well have done this and I have an idea. I have them under shade in the carport and I watered them when I got them.





Will too much water plus shade make them drop their flowers that fast???? Its just the flowers now, not the leaves.





If that is the case I can rest easy because I can just put it out in the sun tomorrow and hope that stops the flower loss. I can let it dry out a bit (didnt mean to overwater it, oops. I didnt realize how sensitive to water they are).





Could this be something else? The stress from moving them in the car maybe???





If you have any ideas whatsoever on what could cause flower drop please let me know! Id be most greatful.

Bougainvillea dropping flowers, only had it for two days!!! HELP?
Well your first problenm is getting them at Wally world(oops Wall Mart) If they are alive it is a miricle.


They shoud be outside in a mostly shady area and kept well watered.


The plants have been stressed just being at that store. If you still have a healthy plant but no flowers, they will reapear soon. Do not put them in the direct sun between 10am and 4pm of they will fry. The plant just needs to stableize, and once that happens, you can use a very weak solution of fertilizer every 2 weeks to keep them blooming.
Reply:This plant doesn't like to be overwatered. Don't fertilize it either. The soil should always be on the dry side. Too dry is not good either.





I know your problem relates to water. Be easy on the water with this plant and you should be much better off.
Reply:That is why i won't have one, nice to look at but wait till they grow!


Flowers everywhere!


Is there a trade secrete for the fertilizer for bougainvillea....?

ii bought hanging basket of bougainvillea, full of flowers, after that bloom is over, it never bloom again, plant is still very healthy, started fertilizing miraclegro plant food, but no luck,


out of 5 basket, there is one, keep blooming again and again,


any one help me finding the right fertiliser ?

Is there a trade secrete for the fertilizer for bougainvillea....?
Cultural Requirements


Water and Soil





Bougainvillea will thrive in almost any soil as long as it is well-drained and fertile. Soils that work for other plants you grow will be fine for your bougainvillea.





Growers use a soil media that drains well but make sure you don't let the plants dry out between waterings. If you want to be successful with bougainvillea keep containers moist but also they need to be well drained. No sitting plants in standing water!





DO NOT USE SAUCERS under your bougainvillea pots.





A healthy bougainvillea in a container will drink a lot of water during the warm times of the year. In cooler periods or when you bring your bougainvillea indoors for the winter, the water requirement will be much less.





SO how much water does a Bougainviilea need for proper plant care and blooming. As always it depends on:





- Soil type


- Root system


- Size of the plant


- Air temperature





Don't water just to water your plants. Inspect your plants regularly, and learn when they are close to wilting. Then give the plant a good, thorough soaking just before it reaches the wilt stage.





Remember during the summer heat plants will use up water quickly, so inspect often.


Light





For the best results put your bougainvilleas in full sun. If you want good blooming give them at least 5 hours a day of full sunlight as a minimum. More hours of direct sun is better. Less than 5 hours and the plant may not bloom very well. Your plants will thrive in shade or partial shade, but only have nice growth


with little or no blooms.





Don't expect your bougainvillea to flower indoors. If possible, keep your plant outdoors and give it the maximum sun exposure. Any flowering you may receive indoors is a bonus.


Temperature





Bougainvilleas are hardy throughout the South but young growth will be damaged by frost. Optimum growing temperatures are warm days (70-85of) and cool nights(60-70of).





A light frost will not kill the plant, but you can soon expect all the leaves and bracts to fall off. In this case, the plant will regrow if not subjected to more frosts for longer duration.


Fertilizer





Bougainvillea can be heavy feeders. Here is some quick fertilizer tips.





- High phosphorus with micronutrients, as well as additional iron and magnesium.


- Slow or timed release fertilizers are acceptable. Make sure you follow the fertilizer label.


- Plants grow best with small amounts of nutrients constantly available.


- Do not apply fertilizers to dry soil - Do not overfertilize - in this case less is better than more.


Pests





Caterpillars, mites, aphids; Leaf spot if foliage and/or soil stays too wet, especially in cool weather. Contact your local nursery or garden center for treating the pest. Make sure you READ AND FOLLOW the label.


Where and How to use Bougainvillea





- Hanging baskets


- 1 to 3 gallon pots either sheared as bush, staked, or trellised.


- Trained as a tree - standard


- Summer annual up North.


- In the South grown as groundcover, hedge, trellis, standard, or cascading planter plant.
Reply:after mine bloom, I cut them back a little. Then they bloom again. When I do fertilize , it's with a top dressing of blood meal.
Reply:Over fertilization will cause plant growth but not blooms. Bougainvilleas generally bloom from new growth, so you may need to trim them back a bit. They don't do well as indoor plants as far as blooming is concerned--they do best in a south facing area and in full sun.


Home made poison to kill off cut down bougainvillea tree.?

I have recently had a tree lopper in to cut down 2 bougainvillea trees. I have new little sprouts shooting up from the base. Any suggestions on a home made, cheap poison to kill it off.

Home made poison to kill off cut down bougainvillea tree.?
Use sea salt mixed in hot water pour this straight on the plant put it on once every night it takes a while to work but will kill it and any other plant.
Reply:This has worked for me many times. Every time you fry food, take the hot burning cooking oil and pour it on the plants you want to kill. Also straight ammonia will do the trick also, but you have to use more ammonia than you would with the hot cooking oil. Hope this helps you.
Reply:The sure way is to go to your farm store and get some Tordon. It costs about $10.00 a quart but you just put a dab on each cut off end. A container of it goes a long way.

ada

All plant leaves turning yellow except Bougainvillea.?

Have small garden containing orange jasmine, gardinia, hibiscus and bouganvillea. Only the bougainvillea is doing well; the other plants, without exception possess yellow leaves and/or green leaves that are yellowing.





I live in central florida, zone 10.





Also possess a Lady of the Night that is doing well and was wondering if it would produce seeds by itself?

All plant leaves turning yellow except Bougainvillea.?
It could be an iron deficiency in the soil.


Can you help re bougainvillea cuttings?

I have some bougainvillea cuttings. When ready for re-potting and planting out should they be transplanted individually or in little groups? The plants sold in shops appear to have several cuttings planted together to make one specimen.

Can you help re bougainvillea cuttings?
Depends on what visual statement you want. Bouganvilla will grow very large when planted in the ground. If you want a privacy wall, plant them seperately. If you want an immediate full look, plant them together.





shops put several plants in a pot because of the visual impact it makes. I look for pots with the most plants and usually separate the individual plants to allow them to grow larger. Many plants in one pot restrict growth.
Reply:They are growen like this by nuries so that if one or more die off they still have a plant to sell
Reply:if the cuttings are all in 1 pot ,plant them in the group sopport and fan the cuttings out(\|/)this will allow them to`grow away` without causing root disturbance
Reply:When ready to go outside plant them separately if you just want a show of them but if you are planning on a hedge then plant fairly close together so they will entwine as they grow. They do not like heavy frost so beware.
Reply:Take a twelve inch hanging basket, fill it with soil, not a heavy soil, sand should be in the mix, water your soil in as if you have plants in it, stick about 7 cuttings in the basket, stagger the cutting in the soil , keep it in a shady area, and keep moist until you see new leaves. Introduce this new plant in to the sun slowly. Your new babies are delicate, just like its mother before she grew up. I hope you keep this practice up with other plants too, it's a good feeling rooting your on cuttings. Greenhouse growers make the most profit in this type of growing, no middleman, I do it on a daily basis with hundreds of different plants. Have fun and Happy Growing.


What is eating my bougainvillea?

In a matter of two weeks my beautiful bougainvillea has gone from full and flowering to barely clinging to a few remaining leaves. It is a young plant (about 3 feet tall) and it has been rainy and cool lately (I'm in Miami). However, I don't believe that these conditions are too much to blame. What worries me most is that it looks like its being nibbled on but I can find no insects (perhaps bacteria?). I don't think its spider mites and it looks like its spreading to my tomatoes.


Can my plant be salvaged?

What is eating my bougainvillea?
I have a large bouganvillea on a trellis that covers the side of my house. I would imagine it was planted when the house was built, as the trunk is at least8" wide. I am in Daytona and have had NO problems with this plant at all, so the rainy cool weather is definitely not to blame.





What I would do is take and cut a piece of your plant (that has the damaged leaves) and take it to a local nursery to show them. They should be able to tell you what type of parasite may be working on your plant, or if there is a fungus, mold, etc that may be affecting it. As far as I have known Bougainvilleas are extremely hardy.





I actually had to cut mine completely back because it was so large, the branches were actually tearing my trellis away from the wall. I cut it ALL the way back to where there was almost nothing left... did this in March.. it is now back to covering the wall again..(8ft. tall x about 10 ft. wide)





If you can find out what is going on with it, you should be able to correct the problem and have a beautiful plant again. Good Luck!
Reply:It may be that it's getting too much water..they are sun LOVING plants and i know that i can never get it right when it comes to them...the only time i ever kept one alive was before i had indoor cats...the plant stayed in my sunroom and it lasted a good long while..but when i tried to plant them..%26lt;---i cant even try to spell it right now)...i tried to plant them outside and i never sucessfully kept them going, they always died because of the location of my flower garden..they are gorgeous when you can sucessfully grow them. Try moving it into direct sunlight and watering only every other day or so. Good luck
Reply:I ate 'em, sorry. %26lt;burp%26gt; Hey, I didn't see your name on them, how was I supposed to know?
Reply:I had this problem last year with my bouganvillea. It was some kind of tiny beetle and the plant looked like lace when they got finished. That is the only thing I can think it may be. Your climate is not doing it. I live in the same area and mine are fine right now, although running dormant.


Why won't my Bougainvillea bloom?

I live in South Florida and I have a couple of bougainvillea plants that grow like crazy but NEVER bloom. I've tried some special food to make plants bloom, but nothing happened. I know not to give them much water (I never water them, as a matter of fact, but they get some from rain), they get sun...


Any suggestions?

Why won't my Bougainvillea bloom?
This is a very commonly asked question and the answer, most of the time, is that the plant is not getting enough sunlight. Bougainvilleas need 8-10 hours of direct full sunlight every day. Also, cut back on the water and fertilizer and only water when the plant wilts. If you can, use a blossom booster fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Some types of bougainvilleas bloom mostly in the fall in response to short days.
Reply:Coz its blooming useless
Reply:If there is too much shade they will not bloom. It's the only thing that I think you haven't mentioned.





If that isn't it, throw them a changeup. Something that they've never had before like beer. Anything out of the ordinary that can be used as plant food.





If that doesn't work, beat it. Really.





By hitting it hard enough to shake the outer branches you may shock the vine into blooming, thinking that it will die soon. (That's the only away I can describe it.)





I hope that helps.
Reply:Intriguing problem with plenty of sun. Did they ever bloom? Did you buy them in bloom?
Reply:Bougainvillea produce brilliantly colored blooms. I've seen them in orange, yellow, purple, pink, velvet-blue, white...





It's important not to over water. They grow perfectly well in pots (use large pots) and need direct sunlight, plenty of it.
Reply:I think buganvillea needs lots of water to bloom, try this:





Get some water and put it on a wide container with no cover for two or three days. Then try that water on the bouganvillea next to the roots. If you water them every day, they will bloom.





"...or your money back guarateed" :D





good luck
Reply:They need lots of direct sun..I live in Thailand and they are actually trees they are called PAPER FLOWERS..i have many plants and trees and the shaded ones do not bloom until i set them in the direct sun. Spectactular colors and they look like flourescent shades of every color in the rainbow and in between Amazing plants..good luck ,mine are starting to blossom again ..i get new blossoms every 3 months but the December growth and flowering is a real site to behold.They do thrive in dirt which is high in iron content we have "red earth here" in northeastern Thailand.

addis

How to trim Bougainvillea?

We have a bougainvillea plant that we want to make into a tree. How do you do this and when?

How to trim Bougainvillea?
To prune your bougainvillea into a tree form, you follow the same procedure you would to turn a rose, wisteria, or other bushy or vining plant into this form. Select a strong upright stem as your "trunk." Put a strong stake in the ground several inches away from it, disturbing the roots as little as possible. Use plastic or velcro ties, or twist ties, to fasten your trunk stem to the stake every 4 inches or so. Don't pull the ties too tight, just enough to hold them in place. Then prune off the other stems that come from ground level or very low to the ground. If your trunk is as tall as you want your tree to be, pinch out the growing tip; if it's not tall enough yet, just keep fastening it to the stake as it grows until it reaches the height you want. Then you will continue pruning the other growth so it conforms to the tree shape. Don't take off too much at once, because it needs enough leaves for photosynthesis. You will need to continue to prune it to refine the shape. You didn't mention what climate you are in but bougainvilleas are pretty cold sensitive, so plan on keeping it sheltered to get it through any cold weather. Since it will be a somewhat gradual process to achieve the shape you are looking for, assuming that you aren't going to have a cold snap in the next month to 6 weeks, I would suggest selecting your trunk, staking, and pruning away the lowest unneeded branches now, then light pruning until winter. When spring comes and it returns to active growth, you can do more of the final shaping.
Reply:Try these


http://lifestyle.iafrica.com/your_home/g...


http://cals.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/...


Good Luck and be careful


Can my bougainvillea live indoors?

I have been keeping my bougainvillea plant indoors. It gets really cold where I live and I am hesitant to plant it outside. Are there any tips to making it thrive in an indoor atmosphere? thanks

Can my bougainvillea live indoors?
Mine live indoors. I do put them out in the summer, but this past dry year, I kept them inside all the time. They don't flower as well as outside, unless you have really bright light--move them to a sunny south window if you have one; mine at my old office with plenty of light bloomed quite well.
Reply:Try to find a really sunny area in a room for it since that is probably the hardest of its needs to satisfy.
Reply:bougainvillea, is sensitive to frost, and there will be times during the winter when you should cover your bougainvillea with a light cloth or sheet. Even if the bougainvillea plant dies in the frost, it will probably come back after the winter if it is pruned, but it looks pretty ugly when it is frost damaged until that time.





Unless you have a lot of space to let it grow wild, bougainvillea will need periodic trimming. Don't be afraid to cut it way back. Be careful when pruning your bougainvillea plants--they have thorns and they aren't easy to handle! One last thing about bougainvillea: they are pretty dirty. That means that you'll have red bracts (those are the leaves that turn red that make it so pretty) everywhere. Don't put a bougainvillea next to a pool unless you are prepared for constant cleaning.


Where can i buy the san deigo red BOUGAINVILLEA plant in san francisco or close by?

where can i buy the san deigo red BOUGAINVILLEA plant in san francisco or close by? any nurseries or anything?

Where can i buy the san deigo red BOUGAINVILLEA plant in san francisco or close by?
I'm in Sonoma County and don't know exactly which nursery you can try. But if someone cannot give you an specific nursery name, then call some and ask if they have it. If they don't have them in stock, ask if they can do a special order for one. They do special orders all the time and will most likely be able to get one within a week or so.





Good luck!
Reply:Bougainvillea are a warm weather plant and they do not handle frost and cold all that well. I have 2 of them in my yard. Both of them took about 6 months to recover after the frosts/freeze that we had in February of 2007 in San Diego county. If the frosts had continued for another 2 weeks, I think we would have lost them. By the way, our "frosts" were 25 degrees at night followed by 60 degree days.





I really do not know San Francisco's climate, so I would suggest that you do a bit more research on the plant to see if it will survive your climate. If the local nurseries do not sell them, that may be an indication that the plant is not suitable for the area.


Bougainvillea dropping leaves, new leaves grow quickly but drop while still green - over or under watering?

Outside in the summer, now inside for winter, (west window normal house temps 66 - 72F) bougainvillea drops all leaves to be just sticks, regrows leaves quickly, then drops them even while they are still green. Leave stems are very delicate, come off at slightest vibration. Leaves are very soft and delicate. Outside this summer it fared best when left to nature's watering and it did bloom. When moved inside lost all leaves and as mentioned above nice new green leaves are falling off almost if you just look at it. I water about every 8 days. I have a watering stick in it and wait for it to read dry. Am I overwatering, underwatering? When I do water, I stop if I see water come out the bottom. Help.

Bougainvillea dropping leaves, new leaves grow quickly but drop while still green - over or under watering?
Over watering. Don't water until the soil is completely dry to the depth of 1-2".





They will bloom better when you go to the point of almost neglect.
Reply:Your plant may also react to the temperature changes from being brought inside. Bougainvilleas thrive in South Africa where the summers are hot and dry. In winter the plant drops its leaves and goes into winter hibernation. The outside temps is then about 8 to 15 °C in the daytime.
Reply:The delicate feel to the leaves is due to a loss in "turgur" pressure which is either over or under watering.


If you keep getting leaves then you are watering enough, if they keep falling your watering to much. My Bougainvilla gets watered about every two weeks. It is also in almost the same temperature and light conditions as yours


Cheers!
Reply:there have been a lot more house plants killed by over watering, than under watering.

larry

Bougainvillea care?

Any help in careing for(watering,fertilizing,prunning,positi... ect.) for the Bougainvillea vine?





I live in Sydney Australia so a warm,humid climate with unreliable rainfall.The soil is a nice soil.

Bougainvillea care?
Bougainvilleas thrive on neglect. Water less often to get more blooms. A new plant will of course need more water than an established plant. Fertilize Spring to Autumn. They are frost tender. Do you get any frost in the winter in Sydney? Established plants can tolerate severe pruning.





Good luck :-)
Reply:I live in Florida and they seem to thrive without any care at all! Bad soil, no water, no fertilizer, and they still grow and bloom like crazy. I have to prune them back all year around.


When do you "prune" the long bougainvillea branches on the fairly new plant?

i want my 4 month old bougainvillea plants to grow fuller not taller. how and where i trim them to do this?

When do you "prune" the long bougainvillea branches on the fairly new plant?
I am in California and my experience is that they sulk from transplanting, try not to disturb the roots and then i don't prune until I see new growth,,, which can be quite a while..I have seen them for 5 yrs not put much on top but then take off in the 5th yr which tells me they are putting down roots before the add on top.


Can I cut back my Bougainvillea and not kill it?

I recently moved into a house with a large overgrown, neglected bougainvillea in the garden. It is flowering at the tips, but most of the lower branches are bare and look dead. If I cut it back, will it still flower, or will I kill it??

Can I cut back my Bougainvillea and not kill it?
These plants could grow under water or in the dessert! They are hardy as so pruning it back will not kill it. Best to prune back after it flowers. and don't be afraid to hack it back hard :)


Gives the opportunity for alot more fresh re-growth :)
Reply:Apparently they take quite well to cutting/pruning back: reason for using it in bonsai the important thing is to cut it back according to the instructions on the 1st link.


Bougainvillea bloom on new growth. With proper pruning, sunlight, and water, plants will repeat a blooming cycle in about 4 weeks.


Open the link and it shows a picture of how to make the cuts and when to cut back.


http://www.heirloomgardenexperts.com/inf...


Pruning and wiring: The bougainvillea takes well to pruning; a useful attribute in styling bonsai. Because bougainvillea generally blooms on new growth, each branch, as blooms begin to fade, should be cut back to a point somewhat shorter than the desired length. Seal all cuts to prevent rot. If rot is detected on a collected specimen, cut it out completely.


http://www.bonsai-bci.com/species/bougai...


I've often wondered if they would survive S.E. Missouri weather. I know the trumpet vines do exceedingly well.


They are exceptionally beautiful in California. Former resident.
Reply:Yes.





I had this plant when I lived in South Florida its tough in the right climate.





Don't over water it , it blooms during the dry season, i.e. winter in S Fl.
Reply:Yes, and you can prune quite hard if it is way overgrown. The best time is right after it has bloomed. They go through bloom cycles about every 6 weeks or so; after it blooms cut back hard and watch it come back. After that, pinch out the tips right after they have flowered. It will fill out and grow full. I would also wait until it gets warmer and the first flush of blooms has set in.
Reply:yes! i grew one at my old house and we actually wanted to kill it but it kept on coming back even after we pruned right back to the ground! it will definently still flower. its one of the toughest household plants available.


How do let a bougainvillea grow like mad?

Can anyone teach me how to let a bougainvillea grow very densely until hardly any light can penetrates through the lower layer? please and thanks!

How do let a bougainvillea grow like mad?
Not sure where you live but in California it grows that way.


Peter's 20-20-20, Excel 21-5-20, Miracle Grow or Rapid Grow. With high light and constant feeding, the plants will bloom at least 11 months of the year. Straight hibiscus food has also been a very successful fertilizer.


http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plant...





walmart carries peters and miraclegro
Reply:use a fertilizer kinda thing.. in my school it grows horribly dense..

Chemicals

What is eating my bougainvillea?

In a matter of two weeks my beautiful bougainvillea has gone from full and flowering to barely clinging to a few remaining leaves. It is a young plant (about 3 feet tall) and it has been rainy and cool lately (I'm in Miami). However, I don't believe that these conditions are too much to blame. What worries me most is that it looks like its being nibbled on but I can find no insects (perhaps bacteria?). I don't think its spider mites and it looks like its spreading to my tomatoes.


Can my plant be salvaged?

What is eating my bougainvillea?
what about an aminal?


What is eating my bougainvillea?

In a matter of two weeks my beautiful bougainvillea has gone from full and flowering to barely clinging to a few remaining leaves. It is a young plant (about 3 feet tall) and it has been rainy and cool lately (I'm in Miami). However, I don't believe that these conditions are too much to blame. What worries me most is that it looks like its being nibbled on but I can find no insects (perhaps bacteria?). I don't think its spider mites and it looks like its spreading to my tomatoes.


Can my plant be salvaged?

What is eating my bougainvillea?
It sounds like it coulld be a type of caterpillar...but don't take my word for it. You need to inspect the plant at night...at this point you need to look at the tomato...many insects will eat at night. Use a flashlight to look around the undersides of leaves and the base of the plant...even under pots, rocks nearbye for a possible culprit (that's where slugs hide). To be sure you know what it is you must catch the insect in action...ie don't just use an insecticide. Your local nursery should be able to help if you find anything. If it's caterpillars you can use BtK...a biological control, less harmful to other organisms.


Good luck!


Reroot freshcut bougainvillea"?

I want to have several bougainvillea. Need to reroot after cutting.

Reroot freshcut bougainvillea"?
These are very easy to do "hard or soft cuttings" from....You can simply cut off some new fresh growth from the tips of them...dip the cut tips in root harmone..and stick them in the ground..they will grow..keep watered well untill they take root..up to a couple months..after they start to root and grow...don't water as often..in fact they produce thier flowers..which aren't actually flowers, when under stress..for full grown ones..when they start to bloom..do not water but once monthly...


Help! My Bougainvillea plant is really struggling to take root and grow. What do I do next?

I just planted two 4 foot Bougainvillea plants and I followed the suggested planting directions... now it has been 4 weeks and they really seem to be struggling. Any suggestions to boost the growth?

Help! My Bougainvillea plant is really struggling to take root and grow. What do I do next?
http://hendry.ifas.ufl.edu/HCHortNews_Bo...
Reply:Where do you live. It's hot just about everywhere so anything you plant is going to struggle a bit. Even 'drought tolerant' plants need time to get established, usually one growing season. Are they in pots or in the ground. If your soil drains well, water it regularly. If it's hot where you live, just worry about keeping it alive for now. It'll go dormant in the fall/winter, which is when its roots will grow and get established. If the drought continues into the fall/winter, it will need watering from time to time even if it doesn't have any leaves.





If you're in heavy clay soils, you could have another problem...
Reply:Mine all started out that way, they take a bit of patience when they are becoming established. Although everyone says how drought resistant they are, mine needed daily watering until they got their roots to spread out. Also, you might want to hit them with a little liquid fertilizer or the time released granules at their base. That helped jump start mine.
Reply:Depending on where you live, these plants can be very hardy. In TX, we have to water ours like crazy...make sure to keep the soil from washing away from the roots. Prune it back some...that promotes new growth. (I do mine year round, and it grows like a monster!)


Since mine is not in full sun, I feed mine some bloom booster to make it bloom.
Reply:try water. lots of

miriam

Will the bougainvillea come back after winter?

I live in California. We had a bad winter this time and looks like my bougainvillea plant is dead. It has only stems and no leaves. When I tried to cut the stem, it is still green and moist inside. So I just left it. Does it mean the plant is still alive and will back this spring? Or I need to replace it?

Will the bougainvillea come back after winter?
Yes it will come back wait until frost danger is over trim back the stems about 4 inches mine were hit here 2 yrs in a row and they came back in glorious health I have 5 that are over 10 ft tall and i know they survive i have the reds and purples .
Reply:If it is still green then it is alive. Wait till the leaves start to shoot again. Any branch that has no leaves remove back to where there are leaves. I would wait and see what has happened before you replace.
Reply:Mine didn't. I tried too. Only plant I actually took care of and its the only one who died. Guess my thumb isn't green. LOL


Does bougainvillea attract lots of bees?

I'm thinking about planting some bougainvillea in my front yard. I am concerned that it is too close to my front door if it is a major bee attractant. Can anyone help with this?

Does bougainvillea attract lots of bees?
No, they dont. we had lots in our front yard, and we didnt have an issue with bees. They add lots of color!


How to transplant Bougainvillea from pot to soil?

How do I transplant my Bougainvillea if I want them to keep blooming? Do I plant it in the ground without removing the pot or do I plant it with the pot? (I live is south Texas.)





My neighbors' Bougainvillea bloomed for 8 years, the minute it was transplanted into the ground the blooming stopped.





Thanks.

How to transplant Bougainvillea from pot to soil?
I agree with Bellepepper, above. Bougainvilleas seem to need some time to establish a root system before they bloom profusely after transplanting. I have planted several, and for a year or two after planting, the flowering is reduced.


Horticulturally, Bougs need short days and slightly cool nights to initiate flowering. But mature plants continue to flower most of the year. This indicates that the plants need to establish enough carbohydrate reserves in roots and stems to support flowering.


Remove the pot when planting. Otherwise the roots will grow through the drain holes of the pot, and eventually will be constricted at those exit points.
Reply:Hi:


Transplanting Bougainvilla from a pot to the soil is like most other plant specimens. Your roots are established and the main goal is to prepare your hole and not damage the roots when you transplant.





I am a landscaper and designer and I tell my clients to prepare the hole first. Make sure you dig the hole deep and wide enough. You don't want to dig it too deep as you can kill the plant. When you put the Bougainvillea specimen into the ground the top should be level to the ground surface. Add some mushroom compost to your soil. This is an organic fertilizer that will last up to one year. When taking the plant out of the pot, tip the pot on its side. Gently take the plant out, and try not to damage the roots. Take your fingers and gently losen the dirt around the root system.





Once the plant is in the ground, cover it over with the soil. You can add some pine straw or mulch to help retain moisture in the ground. Don't put the mulch or pine straw up against the base of the plant.





I will link you to the landscape article section of my website. There is a page on transplanting shrubs. It has some pictures that may help you. I will also link you to the tropic section as there is a page on the Bougainvillea specimen. I will also link you to the site map, as this page has everything that is on the website. Browse through and see if there are any other articles, tips and techniques that may be useful to you. Good luck and have a great day!


Kimberly





http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.c...





http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.c...





http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.c...
Reply:I'm no expert but I do garden a lot and it seems that Bougainvilleas likes crowded roots. I transplanted mine into the soil and it did just fine. It covered my fence and bloomed profusely but that doesn't always seem to be the case. I am in Texas close to Gulf Coast. Needs plenty of sun and medium water, but I think that plenty of light is the main thing.


Bougainvillea vine plant Care...?

I have an outdoor Bougainvillea vine plant and the leaves are falling off. It gets plenty of sun and water. The flowers are still blooming but the leaves are yellow and falling off. What am i doing wrong?

Bougainvillea vine plant Care...?
You are watering too much. Bougainvilla love to be really, really dry. Leave it in the sun and let it bake for a few days and see if it perks up. Depending on where you live, it should start flowering soon. Here in USA zone 8b they are blooming profusely now.
Reply:you are doing wrong is that your geting to much water. And you can not have to much water every day. Only a day after the day you didn't put water.
Reply:Hi:


I have to agree with the other answers, as I think you are watering too much. Bougainvillea, once established can go without water for awhile. Take your fingernail and scratch the surface of the vine. If is is green, it is healthy. If it is brown or gray, it is in shock. If the Bougainvillea is in shock, add some organic fertilizer to it. Mushroom compost is a great organic fertilizer. This will last up to one year. See if this helps.





I will link you to the tropics section of my website. There is a page on the Bougainvillea specimen. There may be some information that may be helpful. I will also link you to the site map, as this page has everything that is on the website. Browse through and see if you can find any other useful information. Good luck and have a great day!


Kimberly





http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.c...





http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.c...
Reply:I would say definitely not healthy. Have you tried a little diluted fish emulsion? Bouganvillea are very sturdy, is there anything that could be getting to the roots - salt water, a chemical or anything?
Reply:SOUNDS LIKE YOUU ARE WATERING TO MUCH. IM IN S. FL. THIS IS A TROPICAL PLANT. YOU PLANT THIS SHRUB, WATER A LITTLE TILL ESTABLISHED AND THEN LEAVE IT. IT IS VERY DROUGHT TOLLERANT. THE MORE YOU WATER THE LESS IT BLOOMS, AND LEAVES WILL FALL OFF.

irene

Bougainvillea in Michigan?

I am a bride, getting married August 1st. I fell in love with the dark pink fuchsia-like colored Bougainvillea. If anyone could shed light on where I could find them in Michigan. I'm not really interested in the plant, just the blooms. I would like to use them as part of a centerpiece. Please any direction is GREATLY appreciated.

Bougainvillea in Michigan?
Since you want this as a bridal piece, contact a world wide or huge chain florist. Usually if you place an order, the floral company will outsource to the florist closest to your home. However, if you are willing to pay the money, you can request, well in advance, a special shipment to you. The bougainvillea flowers for almost all four season where it is native so availability should not be a problem.
Reply:Get married in Florida... it is easier to find them they grow everywhere but I'm afraid this type of flower is not resistant as a centerpiece. You have to find a good florist who can find an alternative for your area.


Bougainvillea care?

Any help in careing for(watering,fertilizing,prunning,positi... ect.) for the Bougainvillea vine?





I live in Sydney Australia so a warm,humid climate with unreliable rainfall.The soil is a nice soil.

Bougainvillea care?
I love bougainvillea's .There is a saying " The best bougainvillea's are those that are at a place which is most neglected" i.e. they flower profusely . they require less water. See I am from India and live close to Mumbai(Bombay), our area is known as a heavy rainfall area warm %26amp; humid . we have rainfall from june to sept. winter is oct. to feb. summer is mar to may. now let us start from June, as july month comes there is lot of vegetative growth( flowering stops)initiates there are lot of new branches. after the rains are over the growth stops and we prune the unwanted stems and shape the plants as we want we add Phoshatic and potashic ferili. with no nitrogen. we have oil cakes or bone meal , bone meal has lot of phoshates.%26amp; they help in flowering. the flowers are there till it starts raining. So at your place sydney when the rain starts add equal amount of Nitrogen+Phosphorus+potash (NPK) the ratio in horticulture language is 1:1:1 N:P:K .You can add this in chemicl form along with bone meal and oil cake. after rainy season ends the prune accordingly and add fertilizers the way i have written earlier in my case. In winter the days are short nights long %26amp; in the summer the opposite, this does not make any difference to flowering but in rains there are no flowers in our case atleast and only vegetative


Bougainvillea thorns poisonous?

I cut my bougainvillea bush back yesterday and got pricked by the thorns, which is inevitable, and now the fingers that were effected by them are swollen and itch. I have taken benadryl, which has helped a bit. My doctor said it isn't uncommon and often times, too high a level could require steroids. Has anyone ever had this happen? I definitely think I will hire someone next time it gets too large!

Bougainvillea thorns poisonous?
I have really bad allergies, but I work with Bougies all the time and never get that reaction!


How ever!!! I used to work in A commercial rose growing greenhouse range. The thorns there used to make me really sick and swollen. It was because they were coated with pesticide and fungicide.


Do you spray your plants with any pesticides or fungicides, maybe use systemic pesticides?


I hope you feel better soon, I hate my allergies!
Reply:I didn't know bougainvillea thorns could be poisonous. Hope your fingers go back to normal soon.


Growing Bougainvillea?

I have 2 beautiful bougainvilleas growing and i would like to grow more off them. How do i grow another? I have no gardening skills at all, no garden sense and don’t need round up as all dies that i touch except my bougainvillea.

Growing Bougainvillea?
Bougainvilleas are easy to grow, infact they grow very well left alone to do their own thing.


You can either grow them in pots or in the ground.


If you cut the tip of a leader and put it into damp soil in a pot, cut end into the soil and water every day, Your new bougainvillea will begin growing.


It will need to be warm weather when potting up new cuttings.
Reply:Bougs are propagated commercially from cuttings. It's easy. Take cuttings from brown wood. Include at least two nodes (the place where leaves sprout). Strip off leaves. Stick cutting in light soil covering the lower node, keep warm and moist in indirect light. New leaves will appear in about ten days, but don't pot up until there is a good growth of roots which come later.

Wisdom Teeth

Bougainvillea?

We live in the Pheonix area and have had a few nights with a hard frost. My plants look dead, will they come back?

Bougainvillea?
I'm a landscaper in Gilbert and I know what damage you are talking about. Nearly all of the damaged plants (including ficus and hibiscus) I have seen came back after the frosts. You should see some growth by now at the base of the plants. In extreme cases, this spring, I have trimmed the plant down to 1' from the ground. If the plant was healthy last fall, trim away the dead and it will be fine.
Reply:Your Bougainvillea will, but others such as Ficus probably won't.


Bougainvillea?

I have a bougainvillea indoors, it has bloomed exactly one time in 3 years. I have fertilized it, repotted it, water it very infrequently and still it will not bloom. In the winter I sit it in my office which has double pained windows but does get sun at least 3 hours daily. any suggestions?

Bougainvillea?
Bougainvillea thrive in hot sunny climates. I think you might need more than three hours of sunlight.
Reply:Bougainvillea needs HOT conditons and a lot of direct sun..it is unlikely to bloom much indoors. Think of where it thrives outside... deep south,,,hot ,,humid, lots of sun...afraid I can't offer any suggestions other than enjoy the foliage and be proud of getting it to survive indoors.
Reply:Bougainvillea require six or more hours of direct sunlight each day. Keep them on the moist to dry side with excellent drainage. Like most plants they also require a winter "rest" period from active growth---the winter months. Prune in mid to late spring and water 1-3 times per week allowing them to dry out to moist but not bone-dry. They bloom best on new wood so prune any leggy branches and provide support---trellis, etc. Fertilize with a good all-purpose fertilizer during the warmer months. Do not let them sit in water as they will drop their leaves rather quickly and die. Towards midsummer cut back on water as this DIRECTLY affects their blooming. During this time keep them mostly dry. One thing that may be negatively affecting their growth and subsequent flowering is that their roots are highly sensitive to being disturbed, so it is not advisable to keep repotting them.


Everything else you have mentioned seems to be the best conditions you are able to provide considering they really belong outdoors. Best of Luck!
Reply:Bouganvilla bloom late spring through fall. Too much fertilizer will increase foliage growth and retard flower formation. Place it in a dish of pebbles with water so the plant pot does not sit in the water (extra humidity.) Continue to water infrequently, stresses the plant causing it to go into survive mode and produce blossoms (seeds) to procreate the species.
Reply:Well, they do like sun. They do not bloom all year, but once in three years does seem rather sparse. Would it be worthwhile to get a "grow light" so it could get a little more energy? Good luck!
Reply:Your bougainvillea needs more sun. This is not a shade tolerant plant and grows best is direct sunlight. Three hours a day is not a lot of sun.
Reply:Indoors can be a little tough, according to my friend Wendy. Not sure 3 hours of sun a day is enough, either. I just wrote an article w/ tips on Bougainvillea, might want to check it out (and go for more sun:)


http://wehow.ehow.com/how_2020130_grow-b...
Reply:They don't do well indorrs. But you might check out this:





Bougainvillea Bloom Season in North America





Bougainvilleas' natural habitat is equatorial where day and night lengths are almost equal. Bougainvilleas in these areas tend to bloom year round, but in North America, best blooming occurs when the night length and day length are almost equal (in spring or fall). In winter, blooming is better than in the dog days of August because of night length. Also, some cultivars are triggered to bloom after a rainy season followed by a dry season.





Best Climate for Bougainvillea


Bougainvilleas are tropical and must be protected from frost. In Zone 8 and cooler, you are almost limited to growing them in some kind of container unless you treat them as an Annual (plant a new plant outdoors each year) -- which works fine if you obtain a large plant in the Spring.





Bougainvilleas thrive in full sun. At least 5 hours a day of full sunlight is the minimal light required for good bloom. More hours of direct sun is better. Less than 5 hours and the plant may not bloom very well. In shade or partial shade, you will have nice vegetative growth, but little or no bloom.





A Bougainvillea just doesn't bloom well indoors. If possible, keep your plant outdoors (in the maximum sun available). If placed on a porch, patio or balcony, where the plant receives at least 5 hours of sun each day (afternoon sun is best), then it should bloom ok.





A bougainvillea likes high humidity just before it comes into bloom. Once bloom has been initated, then it will tolerate less humidity.
Reply:I have many different coloured Bouganvillea plants. Yes, they do thirst for warm, sunny climates. As well as normal feeding during growth season, they benefit greatly from pruning.


Be courageous with your secateurs!!!


Bougainvillea?

Where in the Mediterranean is Bougainvillea native?

Bougainvillea?
Bougainvillea is native to South America ( Brazil to Peru ).





However they are very popular in India, Australia, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Hawaii and Southwest USA