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Bougainvillea care

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Bougainvillea, also referred to as Paper flower is a native of Brazil and belongs to the Nyctaginaceae family. This tropical climber is ideal for hanging baskets and grown in containers where it can cascade its vibrant blooming vines. The flower is unremarkable compared to the brightly colored, paper-like bracts that surround the flower.

Bougainvillea

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  1. I have a potted bougainvillea that has lost a lot of leaves and the branches that lost those leaves have dried up and died. It also has a fair amount of new growth in other areas - making the plant quite spotty. (some new growth some dead spots). What should I do so the plant is full of new growth?

    Bougainvillea blooms on new growth, therefore takes well to pruning. You can prune in late fall or early spring as well as light pruning throughout the growing season this will stimulate new bushy growth.

    Comment by John — 1/27/2007 @ 5:06 pm

  2. Can you share tips on dividing Bougainvillea. Mine is quite large (pot size is 2′ and I am worried it is getting root bound and would like to divide it properly) thanks

    Divide your bougainvillea in the spring at the begining of the growing season. Water your plant a few hours in advance as this will make it easier to remove the plant from the pot. Carefully remove it from the pot and with a sharp knife cut it into sections. Remove dead and tangled roots . Be sure to use fresh peat based soil and clean containers. Plant it the same level that it was growing before. After repotting trim away 1/3 of the plant vines, this will give the roots time to grow and keep up with the leaves. If you can’t repot, topdress. To topdress scrape away the top 1-2 inches of soil and refill with a fresh soil mix. The top layer will provide extra nutrients to the roots

    Comment by Deanna — 2/5/2007 @ 7:24 am

  3. My very large bougainvillea suffered significant damage from (unusual) frost this winter. When should I prune back the dead branches? Will it survive?
    Thank you.

    Bougainvilleas can recover from some frost damage as long as the roots were not frozen. Wait to prune when all danger of frost has passed in your area. Some dead branches may surprise you and resprout new growth in the spring. If you prune too early and get hit by another frost any new growth will be especially sensitive to frost. Cut away and trim thin and leggy growth in the spring and begin fertilizing monthly once it starts growing. If another frost is eminent cover your plant with a blanket or plastic. Hopefully, your plant will return twice as beautiful.

    Comment by Carol — 2/23/2007 @ 11:45 am

  4. I am in Phuket, Thailand and would like advice on care of Bougainvillea in this climate which is tropical. I have an automated 10 min twice a day sprinkler system for the garden and the soil has good drainage.
    My gardener is watering the leaves of my plants - is this a good idea?

    Hi Carol
    Bougainvillea do well in a tropical climate. They thrive in full sun and heat and bloom best when kept slightly stressed and on the dry side. They are heavy feeders and should be fed regularily with 1/2 strenght fertilizer to keep them blooming all season long. As far as the automated watering.. twice a day may not allow the plant to dry out and will keep it in a moist state all the time which will encourage new growth but no flowers as well as root rot if kept too wet. You cannot water a plant to your schedule, you have to water according to what the plant needs especially in the rainy season. Overhead watering is not the best idea-it is better to water directly into the soil. If the wet leaves don’t have a chance to dry out by evening then they can develop diseases such as leaf spot & powdery mildew.

    Comment by CAROL — 3/27/2007 @ 1:42 am

  5. my bougainvillea has no new growth at all yet. I live in the central valley of Calif and we did have some unsual low temps this winter. Low 30’s. I did prune it back a few weeks back. I think it might be dead. Anyway of know how to tell???

    Time will tell. Wait till the weather warms up, it may surprise you and send up new shoots from the roots. If you don’t see any new growth in the next month, it is probably dead

    .

    Comment by debi — 4/16/2007 @ 4:00 pm

  6. We planted a Bougainvillea last August in our backyard. We live in Mexico in the mountains where there are some very beautiful Bougainvillea plants. It bloomed right away but hasn’t flowered now for some time. It looks like it may have bugs because the leaves do not look healthy-curled and shriveled. However, I did notice that there is some new growth. Should we spray it with a pesticide or leave it and hope for the best.

    Hi Jessica
    It sounds like your plant is in the right environment. Here are some cultural suggestions that it needs to bloom. Bougainvillea require at least 6-8 hrs. of full sun. They respond to blooming when they are slightly stressed- crowded roots and the soil kept slightly dry. In addition, blooming occurs on new growth so a light pruning will stimulate new growth and at the same time eliminate the diseased leaves. Lightly fed your plant 2-3 times a year with a balanced fertilizer. In general, lack of flowering usually happens from not enough sun, too much water, too much nitrogen. There are also varieties of bougainvillea that bloom in the fall in response to short days. If the insect problem gets worse, then you will need to identify it and treat the problem.

    Comment by Jessica — 4/18/2007 @ 5:38 pm

  7. can you cut off a branch of the bougainvillea and get it to root….what is
    the proper way to get it to root from a
    cutting? thanks

    You can propagate bougainvillea in the spring/e. summer when night temperatures are above 55degrees. Take softwood cuttings with 5-9 nodes, strip the lower leaves that will be in soil and dip the ends in rootone. Sub-terminal cuttings (tips removed) seem to work better than tip cuttings as they are less prone to disease and rot. Insert the cutting into a sand/peat soil and place in a plastic bag (to maintain high humidity) in the shade. The soil should be kept moist and not allowed to dry out. Bottom heat of 72 degrees is suggested to speed up rooting which should take 6-12 wks. Bougainvillea can also be propagated from hardwood cuttings (bare stems) in the fall/winter and will take 3-4 months to strike roots.

    Comment by carmela nistico — 5/10/2007 @ 8:38 pm

  8. I have a large pot of fuschia boug. that I bring inside every winter. I get two bloomings inside. I took it outside this spring and it is now raspberry/red poppy colored. (Which doesn’t go with my hot pink garden) How do I get the fuschia color back. Miracid? Thanks

    The change of flower color is affected by several factors: temperature, amount of light, quality of light, ph and micronutrients in the soil. Low temperatures, more light increase anthocyanin which is the red/purple pigment in plants, conversely high temps, less light decrease anthocyainin. Ph and fertilizer also has an affect on the shade of red. Try the Miracid and see if it changes the color. Let me know what happens.

    Comment by susan wilson — 5/11/2007 @ 10:12 pm

  9. CAN I MIX SOIL AND EPSON SALT AND BUT TO THE ROOT OF THE BOUGAINVILLEA FOR FOOT?

    Epsom salt is a good source for magnesium and sulfur. According to the epsom salt council studies show that these micronutrients make plants grow bushier, produce more flowers, improve phosphorus and nitrogen uptake and increase chlrophyll production. It is usually mixed with water and watered in (2 TBLsp to 2.5 gal water). It should be used carefully, too much can also cause problems. Eventhough epsom salt may do some good, the better way to fertilize your plant is to provide a well balanced fertilizer with micronutrients included.

    Comment by shirly penn — 5/27/2007 @ 9:09 am

  10. I am trying to pot perfectly red bougainvillea. I’ve been told B. Karst is best and have bought a few. Have noticed that when brackets are young they are red and then mature to a pinker color. Is soil ph an avenue to explore to keep them on the redder side?

    The color of flowers will naturally get lighter as they mature, It’s possible that ph will change the color but other factors such as temperature, amount of sun and nutrients also have an affect on color. Try lowering the ph ad see what happens.

    Comment by Valerie Bench — 5/30/2007 @ 11:55 pm

  11. I have a Bougainvillea that survived the Katrina flood. It’s been almost 2 years and the plant is bigger and more beautiful than ever. I want to move it to my new house but it is growing in a wooden tub that is about to fall apart. What is the best way to move it. Will I ruin it if I cut it down before transporting? I has spread all over the back yard. I would love to move it as is but it seems impossible. Any suggestions?
    Rosemarie, St. Bernard La. Now in Hammond.

    You can cut it down before you move it to make it more manageable. They bloom on new wood and can be trimmend anytime. It sounds like you will need to transplant it into another container so pruning will help the plant readjust to the change. After it reacclimates itself and shows signs of new growth give a a feeding of 1/2 strength fertilizer to stimulate flowering.

    Comment by Rosemarie — 6/3/2007 @ 2:13 pm

  12. I have 2 beautiful Bougainvillea, I live in the very north east of Louisiana, can they be planted in the ground? Or do they need to remain in containers?

    Bougainvilleas are hardy in zones 8-10, you are in zone 8 on the marginal end of hardiness. You can plant them in the ground. It will tolerate temperatures as cool as 30-40 degrees but will need protection or it can freeze and die. Plant it on the south side of the house

    .

    Comment by Choochi — 6/10/2007 @ 11:37 am

  13. Please advise me how to get rid of spotted leaves on my lavender bougainvilla, They are yellowish brownish.
    I would really appreicate it very much!
    Thanks
    Helen Dempsey

    Look at your plant closely, are the spots tan with reddish margins or reddish -brown with yellow halos that form on the leaf margins and centers? Have you had a lot of rain?

    Comment by helen dempsey — 6/10/2007 @ 3:36 pm

  14. Bougainvillea care

    We live in Houston, Texas. Our very mature bougainvillea has always bloomed great. But is was getting out of control size wise. I pruned in back hard in late March, after our last freeze. The leaves have all grown back, but no flowers yet (we usually had full flowers by now). Will I get flowers this year? Or did i prune too hard or too late?

    The best time to prune is right after flowering. They can take light pruning all season long. If your plant is overgrown and you need to control the size, early spring before growth begins is a good time to hard prune. After a hard pruning bougainvilleas tend to stop blooming and put on strong vegetative growth in which they can produce thorns instead of flowers. Try a “bloom boost” fertilizer to encourage it to flower.

    Comment by MJF — 6/13/2007 @ 8:05 am

  15. I live in Gujarat, India and i have many bougainvillea in my garden. we are having rainy season at this time of the year. They grew beautifully till this day until my gardener chopped of ALL THE LEAVES AND BRANCHES of the poor plant and all that remains now is the main stem. he said it was necessary for the proper growth. Is it necessary to cut ALL the leaves and branches? or u just need slight trimming? no part of the plant was dead and its growth was excellent. please advise me with what to do.
    Thank You.

    Take comfort in the fact that bougainvillea can take heavy pruning and should regrow.

    Comment by Rohan Pandya — 6/30/2007 @ 1:49 am

  16. We have a home Spain where we have for 3 years had two flourishing bougainvillea plants. This year the purple flowered has a white sticky/powdery deposit which then seems to move to the brickwork on which the plant is tied in. Does anyone know what this is and if it is possible to treat it?

    It sounds as if you have mealy bugs click for more info and treatment.

    Comment by michael carlisle — 7/9/2007 @ 4:35 am

  17. I live in Sonoma Valley and my bougainvillea is planted amongst some very large boulders on the hillside. It gets a bit of water from a drip system and has been doing very well for the two years I have had it. This year it bloomed beautifully but then over the last week the colorful bracts on about 3/4 of the plant have been burnt somehow and are all faded. We did have some mid 90 degree days but I thought they love the heat. I have not fertilized it since early Spring so I’m not sure why the bracts got burnt. Any ideas why? How can I get more flowers (bracts) for the rest of the season? Should I deadhead the burnt bracts? Thanks, Brian

    Is it possible that the roots didn’t get enough water? They tolerate dry conditions but in prolonged heat they may require more water than usual. Or are they getting too much water with the drip system? You can cut back/deadhead the burnt bracts and if they are viable will send out new growth. Bougainvillea can be pruned throughout the growing season-best is after blooming. After pruning fertilize your plant with 1/2 strength fertilizer (20-20-20, Miracle grow, Rapid grow) to stimulate new growth.

    Comment by Brian Brockway — 7/12/2007 @ 9:37 am

  18. I got my bougainvillea in Florida and It was in full bloom. We planted it in the yard in M.S its very tall now but has no flowers what so ever but has alot of large green leaves…and lots of thorns, other than that it looks good! Just no blooms.

    It may be the new location-not enough sun. In addition, they bloom under stressful conditions; need to be root bound and dry. The rootbound part is difficult if planted in the ground but you may be able to control the amount of moisture(unless its raining all the time). Let it dry out between watering to much moisture will promote green growth and no flowers. If your plant is dry, try using a bloom boost fertilizer to stimulate blooming.

    Comment by DIANNA — 7/17/2007 @ 5:27 pm

  19. Great site! I live in SW FL, zone 9-10. I want to plant bougainvillea in my sandy backyard soil. Do I need to add potting soil, fertilizer, etc. before putting them in the ground? They will be in full sun in the location I’ve chosen. Thanks! Nina

    Hi Nina
    Add some compost to your sandy soil and it should do well providing good drainage as well as some nutrients. Once they start to show signs of new growth you can fertilze lightly. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizer or you’ll get more leaves and no flowers (10-10-10). They require more nutrients when blooming (high phosphorous like Superbloom). The full sun location is perfect!

    Comment by Nina — 7/23/2007 @ 5:47 pm

  20. I was given an orange Bourgainvillea and its growing like mad, unfortunately it’s just going straight up without any side branches. Other than that is seems very healthy! Can anyone tell me how to make it into a standard type of shape?

    If you want side branches cut back part of the straight upright branch which will encourage it to send out lateral growth.

    Comment by Nikki — 8/21/2007 @ 1:39 pm

  21. My husband and I bought 4 plants in hanging baskets in Winston Salem, NC. I want to keep them in pots but I am not sure they will grow in this climate. Any help is much appreciated.

    Bougainvillea is a tropical plant and is frost sensitive. It grows in zone 8-10. You are in zone 8. They may go dormant during the winter and drop their leaves. You may want to protect them from extreme cold by keeping the baskets in the garage and watering slightly just to keep it from completely drying out. The important thing is to keep the roots alive so that they regrow the following spring.

    Comment by Tammie — 8/26/2007 @ 4:02 pm

  22. Hey, great site. I live in Bali and I have 2 mature Bourgainvilleas which I recently repotted. Unfortunately both have responded badly with all leaves falling off and new ones emerging only to die off a few days later. I think the roots may have been damaged in the repotting exersize. Can anyone offer any advice on how to recover a plant with damaged roots.
    Many thanks
    Russell

    Your bougainvillea is suffering from transplant shock. The important things is not too stress the plant and in time it should recover. I would cut back the stems up to 1/2 so that the roots don’t need to support so much top growth and have a chance to regrow. Be sure the soil is well-drained and don’t let the plant dry out. Since you have new growth and they are heavy feeders, fertilize with 1/2 strength of 20-20-20 to stimulate growth. Keep the plant in a slightly shaded area until new growth perks up and then move to a sunny location.

    Comment by Russell — 9/11/2007 @ 9:58 pm

  23. Help! I know nothing about gardening and have a beautiful purple Bougainvillea. I’ve had it outside and at one point lost all flowers and some leaves. I fertilized and got on a regular watering cycle and the flowers came back better than ever. I live in Louisville KY and with the weather getting colder I’ve brought the tree inside. After reading all the comments above I realize I’ve probably been over-watering. The flowers and leaves are starting to wilt and drop. I’m not sure what to expect through the winter months and other than scaling back on the water and keeping it in the sun, is there anything else I should do? What should I expect it to look like through the winter? Thank you!

    Like many other tropicals, bougainvillea may drop it’s leaves in response to indoor low light conditions. When it does, store it in a garage or basement, watering once a month to keep the roots alive. Move the plants back to the sun in March (when temepratures warm up and days are longer) and then prune and fertilze.

    Comment by Melissa — 10/7/2007 @ 7:03 am

  24. I live in Minnesota and bought two beautiful bougainvillea plants this Spring. I’d like to bring them in for the winter. I don’t have a basement and the garage would be too cold. Any suggestions as to how to store them over winter? Should I prune it when I bring it in? Should I put it near a window or should it be dark?

    Keep it in the coolest, brightest room in the house (east or north window)with temperatures between 50-60 degrees. If it gets too warm it will grow but look lanky and pale because of insufficient sunlight. Water less during the winter allowing the soil to dry out between watering and don’t fertilize. You can prune the plant to make it more manageable but major pruning should be done in the spring before new growth starts. It may drop its leaves during this time but the idea is to keep the plant alive till spring.

    Comment by Diane — 10/23/2007 @ 8:30 am

  25. Comment on Plant & Gardening Tips, for topic: Bougainvillea care
    I just wanted to say that these posts about bougainvillea have been so helpful to me. I brought my boug. in for the winter and lost the leaves and it dried out. I found this site while looking for information on what to do for it and have found my answers just by reading other people’s posts. Thank you for such a wonderful resource for hort information!!!

    Comment by Kelly — 11/10/2007 @ 9:42 pm

  26. I live 30 miles west of Houston in the Fulshear TX area. In early November ‘07, I purchased 8 beautiful Red Bouganvillea plants already trained up in tree form. Ranging from 6 ft to 3 ft heights. They are in good healthy condition and blooming. They currentlly are in the large plastic containers I purchased them in i.e., 65, 35 and 20 gallon containers per tree size. I want to plant them in the yard in full sun. The grower told me to use super phosphate and Lime to neutralize the alkalinity of the soil in this area to treat the holes for planting. The grower is located over 100 miles from me. Two questions. How exactly do I go about treating the holes for planting and should I wait until spring to transplant them in the ground in this climate area. I still have them in movable state in the pots. Any tips for protecting my investment appreciated.

    Bougainvillea are hardy in Fulshear, Tx (zone 9). If planting outdoors: Bougainvillea like a slightly acid soil with a ph of 5.5-6.0. Not knowing what your soil ph is, I would dig large enough holes for each plant mix in some organic compost (which will provide some nutrients ). Be sure the soil is well-drained. Water the plants and add a root stimulator-such as superphosphate to encourage new root growth. Keep the plant on the dry side after it is established. Since bougainvillea are frost sensitive, you may get some winter leaf drop or the plant may die back completely if the weather gets too cold. Plant by a southern wall and be sure to protect the plants when temps drop below 40F. It’s better to wait till spring to plant them so that they can have a full year of growth to establish a good root system for the winter. Lime is used to increase the ph in soil. So if you have an acid soil with a ph of 5.0, then you can add lime to increase the ph.

    Comment by Tarry Jackson — 11/12/2007 @ 11:47 am

  27. I live in Southern California. I have a bougainvillea (red) in full sun. It’s at least 30 years old. I tried to get it to extend over a porch area by allowing branches to grow in that direction. After several years, the branches got woody and I get very sparse leaf growth. Can I prune back to the wood on these long branches (maybe 15 ft) to promote growth, or should I cut them off and promote new branches to cover the area I want?

    Hard pruning cutting back 1/2 to 2/3 should promote new branches and a fuller bushier plant. This should be done before new growth starts in early spring. Keep in mind that hard pruning will make the plants stop flowering and go to a vegetative growing phase; producting lots of green growth and perhaps long curved thorns in the leaf axils. You can apply bloom boost or better bloom after heavy pruning to slow down the vegetative growth and encourage new flower production. A soft pruning such as pinching the tips back to shape and direct growth can be done throughout the growing season.

    Comment by John Vasi — 12/2/2007 @ 11:43 am

  28. I live in Toronto, brought in my 2 bougs and have off white bracts on a few tips. How do I know what colour they are supposed to be, they were sell-offs. Can I change colour? Or intensify it?

    There are a few cultivars that are white and that’s probably what you bought. You cannot change the color-they may take on a slight color as the bracts mature.

    Comment by leigh — 12/15/2007 @ 4:27 pm

  29. I live in Singapore and have got 2 pots of orange bougainvillea plants on my balcony. They get healthy amount of sunlight but are not growing well recently. Despite fertilizing and pruning, the new leaves come out wrinkly and remain so even when they grow bigger. I’m not sure if it’s a problem of over-watering or if there are bugs (no white spots so far though). Pls advise!

    Distortion of new growth is usually caused by several factors; aphids, thrips, virus, herbicide or ethylene injury. Check your plants closely for insects. There is also a cucumber mosaic virus that causes the leaves to become distorted and mottled.

    Comment by Lee — 2/11/2008 @ 6:55 am

  30. I live in myrtle beach sc.I have my bougainvilles in a pot. when and can i move my plant outside to plant in the ground. I want is to climb on my fence. Also what type of ground should be. Dry or wet. thank you susan

    Hi Susan
    Bougainvilleas are hardy in zone 9 and up. Myrtle Beach is in zone 8. It will freeze and die if temperatures drop to 30 F in the winter. Its best to grow them in containers and bring them indoors(garage) for protection in the winter. Some may have luck in growing them in a microclimate situation where the plant is protected but that can be risky-one hard freeze and your plant is dead. Check with your neighbors and see if they are growing bougs successfully. They need a sandy well drained soil, keep it on the dry side with a min. of 5 hrs full sun.

    Comment by susan — 2/17/2008 @ 3:46 pm

  31. Bougainvillea care
    I am in Orlando, FL. My potted bougainvillea was flowering beautifully until a frost. I moved it into my garage for the cold nights but it still dropped a lot of its blooms and leaves. Now the blooms are coming back, but the leaves don’t seem to be. Should I just leave it alone, or fertilize, or prune, or what?

    Leaf drop is a typical response to cold temperatures. and winter damage If you still want to enjoy the flowers leave it. It will releaf when it warms up. If the plant looks straggly cut it back up to 1/2 of the stem to get a bushier and fuller plant. Prune in Spring before they sprout and fertilize when new growth begins.

    Comment by Lisa — 2/19/2008 @ 11:26 am

  32. I live in Spain and now have an apartment with a garden. The soil is clay. Our neighbours have several bougainvillea that are only two years old and are thriving and in full flower even though their garden gets just as waterlogged as ours. I have bought six bougainvillea but after two months they have dropped all flowers and leaves and all that is left is three foot stems on each plant.
    What do I do now? I would be grateful for any advice.
    This is the best site I have come across after days and weeks of searching.
    Trish

    Hi Trish
    The clay soil may be a problem because it doesn’t drain quickly and will hold water longer. Bougainvilleas like a fast draining soil too much water can kill the plant. You could ammend the soil by adding more organic material such as peat moss, compost etc. or plant them in a raised bed that will provide better drainage. Eventhough, your neighbors soil looks the same, it may not be the same and their plants are established. Your newly planted bougainvillea needs time to regrow new roots and get acclimated to the new environment. During this time they will drop their leaves and flowers because the roots cannot feed all the foliage. They also have a tendency to drop leaves in the winter due to lower light conditions and cooler temperatures. When the weather warms up(above 50F), cut them back by 1/3 . Once they sprout in warmer temperatures, feed them with 1/2 strength 20-20-20 or a hibiscus fertizlier to get the plant started. Hope this helps. Kris

    Comment by TRISH DYNES — 3/1/2008 @ 12:47 pm

  33. Bougainvillea care. I live in San Diego, CA. My bourgainvillea is being eaten by something, perhaps called bourgainvillea looper. What specifically is the best treatment?

    The bougainvillea looper often referred to as inchworm is a brown or green caterpillar 1″ long . It is hard to detect because it mimics a stem and feeds at night. The moth lays its eggs on the underside of the leaves. It is the caterpillar that eats its way from the tender shoots down to the foliage causing scalloped edging on the foliage. Other than deforming the plant it will not kill it. The safest way to treat it is with Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) sold as Dipel or neem. Both controls will kill the looper with out harming any beneficial insects. Spray in the evening when they are actively feeding.

    Comment by Marcy — 3/15/2008 @ 7:37 am

  34. Hello,

    I live in Marseilles, France, and am going to plant some Bougainvilleas into the soil. Would it be OK if I use a trellis or pergola for support, are this plant wind-sustaining? We have strong winds pretty often.
    Thank you,Tanya

    Hi Tanya,
    Bougainvillea are a popular plant in southern France. A pergola or trellis will be a great support for the woody canes that can climb up to 40 feet. They should with stand windy conditions but if you want to make sure secure some of the canes to the pergola when they start to grow.

    Comment by Tanya — 3/27/2008 @ 4:42 am

  35. Hi, I live in London, England and I’ve had a 4 foot bougainvillea since last summer. It was fine last year on my south facing balcony (had maximum sunlight all day) and I brought it indoors during the winter, which was all fine. The weather started to get really warm a few weeks ago, so I put it back out on my balcony, unfortunately it then snowed (mad global warming weather!) and I didn’t bring it back inside in time. Now it the plant seems to have dried out and the flowers and leaves are really cripsy (although haven’t dropped off). This was 3 weeks ago and I’ve brought it back inside in a warm and sunny position, been watering it once a week and hoping it will come back. Any ideas? Time to cut it down 2/3 and start again?

    Hi Kellie
    If the roots weren’t frozen then it should come back. You can wait and see how much of the stems died and then cut it back to the dead zone. Or cut it back now by 1/3-1/2 before new growth starts. It’s good to prune it in the spring, you’ll probably end up with a healthier, more vigorous plant in the long run. Warm temperatures will stimulate new growth and if you don’t see new shoots in May then it may be dead.

    Comment by Kellie — 4/9/2008 @ 5:55 am

  36. Hi, I live in center of Florida by the west coast and I want to plant 3 bougainvilleas to cover a chain link fence. My goal is for them to intermingle with each other for a more colorful display. How far apart should I plant them?

    Hi Ligia

    U of Fla recommends spacing them 36-60″ apart.

    Comment by Ligia — 4/11/2008 @ 6:04 am

  37. I live outsie of Longview, TX (zone 7)and have just purchased the most beautiful burnt orange (go Longhorns!!) boug. and was wondering if i could plant it in the ground or should I just keep it in a container? The main problem that I have is I don’t have anywhere suitable to store it inside during the winter months. We do get down in the high 20’s and 30’s during the winter. It is so beautiful and I have never seen a boug this color before and I definitely don’t want to lose it.

    Hi April
    Bougainvilleas are hardy in zones 8-10. It will tolerate temperatures as low as 30-40 degrees. A container planting would be your safest bet. You are taking a chance if you plant it in the ground. It will need winter protection or it can freeze with just 4 hrs. of below freezing temps. You can store your boug gainvillea as an indoor houseplant over the winter. http://www.southeasttexasgardening.info/bouginfo.htm

    Comment by April — 4/18/2008 @ 7:53 am

  38. I live in Scotland and I have my bougainvilla in the conservatory, I have noticed that there is small brown spots with a reddish brown colour circling the spots on the leaves I have been doing what the care instructions tell me, please help?

    It sounds like a leaf spot disease which is tan with reddish margins and caused by a fungus or bacteria. It’s difficult to say which one. High humidity, overhead watering are usually the culprit.
    Remove the infected leaves and give the plant more air circulation so that it can dry out. http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/enpp/pathology/pathcirc/pp343.pdf

    Comment by Julie Romano — 4/20/2008 @ 2:51 am

  39. I have just been given a Bougainvillea About four feet high which deer have munched quite a bit off. Can I cut it down by about half as it will be going in a pot outside my front door in full sun. It will require repotting as it was removed from a huge pot and not doing well. I live in the south of British Columbia so the weather is quite mild. (So far)

    Yes, hard pruning (up to 1/2) can be done in spring before new growth starts. It can also be pruned after flowering and pinched during the growing season to shape the plant. The pruning will also help the plant adjust when its repotted.

    Comment by W Brown — 4/21/2008 @ 12:48 pm

  40. I live in Athens Georgia and have just purchased 4 hanging boug. baskets. The temps are supposed to go down to 44 and 42 the next couple of nights. Should I bring the baskets into the garage or will they be OK in those temps? I don’t want them to lose their blooms - they are beautiful right now and we are having warms days.

    Don’t tempt fate. At 44F, bougainvillea will survive but the flowers may drop off. Store them in the garage until the weather warms up.

    Comment by Dee — 4/28/2008 @ 5:23 pm

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