How to start and increase flowering in bougainvillea plants using simple techniques New growth will begin to emerge in a few weeks. Pruning and training. Don't cut into the old growth until early spring. The vines need well-drained, yet moist, soil to thrive. Bougainvilleas (Bougainvillea spp.) How To Prune A Bonsai Bougainvillea Pruning of bonsai bougainvillea is an important step to keep your bonsai bougainvillea flowering all year round. If you must prune to control the plant, prune lightly at the end of the flowering period. This is best performed in early spring before bloom and growth to get the most out of the bougainvillea in your desired direction. Bougainvillea shrubs can be pruned to achieve all sorts of shapes. I am new to the plant, so it is of great help. Leaving dried blooms on the plant will prohibit new blooms from forming. How to prune bougainvillea Bougainvillea is best pruned once the flowering has finished. Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. I grow my bougainvillea in a pot outside in summer and inside in winter. Bear in mind that with each cut you make, new branches will emerge. Dig 5 IN 1 ® Organic Fertiliser into the soil before planting and fertilise every 6 months with Searles Hibiscus & Bougainvillea Food for best results. 1) Cleaning the Shears Before we jump into pruning, make sure that the cutters or shears are clean and free from any infectious material. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Prune your bougainvillea in winter after it is finished blooming (January is a good time). Remember to wipe your pruning shears with the disinfectant after pruning diseased branches before pruning healthy branches to prevent disease from spreading. Enjoying having found this site! It is particularly important to prune bougainvillea regularly to maintain reasonable branch structure, keep them manageable, and avoid tall, heavy, and/or unruly shrubs that put out little new growth each year and bloom only occasionally or minimally. Jun 7, 2016 - How to Prune Bougainvillea. Wear gloves and long sleeved shirts and pants if trimming or training these plants. Can I plant what I cut off it? This article received 32 testimonials and 98% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. I’ve never fertilized mine & they bloom just how I want them to. Pinch off about 1/2 inch of the stem tips and prune plants in early spring to … Pruning and training is therefore necessary to keep them in shape and restrict their size. Thanks! Depending on how tall the bougainvillea standard tree form is to be, it may take a 4- to 8-foot long stake to allow for enough of it to be sunk into the ground to support the top. Perform “soft pinch” pruning on a bougainvillea plant any time of the year to promote bushier, lateral branches. This is usually in autumn, but can be at other times depending on the variety. In winters, when you bring the pot indoors, place it at a spot where it can receive an ample amount of light. The plants are perennial in USDA plant hardiness zone 10 but are more suited to containers and annual use in zones 7 to 9. They are sturdy plants. Pruning of Bougainvillea is usually done in the late fall or early spring to get rid of old woody stems to encourage new growth. Remove the diseased branches from the area, so they don't contaminate the plant. If you don’t have growing space or live in a suitable climate, you can plant bougainvillea in … I cut mine from about 10 feet down to 6 feet, and they still bloomed a few months later. Trim your bougainvillea the way you want it to grow with the desired shape you want it to have. Pruning and trimming are two different things. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Bougainvillea plants are prolific growers and need good pruning to force blooming and retain a pretty shape. are vibrant throughout the year where temperatures remain mild. ), don’t tolerate frost well, growing in frost-free climates in U.S. Department of … It will take a few years, but once it takes hold it will grow nicely. Prune the bougainvillea as the fall temperatures begin to dip below 50 degrees, or whenever the leaves and final blooms begin to fall from the plant. Thank you, you helped a lot. But I put it outside and night temps dropped to 48F and all blooms died. With the right care and attention, you will be reaping the rewards for years to come. They flower on the current seasons growth so pruning in late winter or early spring, just before growth begins. Tropical vines that bloom throughout much of the year, bougainvilleas (Bougainvillea spp.) We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Zone 1 - 8. Do not prune your bougainvillea too short or too low to the ground. No. Should I cut off the thorns? The famous Kew gardens were instrumental in the propagation and spread of the plants. how to prune bougainvillea in pots. One is very large and the other is skimpy. Pruning bougainvillea in summer, which is mid-season for this plant, encourages another round of bloom. More pinching = more color. Bougainvillea is een klimmende en bloemdragende wingerd of struik die inheems is in Brazilië. The plant usually produces three rounds of vibrant blooms in spring, summer and autumn. Yes. Pruning helps the plant grow thicker and bushier. Although you can prune bougainvillea throughout the year, pruning in summer may cut off the forming buds, reducing the amount of color you see the next blooming cycle. Use cut … Prune in early spring. Watch out for those spikes! Seal all cuts to prevent rot. This article surely will help. The plants grow well in a greenhouse or in containers. How do I transplant it from one location to another location? Prune a bougainvillea plant regularly to encourage prolific flowering and bush growth. If you're replanting in a pot, make sure it's an appropriate size, they like it a bit snug. I prob didn't prune like I should have but thanks for the tips. Here in the UK we mostly grow bougainvillea in pots indoors in greenhouses or conservatories, with a trellis or pillar for support. Remove dead wood as it occurs but severe pruning must wait until the plant is semi-dormant in fall or early spring. When to Prune ", pot, and how to keep it sized for the pot. Your goal during the fall and winter is just to keep your bougainvillea alive, not to stimulate growth, so water very modestly, letting the soil dry out considerably before watering again. Prune the bougainvillea. It had been pruned into a hedge by the … As bougainvillea generally blooms on new growth, you should cut back the branches that have finished flowering. "If you haven't got time to prune then plant your bougainvillea in a container. Make sure you are wearing protection; Bougainvillea plants are notorious for their thick thorns. This encourages flower growth. Last Updated: November 24, 2020 ", "This helped me a lot. When it’s semi-deciduous in January, it may seem like you’re removing a lot, but believe me, it grows back like crazy. Sign up for our newsletter. How to Cut Bougainvillea Growth Back to the Ground. Effective Tips To Prube Bougainvillea. This article has been viewed 351,704 times. Fertilizing. A cascade bougainvillea. The bougainvillea's thick, thorn-covered vines require regular pruning, trimming and pinching to keep it healthy and to make it look its best. When learning how to prune bougainvillea, keep in mind that the more often you prune off dead blooms, the more new blooms your plant will produce. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. If you have to move your bougainvillea, the best time would probably be the winter, when the plant is not actively growing. How to prune bougainvillea Bougainvillea is best pruned once the flowering has finished. We are 1800 miles above sea level here and it often snows in winter. By putting it in a pot the rampant tendencies are curbed," Ray said. The famous Kew gardens were instrumental in the propagation and spread of the plants. This is usually in autumn, but can be at other times depending on the variety. Different techniques will provide different results, so know what type of look you want before you start out. You will be required to prune leaves, branches and roots. Prune off runaway branches as it grows, so that the bush maintains a compact, round shape. What a bougainvillea likes is full tropical sun, moderate watering (unlike most plants, it does better if you keep it on the dry side than evenly moist) and regular fertilization during its growing period. ", wall. When pruning, cut back side shoots to three or four buds. Bougainvillea is a climbing, flowering vine or shrub native to Brazil. However, if you are gentle while repotting you can do it anytime. Trimming bougainvilleas helps keep the plant in an already chosen shape. The startling colors of the plant are actually from bracts or modified leaves, not flowers as they appear. The warning about thorns could be expressed stronger. 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The best time to prune bougainvillea for cuttings is in late winter to earliest spring before new growth has flushed, but when bud nodes are swelling. How do you prune bougainvillea in pots? You can prune bougainvilleas at any time after a bloom cycle, although early spring is a better time for a hard pruning. The thorns and thick branches can injure your hands. Learn how to prune a bougainvillea as part of its vertical training and to help increase the impact of this tropical plant. Thanks for the tips. Bougainvillea pruning encourages new growth and blooms., pruning overgrown bougainvillea is actually a bloom booster. Don't prune your bougainvillea during a frost. The best time to prune Bougainvillea is in early spring, after the last frost but before the new budding cycle has begun. Wear gloves when pruning bougainvillea. ", "I now know how and when to prune my bougainvillea to keep it neat and healthy. I am now going to follow your instructions for pinching back new growth. A full sun site is the best and bougainvillea flower most when the temperatures are moderate with long cooler nights in spring. Summer Bougainvillea Care In the summer heat, Neem oil — or any oil — will melt and slide right off of your plants. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. With a bit of pruning, bougainvillea can be trained as a bush, a climbing vine, a tree, a … I hope I'll be able to watch the, "My bush needed some shaping and help with getting rid of faded blooms. It was wrapped quite tightly around a frame, so I unwrapped it; it, "I did not know anything of how and when to prune a bougainvillea. Use your index finger and thumb to pinch off the top 1/2 inch of new … Bougainvilleas are drought resistant and perform best if the soil is allowed to dry out between watering. Once your bougainvillea is well established, it won’t need much supplemental water at all. Be sure not to wait too late in the season, though, since toward the end of the cycle it will be too late to encourage new blooms. I'm new at growing bougainvillea and needed to know if it can live in a. Bougainvillea plants are prolific growers and need good pruning to force blooming and retain a pretty shape. There are now cultivars and crosses from several parent specimens that range in color, size and hardiness. Bougainvilleas require a trellis or pillar for support and can be trained as a standard and spur-pruned to restrict size. Bougainvilleas (Bougainvillea spp. Can I plant the cut bougainvillea stems into another potential of soil, or do I have to put the stem in the water for the roots to grow? Bougainvillea can technically be pruned at any time of the year, but the best time to do so for the integrity of the plant is in very early spring, before the plant has begun to produce buds for new flowers. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. The bougainvillea pruning in pots or garden bed will force plant to produce new growth and bougainvillea to bloom. It puts out a big show of magenta/purplish color off and on for 9 or 10 months out of the year. Do well without how to prune bougainvillea just after a bloom cycle, although early spring is climbing! You 'll cut off the top 1/2 inch of new … my bougainvillea against my outside wall, can! To three or four buds bring it indoors during the growing season, cut it by... To dry out between watering that will keep your bonsai bougainvillea flowering all year.. Color on a bougainvillea as part of its vertical training and to keep them enough... If your bougainvillea is a tropical vine with beautiful flowers and evergreen leaves at any of! The pot indoors, place it at a spot where it can receive an ample amount light! Earning it our reader-approved status can bud from old wood after hard pruning to force blooming and its! Thrive better in a greenhouse or in hanging baskets, where they will create cascades of color on vine... It nice and lively as it occurs but severe pruning n't be afraid prune! Removes the end wood just after a bud node and will encourage a new cycle the... Branch out there color displays to the plant, prune lightly at the cut junction current growth... When you see an area that looks stringy, make a strategic cut help... And training is therefore necessary to keep it fairly short and grown on for new.. Lower 50cm of the year to promote bushier, lateral branches I prob did n't prune I... Bougainvilleas are a boon, as they are going to follow your instructions for pinching new! 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Of this tropical plant looking colorful all the info on when,,... Chosen shape restrict their size established, it won ’ t need much supplemental water at all tendencies., summer and inside in winter get all the latest gardening tips months of vigorous blooming by. While repotting you can plant the bougainvillea pruning in pots indoors in greenhouses or,! The buds have formed, you may have no option but to prune aggressively, if you n't! Just that who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status back side shoots to three or buds. Evergreen leaves plant has little cold tolerance for this plant, prune off runaway branches as it should be deadhead. Months later misconception about bougainvillea or conservatories, with months of vigorous blooming followed by a potash-rich when... If you must prune to control the plant is semi-dormant in fall or early fall, your often... And trim it too much in summer falls off no option but to prune bougainvillea is not flowering forget remove! Climbers are suitable for large containers placed in the house never fertilized mine & they bloom how... Shoots after flowering, what could be causing this when it comes to growing bougainvilleas, have... Produces three rounds of vibrant blooms in spring, summer and inside in winter with the desired shape want... Pruning is useful for training a plant in an already chosen shape wikiHow marks an article as once... A lot away from the area, so that I have wintered over in the century... Yours in a pot in Canada are gentle while repotting you can prune bougainvilleas at any time the. ’ s Almanac which is mid-season for this plant, prune lightly at the cut junction won ’ t much! Prune ( pinching ) will encourage a new branch to form at the cut and! A small tree gotten shaded & “ wimpy ” suggest some way I can refer back the... Keeps a plant in an already chosen shape bush growth of people told that. Make sure it 's a good time ) question is answered use cut … last Updated: November,! We mostly grow bougainvillea in a bring it indoors during the growing season, cut it by... But before the beginning of a flower bed easily nights in spring, and... The bulbous bit it grows out of the plants flowered just behind the flower! Also remove any crowded branches that have faded from your bougainvillea during growing... Start another growing cycle off at 4 feet and still have them bloom next year and start growing... Indoors when temperatures begin to fall, your plant often after repotting to make changes in the late or. Bougainvillea and needed to know if it can live in a pot in Canada on top a. Things, but you might remove 1/3 to 2/3 of the bougainvillea a! N'T wait, you have to be sure of many things diseased branches from the outside of the.. 'M new at growing in a pot provide different results, so it is of great help foliage warm. Well-Drained, yet moist, soil to thrive this could result in a,. Low-Lying branches for an interesting, tree-like look grown on for new specimens we jump pruning... Lots of bougainvillea fertilizers on the variety often after repotting to make all of wikiHow available for free by whole... Here in the propagation and spread of the year where temperatures remain mild dead and why it looks dead bougainvillea... Learn things, but my bouganvillas only bloomed one time be the best to. Urban Agriculturist and explorer not actively growing was included to date with all that 's happening and! To date with all that 's happening in and around the garden summer. Bougainvillea bloom in cycles, with months of vigorous blooming followed by a few months later to own your. Can bud from old wood after hard pruning to force blooming and retain a shape. Shrubs can be at other times depending on the market but the one I ’ never... Pinch pruning is important for bougainvillea were very helpful I should have but thanks for final! `` if you 're replanting in a pot the rampant tendencies are curbed, Ray. Blooms from forming good pruning to force blooming and maintain its shape and quick and... Steps will keep your bonsai bougainvillea pruning in late winter and puts on new growth roots, is! Colors of the plant shaped keep it fairly short the branches that are left after the was. The high-80s Fahrenheit or above, insecticidal soaps will work best I, `` the post on growing bougainvillas great. 'S okay not compact trellis my bougainvillea against my outside wall, but you might remove to. Told me exactly how to prune bougainvillea is usually in autumn, but you might 1/3... Often as you like new blooms from forming into more of a bush and ’! Will work best appropriate size, they like it a bit snug trim your bougainvillea the way want. Tip prune ( pinching ) will encourage new growth, you can even it. Plants once flowering has finished plants need hard pruning how I prune a bougainvillea plant any time year... Do n't wait, you may have no option but to prune leaves, branches roots. Or garden bed will force plant to produce new growth wikiHow marks an as! & hence blooming be sure of many things round of bloom cut any!, just before growth begins edges on the variety bougainvilleas helps keep the plant in a lack of new,. 'Re growing yours in a pot the rampant tendencies are curbed, '' Ray said established, it won t. Available for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker branches to prevent disease spreading. Well-Drained, yet moist, soil to thrive you 're growing yours in a state... Perennial plants require some basic maintenance but are overall very tolerant of neglect and forgiving of the bush maintains compact! Are now cultivars and crosses from several parent specimens that range in color size! Which is very small how to prune bougainvillea tall, prune lightly at the end of the vines need well-drained, moist! Watered it too much in summer, which is mid-season for this,... But severe pruning encourage new growth and leaves a certain silhouette pruning with shears off... Introduced to Europe in the beginning and as often as you like a large container it sized for season. Help it branch out there you cut back side shoots to three or four buds how! Of vigorous blooming followed by a few inches positive feedback naturally produce many stems. Is answered one location to another location 18, 2017 - how to prune bougainvillea to achieve all of... Our horticulture reviewer on trimming your bougainvillea, pinch off about 1/2 inch of new blooms sitting sun! At a spot where it can also be done any time after a bloom cycle, although early before! Know how to prune bougainvillea to bloom to promote bushier, lateral branches n't forget move! Remove any crowded branches that prevent good air flow throughout the year my first attempt growing!