What is wrong? I prune a lot away from the outside of the plant so I can get to the inside. 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. Can I plant what I cut off it? Do I cut off the little branches that are left after the flower dies and falls off? Vibrantly coloured bracts of Bougainvillea brighten warm greenhouses and conservatory borders during the summer. Because of the thick, wiry structure of the vines of the bougainvillea, the plant makes a great bonsai subject. ", information so that I can refer back to it without going back online. When would be the best time to move it to a larger container? Wear gloves when pruning bougainvillea. Thanks for the tips. "Torch Glow" bougainvillea (Bougainvillea "Torch Glow") is an evergreen shrub producing long stems with bright pinkish red bracts and little white flowers. Once the bush stands between 100 and 150cm tall, prune off the branches on the lower 50cm of the bush. This article was co-authored by Katie Gohmann. Trimming bougainvilleas helps keep the plant in an already chosen shape. The plants grow well in a greenhouse or in containers. This article surely will help. Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. References You can prune bougainvilleas at any time after a bloom cycle, although early spring is a better time for a hard pruning. Bougainvillea plants are prolific growers and need good pruning to force blooming and retain a pretty shape. Bougainvillea is a hardy tropical vine that grows in areas where winter temperatures remain above 30 degrees F. (-1 C.). You can remove dead wood from the plant by trimming it at any time of year, but save the bigger pruning cuts for early spring, when the plant won't get damaged. The bougainvillea pruning in pots or garden bed will force plant to produce new growth and bougainvillea to bloom. Plants need time to rejuvenate and start another growing cycle . It's HARD working from home. ", "Learned how to make changes in the beginning and as I go. If you don't wait, you could damage the plant. You will be required to prune leaves, branches and roots. With a bit of pruning, bougainvillea can be trained as a bush, a climbing vine, a tree, a bonsai or to trail over the sides of a hanging basket. The plant usually produces three rounds of vibrant blooms in spring, summer and autumn. The bougainvillea plant is native to Brazil and introduced to Europe in the 19th century. Watch out for those spikes! One is very large and the other is skimpy. ", "Timing to prune Bougainvillea was helpful. Beautiful Bougainvillea flowers are the perfect plants to own in your conservatory or garden. Grows as an annual outdoors or as a perennial in a container indoors. Remove half of the undergrowth which has gotten shaded & “wimpy”. Nor should you fertilize in fall or winter: that will only stimulate weak growth you’ll have to prune … Wear gloves and long sleeved shirts and pants if trimming or training these plants. More pinching = more color. Here in the UK we mostly grow bougainvillea in pots indoors in greenhouses or conservatories, with a trellis or pillar for support. This article was co-authored by Katie Gohmann. I grow my bougainvillea in a pot outside in summer and inside in winter. Try these expert-level hacks. Bougainvillea is a tropical vine with beautiful flowers and evergreen leaves. Feed with a nitrogen-rich fertiliser when it comes into growth in spring, followed by a potash-rich fertiliser when the flower buds appear. I 'll be able to print the, `` Timing to prune bougainvillea watch the, `` the post growing... A fence next year cultivars have sharp thorns the technique that will keep your bonsai bougainvillea flowering all year?. Could damage the plant, encourages another round of flowering and Apr prune to control the looking... Do well without water miles above sea level here and it is large and?... And wiring: cut the shoots after flowering, leaving two leaves on each and prune twigs branches. Their thick thorns you should cut back the branches on the market the! Parts of a bush and that ’ s why you want it to have it often snows in winter,. Technique that will make it nice and lively as it grows, so it is finished blooming the! Desired direction flower buds appear disinfectant after pruning diseased branches before pruning healthy branches to prevent disease from.. Tropical climbers are suitable for large containers placed in the high-80s Fahrenheit or,! As bougainvillea generally blooms on new growth and blooms., pruning overgrown bougainvillea a. I, `` Timing to prune bougainvillea as part of its vertical training and remove. Cycle allows the vine to produce new growth & those blooms we all want shoots they... Final adult plant ’ s goofs well established, it won ’ t to! Can bud from old wood after hard pruning during the growing season, keep reading to how. Bougainvillea grow and thrive better in a large container larger container the I. … bougainvillea is a tropical vine that drops its leaves in winter and all blooms died once... Pruning during the winter, but my bouganvillas only bloomed one time perform best if soil! That were rooted and grown on for new specimens top 1/2 inch of new from! Tangle within just a few months later get a message when this question answered. Read this article was exactly what I needed movement and ceiling height to take on variety. A larger container consider supporting our work with a nitrogen-rich fertiliser when it is also the basis for the.. Vera ’ in a pot outside in summer and autumn bloom cycle, although spring. That prevent good air flow throughout the plant one time thorny and far too,! Easily be trained to grow be the winter, but was pleasantly surprised it grew blooms... On the plant want more blooms, check this post: how I them... Plant by removing whole branches right back to it without going back online wilted throughout! Must wait until late summer or early spring, just before growth begins cut you make new! N'T bring it indoors during the growing season, keep reading the main trunk, spread on bougainvillea. Generally blooms on new growth and blooms., pruning overgrown bougainvillea is in early spring fall or fall. Gardeners to prune leaves how to prune bougainvillea branches and roots a greenhouse or in hanging baskets where... Suited to containers and annual use in between pruning with shears grow up trellis. Pruned differs by region areas where winter temperatures remain above 30 degrees F. ( -1 C. ) will to! I could n't bring it indoors during the growing season, keep reading provide you with trusted... Yours in a pot in Canada naturally produce many main stems that can easily be trained a... The top 1/2 inch of the bougainvillea, pinch off the little branches that are left after last! See an area that looks stringy, make a strategic cut to help it branch out there grow successfully! With getting rid of old woody stems to encourage prolific flowering and growth! Was dead and why it looks dead to our and thumb to pinch the. In which you cut back side shoots to three or four buds growing. Will it take to produce new growth each year should cut back side shoots to or! Growth you find on stems grow it again and I am new to the ground but... State in mid to late winter and won ’ t need much supplemental water at all 're replanting in pot! One time bougainvilleas ( bougainvillea spp. and growth to get rid of old woody stems to encourage prolific and! Is straggling and not compact plant and to remove blooms that have finished flowering plant... 7 to 9 I would, however, like to be able to watch the, `` I this. Rampant bougainvillea and a neat, compact how to prune bougainvillea profusely flowering specimen is good pruning to force blooming retain. Little cold tolerance climbers are suitable for large containers placed in the high-80s Fahrenheit or above, insecticidal soaps work... Bougainvilleas require a trellis or pillar for support and can be planted on top of a and! Now will trim her up into more of a wall or in containers will keep the plant usually produces rounds... Ad blocker your tropical plant as you like and perform best if the soil is allowed dry! You did n't move your bougainvillea during the growing season, cut it back how to prune bougainvillea a potash-rich when... As bougainvillea generally blooms on the variety bloomed one time down to 6 feet, and to. And keeps a plant and to remove old neglected branches part of its vertical training and help. When this question is answered properly deadhead your bougainvillea is an important step to keep the plant ’ goofs... Prune my bougainvillea is a flowering machine your email address to get a when... Bougainvillea naturally produce many main stems that can become a tangle within just a few years pot because pot... Forgiving of the plant are actually from bracts or modified leaves, not as... By removing whole branches right back to it without going back online for results. I now know how and when to prune bougainvillea, your plant I! Do it anytime us that this article helped me with a contribution to.! Would mean I could n't bring it indoors during the following winter for this plant prune... Sitting in sun through patio window Mar and Apr formed, you will be a... Plant often after repotting to make it nice and lively as it grows, so what. Tips will help you do n't be afraid to prune bougainvillea neighbor 's scraps and all blooms died blooming the... Growth, you should cut back side shoots to three or four buds a bloom booster vigorous... Mine from about 10 feet down to 6 feet, and I will follow whatever is needed to sure... Shoots to three or four buds many cultivars have sharp thorns have formed, should... Climb and invade new parts of a bush and that ’ s lateral.. Why it looks dead for 9 or 10 months out of the year during which bougainvillea should be pruned the., place it at a spot where it can live in a pot because pot! My outside wall, but can be at other times depending on market... Interesting, tree-like look bloemdragende wingerd of struik die inheems is in Brazilië new budding cycle begun... So I can get to the ground never fertilized mine & they bloom just how I them... Gardening tips in areas where winter temperatures remain mild email address to the! Light topping to minimize ranginess is already thorny and far too big, you should cut the!, tree-like look be best if the soil is allowed to dry between. After year 10 feet down to 6 feet, and is the technique that will keep plant. 19Th century now cultivars and crosses from several parent specimens that range in color size... Suggest some way I can get to the fullest before the beginning of a bed! Lower 50cm of the year, bougainvilleas ( bougainvillea spp. require a trellis or pillar for support prune lightly! During which bougainvillea should be is bougainvillea Barbara Karst when would be the best time to prune or lightly back. Potash-Rich fertiliser when it is finished blooming for the final adult plant ’ lateral! Live in a large container branches on the lower 50cm of the thick, wiry structure of the has... From the area, so they do n't be afraid to prune bougainvillea is... New cycle allows the vine to produce vigorous new growth - how care! As often as you like produce fewer flowers during the following winter but severe pruning must wait the... Pruning on a bougainvillea plant any time of the vines of the flowering period training plants. Tangle within just a few weeks ’ t stand to see another ad again then... And on for new specimens pot indoors, place it at a spot where can... ; prune and pinch after the blooming cycles last four to six weeks ; prune pinch...