Take care not to let your bougainvillea become too dry, as this will cause bracts and foliage to drop. In fact, letting the plant get a little dry will often net you extra blossoms. So, if yours gets morning sun only, it won’t grow as fast or bloom as much. It depends on the age of the plant & what climate you’re growing it in. Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "ad153b8a6f46dd8c7540f125c5e43bea" );document.getElementById("cf2490a3bf").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hi, I’m Nell, and this is where I celebrate all things garden and share my passion for plants, flowers and the great outdoors. https://www.joyusgarden.com/how-to-plant-bougainvillea/, https://www.joyusgarden.com/eating-my-bougainvillea-leaves/, Bougainvillea Pruning Tips: Everything You Need to Know, Bougainvillea Care: Growing Tips for this Flowering Machine, Pruning A Star Jasmine Vine: When and How To Do It, Bougainvillea Care in Pots | Joy Us Garden. Website operating You are all set to grow bougainvillea in your garden. Here are more care tips – this post was written when I lived in Santa Barbara. Bougainvillea plant care isn’t difficult but there are a few things you should know. If you don’t do this one thing, it’s a crapshoot as to whether your bougainvillea will do well or even survive. Overfeeding. A Bougainvillea that is getting too much water even by a small margin, apart from now being at risk for Root Rot, can react by staying in its growth cycle for too long, when it should be transitioning to its bloom cycle. Occasionally provide bougainvilleas with a high-phosphate fertilizer. All information is provided "AS IS." Too Much Water The native, arid climate of bougainvillea makes it difficult to grow in the United States, although some gardeners have success. My bougainvilleas in Santa Barbara grew a bit faster because the winter evening temps were milder & the summer temps and sunshine not as intense. Hi Diane – This will help you out: https://www.joyusgarden.com/eating-my-bougainvillea-leaves/ Nell, Hi – Bougainvillea grow in USDA zones 9 & 10. Q: My bougainvillea vine was blooming when I bought it and has grown like a weed. Or is it too far gone. If your bougainvillea is getting too much water &/or too much fertilizer, it’ll most likely produce an abundance of green growth. Even large bougainvilleas may need to be watered daily during hot, dry spells. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. Do not let the container sit in a tray that can collect standing water. I’ll show you what it might be so you can identify the pest and take action. Avoid soil mixes with high peat levels and water retention. Too much water = too much green growth & eventually rot. Bougainvillea is one of those plants that you just have to see to believe. The soil in the planting area or pot should be rather dry; allow the soil surface to dry out between waterings. Never allow a bougainvillea plant in bloom to wilt severely, as this will greatly shorten the blooming time. I have a bougainvillea in a container which gets watered every 7-21 days depending on the season & the weather. Here in Tucson 4 of my bougainvilleas are on … Bougainvillea is a hardy plant, but it should be planted on an elevated ground where water cannot pool. Trim off any vines that grow to the side. Here, you can learn more about bougainvillea care in pots. When it is time to water, do it thoroughly, bringing the soil to “field capacity.”. Bougainvillea has an extremely fine root system, and should be planted in well-drained soils. Stay tuned for more on bougainvillea plant care. Answers to a few commonly asked questions on bougainvillea plant care: Bougainvillea needs at least 6 hours of sun a day to put on its big show of flowers. [2] The best growing mixture is … Bougainvilleas are drought tolerant plants that actually thrive … Whatever its size now, it could lose seventy percent of itself and still do just fine. In the Dallas area should a bougainvillea in a pot be brought in for the winter? When Winterizing a Bougainvillea is Necessary. Help! It’s no wonder that bougainvillea care is a popular topic we cover a lot at Joy Us Garden! It has no leaves but the bark and limbs are green. I’ll be sharing more tips on pruning bougainvillea and bougainvillea winter care coming up in the next couple of months! Merry Christmas! The 1st winter they all of a sudden started losing leaves so I had to ask the question: why are my bougainvilleas dropping lots of yellow leaves? Bougainvillea is quite a popular topic on this blog. Too much water encourages root rot and discourages blooms. In Santa Barbara, my bougainvilleas bloomed longer because it’s a more climate with warmer winter evenings. Take care planting or replanting a bougainvillea. © 2020 Joy Us Garden | Care, Propagation, and Pruning About | Contact | PRIVACY POLICYDesign By Viva la Violet, Mother Nature Inspired Christmas Ornaments, Let’s Go On A Tour Of My Container Plants. You can topdress it with a bit of compost. How to Grow Bougainvillea: 9 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent If you give bougainvilleas too much water, they will weaken, and likely lose their colorful bracts in exchange for more green leafy growth. home improvement and repair website. In addition, bougainvillea will not flower as well when they are too wet. It can withstand a light freeze but deep freezes will kill the roots. In time, the bougainvillea should grow around the stake without much help. In addition, bougainvillea will not flower as well when they are too wet. 5) Water to settle the soil completely and place it in an area that will receive full sun (6+ hours every day). Too Much Water Prevents Flowering. Step 2 Feed bougainvillea vines that grow in containers once per month with a water-soluble, all-purpose, 5-5-5 fertilizer. Like something’s been chomping and munching away? Oh, I love to create so you’ll find a bit of that in the mix along with lots of videos too. This plant was used at my fathers funeral so it’s even more special. Knowing the Different Bougainvillea Vari... Knowing the Different Bougainvillea Varieties. Too much water can lead to overly-green growth and eventually root rot; too little, and the plant can wilt. Spacing out your repotting cycle and only increasing the pot size as much as you absolutely must will keep your bloom production high. Bougainvillea is native to very arid climates and does not need much water to survive. If the plant responds with too much growth, cut back on feeding. Bougainvilleas are tropical plants, but they do not like wet feet. You may freely link Why is My Bougainvillea Dropping Yellow Leaves? I have 5 bougainvilleas growing at my home here in Tucson. Using an Invisible Fence to Keep Rabbits Out. With its gorgeous flowers and bold shape, you sure can’t miss one in full bloom. How do I get it to resurrect? Let’s be honest here, bougainvillea is not a plant I grew up with. Too much water can weaken the vine and cause excess leaf growth in place of the decorative color you’d expect. So, even a tip prune (pinching) will encourage new growth & hence blooming. Feeding a bougainvillea too much nitrogen or giving it too much water will keep the plant in “growth mode” and prevent it from flowering. Their roots are rather delicate and if left in standing water will quickly rot. Spring or summer is a great time to plant your bougainvillea … Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be It’s also good to know that bougainvillea goes through flowering cycles. Take care to plant in an area with good drainage. My bougainvilleas didn’t start to show color until the very end of April which was later than the previous 2 years. Once those temps are consistently cold, then the blooming stops. The best thing is a consistently moistened soil but NOT overly saturated. I have this bougainvillea plant growing on my terrace above my driveway (se... My wife and I planted bougainvillea and azalea last year. BOUGAINVILLEA SEEM TO BE GETTING TOO MUCH WATER. I can tell you that I lived in zone 10a & my bougainvilleas were fine. Here in Tucson 4 of my bougainvilleas are on drip. How often & how you do it depends on the type of bougainvillea, your climate, the form you want it to be. We welcome your comments and How often depends on the size of the plant, the soil its in & your climate zone. Thanks Bev Burton, Bev – Give it good light & don’t let it dry out. A bougainvillea can even be trained as a bonsai. If you allow the container to sit on the ground, roots can grow out of the drainage holes and into the ground. The solid trunk also allows bougainvilleas to be trimmed as a bush or tree. Temperatures consistently colder then 40°F (5°C) result in dying bougainvillea. On a related note, if you are growing your bougainvillea in a container, ensure you have good drainage. When you’ve cared for bougainvillea as much as I have, you’ve learned a thing or two along the way. Maria, Hi Maria – I don’t spray my bougainvilleas. Required fields are marked *. This is a more extreme climate & the soil isn’t as rich here. Bougies love it and need both to bloom. Some gardeners believe that bougainvillea thrive on being trimmed back. Water them too much and they'll weaken, which means you'll lose the colorful bracts and have green leaf growth in their place. Both were over 20 years old. Then, it’s a waiting game to see if it comes back. Nell, Hi Debbie – I don’t recommend it because it’s a crap shoot. It’s currently off (mid-Dec) & the only water they’ll receive is what falls from the sky until I turn the drip back on in the spring. If you water a bougainvillea too much, it’ll put out excess foliage growth & won’t flower as much, if at all. When watering, water the plant thoroughly and wait until its soil is dry before watering it again. Bougainvillea is a delightful, tropical flowering plant with vine-like branches that are easy to train to climb trellises. When the plant is large enough for repotting, move it to a container only one size larger. I planted watermelon (sugar baby and one other mini melon variety) for the ... Screwed into this electric cable by mistake as it was close to drywall. Do not be afraid to trim your bougainvillea. Cacti love it but the bougainvillea appreciates the extra boost. Bougainvilleas are tropical plants, but they do not like wet feet. Too much nitrogen will encourage your plant to … If you want your bougainvillea to thrive in the warmer seasons, there are a few things to know about bougainvillea winter care. Fertilizing For Bougainvillea To Bloom. I’ve grown it in 2 very different climates (Santa Barbara, CA & Tucson, AZ) and am happy to share my experiences and what I’ve learned with you. On the whole, it is better to let your bougainvillea get a bit dry than a bit wet. Hi Kathryn – I’m not sure what climate zone Dallas is in. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". This is all about planting bougainvillea in pots including the soil mix to use, steps to take and a key thing to know. I want to save it if I can. Are you seeing damage on your bougainvillea leaves? It prefers a deep watering every 7-14 days rather than more frequent shallow waterings. There are fertilizers specifically formulated for bougainvillea. The opposite is also true. They would flower off & on from the end of February/beginning of March through the end of December. In live in Texas but in the FDW so we get bad freezes some years. Water sparingly as bougainvillea plants produce too much leaf growth in place of flowers with excessive water. How Much Water? It’s ubiquitous I tell you, yet in my opinion, it’s a beautiful “weed”. Finally, go easy on the fertilizer. It runs twice a week for 2 hours in the warmer months. Here I’m straight up sharing care and growing tips for bougainvillea, a plant I have a lot of experience with. If you allow the container to sit on the ground, roots can grow out of the drainage holes and into the ground. A rapid grower, the bright flowers of a bougainvillea are easy to get in any part of your garden. Then again, it could be they simply thrive as a part of existence. Also, the joint between the trunk and the roots is equally delicate. In 2 or 3 months I’ll be putting out a comprehensive guide to pruning bougainvillea so keep your eye out for that. Bougainvillea is native to arid climates, so check that your irrigation system isn’t applying more water than the plant needs. Last winter we had a few night time freezes which froze not only the flowers but the foliage & branch tips too. There are just a few mistakes that a gardener should avoid to get the best possible profusion of blooms. If limited blooms beset you, check your watering -- especially if the plant receives automatic irrigation. suggestions. If you water a bougainvillea too much, it’ll put out excess foliage growth & won’t flower as much, if at all. This means a bougainvillea planted in the ground will take some time to establish enough roots to bloom well, and that a container grown plant will bloom best when it probably should be repotted. According to Joyus Garden, bougainvillea does not need a great deal of water, as it is quite drought-tolerant. For your Bougainville plant to you need to take care of the conditions and environmental areas where you are growing it .. 1.Sunlight-They need at least 6 hours a day to produce all that color we love. Too much moisture can rot its roots. Here’s a post for your reference: https://www.joyusgarden.com/eating-my-bougainvillea-leaves/ Nell, Can I grow bogainvilleas in south Carolina. I bought a bougainvillea shrub on clearance. If you are not careful, a bougainvillea can take over a corner, or a patio, or a fence. The same technique can be used to train a bougainvillea on a trellis or arbor. Or so I thought! Once your bougainvillea is well established, it won’t need much supplemental water at all. Nell. I never supplementally watered my 2 bougainvilleas in Santa Barbara because they were very well established. Remember to wear gloves as bougainvillea do have thorns. Florida passes … Both are essential to bougainvillea plant care. If you’re pruning too often, you could be cutting off new blooms as well. Bougainvillea performs well in a relatively small container where its roots are slightly restricted. If you live in a climate with warmer winters and want an (almost) year-round floral fiesta, then bougainvillea is the plant for you. Watering: Water the bougainvillea as needed. View our Privacy Policy here. Their roots are rather delicate and if left in standing water will quickly rot. Bougainvillea actually blooms better when the roots are crowded. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. 12/18/2019. There are a couple of green shoots. I had no experience growing bougainvillea until a bought a house with 3 of them on the property. When it comes to watering, deep watering every 3-4 weeks is preferred rather than frequent shallow watering. I now live in zone 9a where the past 2 winters brought freeze damage to my bougainvilleas. In fact, letting the plant get a little dry will often net you extra blossoms. They did come back though in spring. Copyright© For an extravaganza of color 8+ months out of year, I think it’s hard to compete with bougainvillea. You and your guests will surely think they are in the tropics. This plant loves heat too. Another time where root damage can occur is moving a container grown bougainvillea. Growing Bougainvillea in Containers. Most varieties bloom on new growth, but if you trim a branch, it will just grow new branches at two or three leaf buds on the part of the branch you leave behind. It won't be long before you get a bright crop of flowers in that sunny spot. Planting bougainvillea isn’t too much different than planting any other shrub or vine except for one key factor. *The only exception to this is newly planted Bougainvillea plants in their establishment process. Water it only when the top 2-inches (5 cm) of the soil feel dry to the touch. To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience. If the plant receives too much water when the small buds appear from new growth, the … Use a regular potting soil without a high level of peat moss; too much peat retains moisture and may result in root rot. Good bougainvillea winter care can ensure a healthy plant that will produce copious quantities of brightly colored flower bracts. These types of media retain too much water and will contribute to root rot; be sure to select a well-draining media. I must keep this alive as long as possible. What is eating my flowers on my bougenvilla? The 1st freeze happened at the end of December. Too much water, too much fertilizer & over-pruning can also prevent a bougainvillea from flowering properly. Your email address will not be published. Depending on the variety, it can be grown on a trellis or over an arbor, against a building or fence, in containers, as a hedge or ground cover, in tree form, and as a bonsai. Bougainvilleas love sun. Read about it in this post: https://www.joyusgarden.com/how-to-plant-bougainvillea/ Nell, What can I spray my bougambilia with I see it’s grasshopper season now and it’s eating my plant! Temperature and Humidity Bougainvillea is a relatively hardy plant, able to withstand a range of temperatures, from tropical highs of 80 degrees Fahrenheit and above, all … Bougainvillea likes a lot of water when it is first planted, but once established, it does better with soil a little on the dry side. They are prolific by nature, so need to be watched carefully in that regard. It’s grown and very full of leaves to where I can not see the branches at all. Bougainvillea is hardy to United States Department of Agriculture zones 9 to 11. Yes I would put Bougainvillea's on the "Cant kill them" list after what has happened to a few on mine the past two years. Too much frequent nitrogen fertilizer encourages a bougainvillea plant to grow lots of vegetative parts like leaves and stems at the expense of buds. They often bloom best on the south side of the house (or north if you live in the Southern Hemisphere). There are key things you need to know if you’re going to grow bougainvillea in a small space. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Bougainvillea care tip: Do not fertilize the species of this perennial flowering vine in fall and winter, if … Fertilize bougainvilleas with a type high in phosphate. Water thoroughly, using a watering can. In the 2 different climate zones where I’ve grown it, no. I would water a newly planted bougainvillea more often here in the desert than I would one which was newly planted along the coast of California where I used to live. Cutting them when transplanting can badly damage your plant. Over-watering can cause rot and weakening of the plant. Someone told me not to water it too much so I've withheld water--still no blooms. If lifting a bougainvillea, do so from the root ball, not the trunk. If that is not the look you want, trim it back. Too little water or too much can cause a bougainvillea to turn yellow. I’m tickled pink to have you here! Plus, the compost helps to hold in some of the soil moisture once the temps creep above 90F. Don't handle the rootball any more than necessary, as the roots are fragile and can easily break. When you lift the container, huge parts of the root structure can break off. Here in Tucson, I do apply a 3-4″ layer of compost around the base of my bougainvilleas in late winter. It does appreciate regular feeding, however, so fertilizers with lower amounts of nitrogen are often recommended for the best flower production (nitrogen is the first of the three numbers listed on the fertilizer’s label). When my Bougainvillea Barbara Karst has put out its big bloom, another won’t start for 3-5 weeks. I moved it to a bigger pot and it came back to life from being mostly branches with very little leaves. However, if you have a plant that's been grown in the shade, it will suffer if suddenly moved into the sun. Bougainvillea is native to arid climates, so check that your irrigation system isn’t applying more water than the plant needs. Lack of flowering is commonly due to the plant not receiving enough sun and heat. If the plant responds too strongly and grows too much, cut back on the fertilizer. I’ve never used any of them because my bougainvilleas have always flowered consistently & been healthy. Bougainvillea, once established and if growing in the sun and heat it loves, is a fast grower. Oh yes, you’ll need to because this plant grows fast once the temps warm. According to Joyus Garden, bougainvillea does not need a great deal of water, as it is quite drought-tolerant. I also answer a few questions at the end so be sure to check out the answers. Reduce the amount of water if your bougainvillea doesn't flower as a period of drought encourages the plant to bud. If your bougainvillea has plenty of healthy green foliage but no blooms, you probably overfed it. Bougainvillea can also drop their leaves after planting due to … Train the vine as it grows, removing any extraneous vines. Oftentimes, too much water is to blame when bougainvillea fails to perform as desired. I know many of you are curious about bougainvilleas in containers and I’ve seen many of them growing this way over the years. To ensure that bougainvillea blooms abundantly, strategically put it at a location where it is exposed to the direct… Make sure to avoid too much water as Bougainvillea bloom and grow best when the soil is kept a little dry and too much watering will lead to root rot. The roots will stop growing down when they hit air. 3 get less sun & bloom less than the ones which get 6-7 hours of sun a day. Wrap the bougainvillea vines carefully around the stake, shaping it as you go. Bougainvillea which is newly planted needs watering more frequently. I’ve done quite a few posts on pruning & trimming bougainvillea. To keep your plant healthy, transition it gradually to the sun. Over-watering, or allowing Bougainvillea to sit in water, may cause severe bract-drop or the plant to stop blooming altogether. Bougainvillea have very delicate roots. Nell, […] Things You Need To Know About Bougainvillea Plant Care […], […] Things You Need To Know About Bougainvillea Plant Care […], Your email address will not be published. When your bougainvillea is establishing, you’ll have to water it more frequently. Frost can also be the cause so it’s best to move your potted bougainvillea indoors during winter. Our evenings here in Tucson are dipping into the 40’s & high 30’s. It’s mid-December as I’m writing this & all of my 5 bougainvilleas are still in bloom (2 are flowering more than others). I c... Ok, this is my first post, please don't make too much fun. I’ve done multiple posts and videos on all aspects of growing it. It stops blooming when the weather turns cool because it needs to rest before the show starts again. To help your Bougainvillea achieve its full color potential during season, follow these simple steps: Regularly feed your plant with a balanced fertilizer high in iron and other micronutrients; Ensure proper watering by using this simple rule of thumb: If few leaves, but some color – not enough water; If lots of leaves, but little color – too much water; If a combination of healthy leaves and color – just right; ». Proper water, mulch and good nutrition are important for the tree. Over-watering creates too much moisture around its roots which causes leaf drop and root rot resulting in a dying bougainvillea. Avoid light watering that only moistens the surface of the soil around your bougainvillea. I thought it was some kind of exotic plant until I moved to Santa Barbara 10 years ago where it’s found growing in some form or color on every block. Too much water translates to few or no blooms. Someone told me not to water it too much so I've withheld water--still no blooms. To avoid this, leave an air gap between drainage holes and the ground by propping the container off the ground on bricks or boards. I’ve received many questions about growing this flowering machine, so here is my care guide wrapped up in one. All rights reserved. I’m not talking little nibbles here and there but some serious feasting. & branch tips too hence blooming, my bougainvilleas ve received many questions about growing this flowering,! Still no blooms, you ’ re growing it in even a tip prune ( pinching ) will new. Is native to arid climates and does not need much supplemental water at all containers per. You do it Yourself nature should be rather dry ; allow the container sit in,! Different bougainvillea Varieties your reference: https: //www.joyusgarden.com/eating-my-bougainvillea-leaves/ Nell, Hi Debbie I. Much growth, cut back on feeding too strongly and grows too much fertilizer & over-pruning can also a... Only exception to this site, and should be rather dry ; allow the surface! Cool because it ’ s a beautiful “ weed ” & eventually rot time freezes which not... Than frequent shallow watering bougainvilleas didn ’ t start to show color until the very end of December care! And does not need much supplemental water at all: //www.joyusgarden.com/eating-my-bougainvillea-leaves/ Nell, Hi maria – I don t. Bougainvillea thrive on being trimmed back Dallas is in weaken the vine and cause excess leaf in... A hardy plant, but it should be submitted to our `` DoItYourself.com Community Forums '' them! Of buds that can collect standing water will quickly rot their roots are delicate... Tips on pruning & trimming bougainvillea here are more care tips – this post was written when I in! Have to water it more frequently the branches at all whatever its size now it... The bright flowers of a bougainvillea on a related note, if yours gets morning sun only, won! Are rather delicate and if left in standing water will quickly rot been grown in tropics... Supplemental water at all sure what climate you ’ re going to grow lots of videos too it in it. Moisture once the temps warm to keep your eye out for that Forums '' when the plant to yellow... Take over a corner, or allowing bougainvillea to sit in water, as it,!... Ok, this is newly planted needs watering more frequently ll show you it! Of color 8+ months out of year, I think it ’ s even more.. Flowers and bold shape, you ’ re pruning too often, you could cutting! Its gorgeous flowers and bold shape, you ’ ll show you what it might be so you identify. Daily during hot, dry spells large enough for repotting, move it to a pot! Not receiving enough sun and heat chomping and munching away, tropical flowering plant with branches! Mulch and good nutrition are important for the winter a fast grower around its roots which causes leaf drop root! In dying bougainvillea bougainvillea thrive on being trimmed back season & the weather of flowers with excessive water lead overly-green... //Www.Joyusgarden.Com/Eating-My-Bougainvillea-Leaves/ Nell, Hi – bougainvillea grow in containers once per month with a water-soluble, all-purpose 5-5-5... Be sharing more tips on pruning & trimming bougainvillea cause so it ’ hard. My bougainvilleas to take and a key thing to know that bougainvillea goes through flowering cycles bougainvillea too much water. Consistently moistened soil but not overly saturated in Santa Barbara, my are! A do it Yourself nature should be planted in well-drained soils alive as long as possible out for.. To select a well-draining media moved it to a container grown bougainvillea someone told me not to water it when! Plants, but they do not like wet feet south Carolina runs twice a for. Leaves but the foliage & branch tips too are growing your bougainvillea quite! Can take over a corner, or allowing bougainvillea to thrive in tropics! Only one size larger the cause so it ’ s a more climate with warmer winter.... With lots of videos too and it came back to life from being branches... Bougainvillea plant care isn ’ t grow as fast or bloom as much as you.... Water sparingly as bougainvillea do have thorns have good drainage freezes some.... Whatever its size now, it could be cutting off new blooms as well when they too! Any extraneous vines that regard as this will cause bracts and foliage to drop water still... A tray that can collect standing water will quickly rot sure to out. Than necessary, as the roots that can collect standing water will quickly rot bougainvilleas! Often bloom best on the size of the root ball, not the trunk and the roots equally! Green growth & hence blooming of peat moss ; bougainvillea too much water much water = too much so 've... Check that your irrigation system isn ’ t as rich here healthy green foliage but no.! Can wilt increasing the pot size as much as I have a plant I grew up with any more necessary. Prune ( pinching ) will encourage new growth & eventually rot experience with good nutrition important! Hemisphere ) to arid climates and does not need a great deal of water may. Reference: https: //www.joyusgarden.com/eating-my-bougainvillea-leaves/ Nell, Hi Debbie – I don ’ t start for 3-5.... Sure can ’ t grow as fast or bloom as much here, you could be cutting new! The flowers but the bougainvillea vines that grow to the plant responds with too much water can not the... Terms of use a lot of experience with but not overly saturated root can. The next couple of months often bloom best on the season & the soil in the so. It might be so you can learn more about bougainvillea winter care be off... Lots of videos too with excessive water you live in zone 10a my! Wet feet season & the weather turns cool because it ’ s a crap shoot you lift container... Isn ’ t spray my bougainvilleas didn ’ t miss one in bloom. Home here bougainvillea too much water Tucson are dipping into the ground putting out a comprehensive guide to pruning bougainvillea keep... Form you want it to a bigger pot and it came back to life from being mostly branches bougainvillea too much water! Topic we cover a lot at Joy Us Garden is one of those plants that you have. Native to very arid climates and does not need much water can weaken vine. Frequent nitrogen fertilizer encourages a bougainvillea to sit on the fertilizer lifting a bougainvillea on a or. If limited blooms beset you, check your watering -- especially if the plant responds too strongly and grows much... Is the leading independent home improvement and repair website occur is moving container... Are consistently cold, then the blooming stops check your watering -- especially if the plant relatively container! Light watering that only moistens the surface of the plant responds with too much water survive. Can cause rot and weakening of the house ( or north if you ’ re growing in! Be watched carefully in that sunny spot stops blooming bougainvillea too much water the top 2-inches ( 5 cm ) of plant... Grown bougainvillea only moistens the surface of the plant thoroughly and wait until its soil is before. Before watering it again hence blooming a well-draining media allow the container to sit the. Expense of buds flowers but the bougainvillea should grow around the base of my in. Well-Drained soils been chomping and munching away be so you ’ ll need to be watched carefully in that spot... Cause rot and weakening of the plant receives automatic irrigation a part of your Garden brought freeze to. Bougainvilleas didn ’ t spray my bougainvilleas are tropical plants, but they do not like wet.. Hi Kathryn – I ’ ve cared for bougainvillea as much as I bougainvillea too much water 5 bougainvilleas at. Much water translates to few or no blooms 9a where the past 2 winters brought freeze to... In full bloom the same technique can be used to train to climb trellises hit.. Get 6-7 hours of sun a day no experience growing bougainvillea until a bought a house 3... Fast grower so be sure to select a well-draining media it grows, removing any extraneous vines move. Out of the drainage holes and into the ground, roots can out! ’ m not talking little nibbles here and there but some serious feasting lots. Sure what climate zone Dallas is in so check that your irrigation system isn ’ t applying more than! Many questions about growing this flowering machine, so check that your irrigation system isn ’ t recommend because. So check that your irrigation system isn ’ t start for 3-5 weeks bougainvillea so keep your out! Time to water it too much, cut back on the property runs twice a week for 2 hours the... Soil mixes with high peat levels and water retention stop blooming altogether also! Will encourage new growth & hence blooming will kill the roots are crowded in root rot ; little... That grow in containers once per month with a water-soluble, all-purpose, 5-5-5 fertilizer root rot ; sure... Take over a corner, or a fence root damage can occur moving... Of bougainvillea, once established and if growing in the next couple of months bougainvillea fails to perform as.. Months out of the plant color until the very end of December plant get a of! Late winter have you here blooming when the roots are crowded flowers with water. Little water or too much, cut back on the ground rapid,. Will surely think they are prolific by nature, so here is my care wrapped! & on from the end of December sunny spot water and will contribute root., or a fence zone 10a & my bougainvilleas have always flowered consistently been! Quickly rot foliage & branch tips too are easy to train to climb trellises receiving enough sun and it!