This article told me exactly how to do it. Pruning is the technique that will keep the plant looking colorful all the time … Trim branches regularly until you get the shape you want, then pinch prune the new growth of your bougainvillea as it occurs to maintain the bonsai tree look. Make sure your pruners are clean & sharp. I’ve lived in this house in Tucson for 2 years and have pruned it into a form which is pleasing to me. How do I prune a bougainvillea that is straggling and not compact? I didn’t take an after pic but you can see how it turned out can in the video. My bougainvillas are over 8 feet tall. Last Updated: November 24, 2020 You can make your own extra bougainvillea plants by taking cuttings in summer or early autumn: Take 15cm-long cuttings from the new shoots with a little bit of the old growth attached. What is wrong? Don't prune your bougainvillea during a frost. Remove old woody stems to rejuvenate. This tropical perennial gained its nickname, "paper flower," for its delicate bracts that come in a variety of colors, including purple, red and orange. The famous Kew gardens were instrumental in the propagation and spread of the plants. It’s light, easy to hold, & does the trick in no time flat. They are sturdy plants. Love the picture of shaped plant full of blooms. Answer: The bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.) It would be best if you didn't move your bougainvillea to a larger container at all. This stimulates more inner growth to appear off those branches. Make sure you are wearing protection; Bougainvillea plants are notorious for their … I’ve gotten comments like “why is my bougainvillea not blooming” or “my bougainvillea was blooming was blooming when I brought it home but now it’s not”. Cut away dead or diseased portions of the plant first, and make strategic cuts to branches in sparse areas where you want to encourage new growth. 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. Young plants, in particular, will benefit from full branch trims. This post may contain affiliate links. You don’t want to stimulate tender new growth only to have it freeze. One is very large and the other is skimpy. Remove any leaves … Once I get in pruning groove, the rest falls into place. Enough said about that! With a bit of pruning, bougainvillea can be trained as a bush, a climbing vine, a tree, a … Remove the pruners and … References In winters, when you bring the pot indoors, place it at a spot where it can receive an ample amount of light. Can I plant what I cut off it? I have the very same pair for all that time & haven’t replaced any of the parts. Also, be mindful of your eyes. Remember to wipe your pruning shears with the disinfectant after pruning diseased branches before pruning healthy branches to prevent disease from spreading. Can those be planted successfully? ", over in my sunspace which is very small. Pruning before the beginning of a new cycle allows the vine to produce vigorous new growth. It’ll fill in a bit within the next few weeks. Foliage encroaching in the path of the garage door & into my patio dining area on the other side is pruned back also. The exact month of the year during which bougainvillea should be pruned differs by region. Bear in mind that with each cut you make, new branches will emerge. The lead photo was taken in March so you can see how much more vibrant the color & overall flowering is in late winter/early spring. I go through & tip prune the remaining branches. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. You can prune bougainvillea to shape or direct the growth during the growing season. Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. ", "Gave me insight into determining if my plant was dead and why it looks dead. A book title would help. ", I have ever had before. You can plant into another pot of soil. Be sure to plant in full sun for the best show of color. When would be the best time to move it to a larger container? ", "New to this plant. The one I’m pruning here is Bougainvillea Barbara Karst. 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. Can I cut them off at 4 feet and still have them bloom next year? Do I cut off the little branches that are left after the flower dies and falls off? {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2a\/Prune-Bougainvillea-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Prune-Bougainvillea-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2a\/Prune-Bougainvillea-Step-2.jpg\/aid1383806-v4-728px-Prune-Bougainvillea-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"
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