Is my bougainvillea OK? - Ask Extension
I have a potted bougainvillea which I purchased last summer. It bloomed beautifully and generally seemed to thrive. I brought it in over the winter a...
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Is my bougainvillea OK? #167415
Asked February 19, 2014, 1:48 PM EST
I have a potted bougainvillea which I purchased last summer. It bloomed beautifully and generally seemed to thrive. I brought it in over the winter and have it in a sunny, south-facing window. Sometime after I brought it inside it lost all of its leaves, but gre new ones. However, they are very thin, not like the ones it had when I purchased it. (It does have a couple or regular thickness leaves.) so, is this plant OK? Should I prune it back to a stub? Thank you for your reply.
Arapahoe County Colorado
Expert Response
Hello,
The leaf drop may be a normal response to the change in environment and shorter days. Even though you have it in a sunny window, the light level is far below what it was receiving in the natural environment outdoors. Bougainvilleas need a lot of sunlight or they will go into dormancy.
Bougainvilleas come from areas in South America where the climate is hot and dry. Keep it a little on the dry side, watering only as often as it needs it to prevent it from completely drying out, and as the days get longer you should see some new growth. At this time give it a little more water (still keeping it on the dry side) and fertilize on a regular basis with a 1/4 strength flowering houseplant fertilizer (higher second number on the label).
Bougainvilleas need good drainage. Make sure your pot has a hole in the bottom and never let it get water logged. If it is outgrowing its pot or is root bound, repot it before putting it outside in late spring or early summer.
When the weather is warm enough to put it outside, position it where it will get maximum sunlight exposure. It should be gradually acclimated to the outside since it has been indoors for the winter. Increase the outdoor time each day by 1/2 hour.
Depending on the type of bougainvillea, it may bloom all summer or begin to flower in late summer or fall in response to shorter days. Prune it in late fall or after it is finished flowering or before bringing it indoors for the winter.
The leaf drop may be a normal response to the change in environment and shorter days. Even though you have it in a sunny window, the light level is far below what it was receiving in the natural environment outdoors. Bougainvilleas need a lot of sunlight or they will go into dormancy.
Bougainvilleas come from areas in South America where the climate is hot and dry. Keep it a little on the dry side, watering only as often as it needs it to prevent it from completely drying out, and as the days get longer you should see some new growth. At this time give it a little more water (still keeping it on the dry side) and fertilize on a regular basis with a 1/4 strength flowering houseplant fertilizer (higher second number on the label).
Bougainvilleas need good drainage. Make sure your pot has a hole in the bottom and never let it get water logged. If it is outgrowing its pot or is root bound, repot it before putting it outside in late spring or early summer.
When the weather is warm enough to put it outside, position it where it will get maximum sunlight exposure. It should be gradually acclimated to the outside since it has been indoors for the winter. Increase the outdoor time each day by 1/2 hour.
Depending on the type of bougainvillea, it may bloom all summer or begin to flower in late summer or fall in response to shorter days. Prune it in late fall or after it is finished flowering or before bringing it indoors for the winter.
