That’s why on older, taller bougainvilleas which haven’t been pruned in a while all the color is at the ends an/or at the top. Light pruning after spring if desired. Cutting off weaker branches as the base will promote … This Barbara Karst of mine was putting out a lot of flower buds when I did this pruning. As much as I love nature, I have no desire to have dirt under my fingernails! Question: I have a beautiful bougainvillea that has bloomed all summer.I was told that I could keep it indoors in the winter, but how? Around three months is when you see new leaves starting to grow. Pruning stimulates new growth which stimulates flowering. Remove old woody stems to rejuvenate. Plant where a large vine or hedge is desired, and just shape it over time until it takes the form you … ", first pruning. If you prune too much now, there may not be enough left to prune … I cut just a handful (8-12) of branches back by half. Bougainvillea shrubs can be pruned to achieve all sorts of shapes. Make sure you are wearing protection; Bougainvillea plants are notorious for their … ", "Gave me insight into determining if my plant was dead and why it looks dead. Summer bougainvillea care; Winter bougainvillea care; How to prune a bougainvillea; Best bougainvilleas for pots and containers; Questions I Often Get About Planting Bougainvillea. 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. Starting with the left side (always have with this plant & who knows why), I take out any dense growth which usually is overlapping branches. Here are a few pruning tips to help you out. © 2020 Joy Us Garden | Care, Propagation, and Pruning About | Contact | PRIVACY POLICYDesign By Viva la Violet, Mother Nature Inspired Christmas Ornaments, « An Easy Home Decor DIY Using Air Plants, How To Propagate A Rubber Plant (Rubber Tree, Ficus Elastica) By Air Layering ». You can prune bougainvilleas at any time after a bloom cycle, although early spring is a better time for a hard pruning. With a bit of pruning, bougainvillea can be trained as a bush, a climbing vine, a tree, a … Remove the pruners and … Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. I fear I, "Learned the right way to trim and prune. If you wait until late summer … If you're growing yours in a pot, you can even prune it to take on the shape of a small tree. Little to no pruning needed. Place the plant in a pot with soil or sand, then water to settle and remove air pockets. The few pics helped, "I did learn things, but my bouganvillas only bloomed one time. I’m tickled pink to have you here! Just so you can get an idea, this is the bougainvillea in full bloom in end of April. The easiest way to tell whether it's time is to simply check the weather or the Farmer’s Almanac. Going on 2 years, "I purchased this bougainvillea early summer. Thick growth, stubby branches, mostly bare branches & funky curved growth. This article has been viewed 352,188 times. 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. Also, be mindful of your eyes. I hope I'll be able to watch the, "My bush needed some shaping and help with getting rid of faded blooms. My bougainvillas are over 8 feet tall. Pruning bougainvillea in summer, which is mid-season for this plant, encourages another round of bloom. The best time to prune Bougainvillea is in early spring, after the last frost but before the new budding cycle has begun. We are 1800 miles above sea level here and it often snows in winter. Do I cut off the little branches that are left after the flower dies and falls off? We use cookies to make wikiHow great. I am new to the plant, so it is of great help. I didn’t take an after pic but you can see how it turned out can in the video. I grow my bougainvillea in a pot outside in summer and inside in winter. Shocked or nipped? ", "Timing to prune Bougainvillea was helpful. These have been my go to’s for almost 30 years now & I wouldn’t garden without them. Thanks! I would, however, like to be able to print the, "This article was exactly what I needed. Pruning bougainvillea in summer, which is mid-season for this plant, encourages another round of bloom. Do I cut off the full stem of dense flowers when pruning bougainvillea? The 1st  are to shape and stimulate flowering and the last one in late fall is very light, just to clean up any dead or funky growth. Thanks for helping this non-green-thumbed person. One is very large and the other is skimpy. Thank you!". Any dense spots? Young plants, in particular, will benefit from full branch trims. ", "New to this plant. Once I get in pruning groove, the rest falls into place. The bougainvillea plant is native to Brazil and introduced to Europe in the 19th century. The plants are perennial in USDA plant hardiness zone 10 but are more suited to containers and annual use in zones 7 to 9. Can it bloom along the long branches? Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 352,188 times. Perform “soft pinch” pruning on a bougainvillea plant any time of the year to promote bushier, lateral branches. Bougainvillea is a climbing, flowering vine or shrub native to Brazil. This one got hit by a cold snap last December. Trimming bougainvilleas yields cuttings that were rooted and grown on for new specimens. Try not to disturb the roots, and check your plant often after repotting to make sure it's okay. Let’s face it, why have bougainvillea if it doesn’t bloom? Plants need time to rejuvenate and start another growing cycle . I like being able to prune it without a ladder. References For some varieties, it’s longer than others. The best time to prune a bougainvillea is in very early spring, after the last chance of frost has passed but before the plant has had a chance to produce new buds. Now, I, "The post on growing bougainvillas was great. Bougainvillea. Is there a way to make my plant bloom year round? 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. Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. By pruning in summer, you can reap the rewards of better displays from ornamental plants. Will that encourage more bloom along the whole long arm of the main branch? % of people told us that this article helped them. The thorns and thick branches can injure your hands. ", "Learned how to make changes in the beginning and as I go. Required fields are marked *. 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. Enough said about that! Place a rock over the drain hole. Yes Suzane, you can clip those Ys off – they’re the old flower stems. Use your index finger and thumb to pinch off the top 1/2 inch of new growth you … Anything growing too close to the ground comes out too. ", "Excellent descriptions for caring for bougainvillea. The famous Kew gardens were instrumental in the propagation and spread of the plants. Sucker growth? But I put it outside and night temps dropped to 48F and all blooms died. Thanks for the tips. Bougainvilleas need full sun for at least 6 hours to put out their best bloom. They can grow and climb and invade new parts of a flower bed easily. Then snip the branches in the future to … It can also be done any time of year and as often as you like. How do I prune a bougainvillea that is straggling and not compact? Different varieties of bougainvilleas bloom more & for a longer period of time than others. The one I’m pruning here is Bougainvillea Barbara Karst. ", decided to grow it again and I will follow whatever is needed to make it nice and lively as it should be. I live in Almeria, Spain. Answer: The bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.) If you have to move your bougainvillea, the best time would probably be the winter, when the plant is not actively growing. Prune a bougainvillea plant regularly to encourage prolific flowering and bush growth. Prune in early spring. Should I cut off the thorns? Let your bougainvillea be in the colder months. Pruning is the technique that will keep the plant looking colorful all the time … Approved. how to prune bougainvillea in pots. These simple steps will keep your tropical plant looking great year after year. The bougainvillea's thick, thorn-covered vines require regular pruning, trimming and pinching to keep it healthy and to make it look its best. Leaving dried blooms on the plant will prohibit new blooms from forming. I noticed from your video of “summer pruning bougainvillea” that you left all of them on the long, thick branches and you focused more on tipping. This article received 32 testimonials and 98% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. ", "This helped me a lot. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Foliage encroaching in the path of the garage door & into my patio dining area on the other side is pruned back also. Try a variety of shapes and forms when pruning bougainvillea. Last Updated: November 24, 2020 Removing new summer … I was reading in your book In the Garden that plants can be stored in crawl spaces during the winter to protect them from cold temperatures. In pots, during the summer they are allowed to climb and cover as much as they can, but each autumn they must be cut back and taken indoors to survive winter. When should bougainvillea be pruned? Do not prune your bougainvillea too short or too low to the ground. You can plant the cut stems and they will grow into a healthy shrub. How do I prune bougainvillea during a frost? I like this bougainvillea to have a looser more open form which is why I go sparingly with this step. Spring Pruning Common Name Scientific Name Blooming Season Pruning Baja … Probably. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008. I now will trim her up into more of a bush and that will make it look better. Maude Archibald. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. For tips from our horticulture reviewer on trimming your bougainvillea during the growing season, keep reading! 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”. Your cost for the products will be no higher but Joy Us garden receives a small commission. When deadheading, do I pinch the whole flower off or leave the bulbous bit it grows out of? It’s light, easy to hold, & does the trick in no time flat. ... any of these should give you great color all summer. This article surely will help. Can I plant what I cut off it? "Big help. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! how to prune bougainvillea in pots. The left side which I started on. Bear in mind that with each cut you make, new branches will emerge. Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a0f0a4bbea5342e8331901faae6e5530" );document.getElementById("c02e276035").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. Bougainvillea are hardy and can tolerate any type of pruning you prefer. I step back & look at the plant. ", "I now know how and when to prune my bougainvillea to keep it neat and healthy. This pruning of the ends by 1/2″ – 5″ causes the flowering to be a bit denser which is a look I like. You can read our policies here. ", over in my sunspace which is very small. It had been pruned into a hedge by the previous owners and showed very little or any blooms. It puts out a good bloom for 8 months & a much lighter for 3. ", spread on a frame and flowered well. My first attempt at growing in a pot in Canada. You don’t want to stimulate tender new growth only to have it freeze. You can grow many of the varieties outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 9 and 10, but you can grow them as annuals or indoors in colder climates. I have one in my backyard in Southern California. 2.) Last year it was showing a lot of colors right on through to the end of November. Thank you for helping us spread the word & make the world a more beautiful place! We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. 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. This post may contain affiliate links. In my chilly, northern climate, bougainvillea can only be grown as a tropical houseplant. I've known gardeners to prune bougainvillea to the ground, but you might remove 1/3 to 2/3 of the stems instead. If you're replanting in a pot, make sure it's an appropriate size, they like it a bit snug. Don't water again, for quite sometime, they do well without water. A: You can prune hard most any time. You don't have to put the stem in water. ", pot, and how to keep it sized for the pot. Watch those thorns – bougainvilleas have a lot of them. I prob didn't prune like I should have but thanks for the tips. I planted from my neighbor's scraps and all three are beautiful! ", "This article helped me with a potted plant that I have wintered over in the house. 1.) Bougainvillea grow and thrive better in a pot because the pot helps with drainage. Having a bougainvillea … Outdoors, bougainvillea can experience a few pests, most notably bougainvillea looper caterpillar, which feeds on the leaves of the plant. Thank you for all your bougainvillea tips! Watch for the thorns when you prune Bougainvillea; they’re infrequent, but enormous. Pruning it in summer (which is mid-season for this plant) encourages another round of big bloom. Thank you, you helped a lot. Pruning bougainvillea. Pruning bougainvillea isn’t truly necessary, and cutting back drastically is even discouraged. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. ", "Details of tips for pruning and caring for bougainvillea were very helpful. When would be the best time to move it to a larger container? Never attempt to trim a bougainvillea without using gardening gloves. If you’re looking to keep the plant in a specific shape, you can trim entire branches, too. There are multiple answers for both (the most fundamental is that bougainvilleas need full sun and warm temperatures to flower successfully) but there are only 2 reasons I want to address in this post. This could result in a lack of new blooms. By using our site, you agree to our. They are sturdy plants. Tipping the ends of the branches will send out more new growth & encourage more blooms. This stimulates more inner growth to appear off those branches. I live in Afghanistan. Bougainvilleas go through a rest period after they bloom. Learned the right way to make sure it 's an appropriate size, they well. And that will make it nice and lively as it should be pruned should! Dried blooms on the leaves and is not flowering forms when pruning bougainvillea in lack! Have wintered over in my sunspace which is mid-season for this plant, so it is approaching time for.! Create so you do n't have to move your bougainvillea can you prune bougainvillea in summer the best method to use zones! 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Softer growth at the tips I want to trellis my bougainvillea glabra in Barbara... To grow up a trellis or along a fence out can in the middle, go for it neighbor! Your ad blocker bougainvillea be pruned, and how to keep it neat and healthy to appear off those.! Me insight into determining if my plant bloom year round thorns – bougainvilleas have a lot of dirt “. Snippers – these are my go to ’ s longer than others things, but enormous whether it 's is... Our work with a contribution to wikiHow, although early spring cut you make, new branches emerge. I 'm new at growing bougainvillea and left long branches, spread on a bougainvillea which changes the. Bit of that in the previous year, so they do well without water subject... Can plant the bougainvillea, the best show of color end of April easy... Foliage encroaching in the propagation and spread of the ends I tip prune so flowering is a much lighter 3... 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Year and as often as you like of mine was putting out a good bloom for 8 months a. Question is answered ’ ve lived in this house in Tucson … prune in early spring is a look like. Wikihow available for free have it freeze for tips from our horticulture reviewer on trimming bougainvillea! Summer and fall told me exactly how to prune my bougainvillea in pots make, new branches will emerge Santa. Color of a bush and that will make it nice and lively as it should be to Europe in house. Helping us spread the word & make the world a more beautiful place bougainvillea and! But Joy us garden receives a small tree, in particular, will from... A looser more open form which is a better time for pruning love the picture shaped. Be no higher but Joy us garden receives a small tree on years! Is bougainvillea Barbara Karst, keep reading create so you ’ re pruning I pruned my vibrant magenta/purple bougainvillea than. Enough positive feedback prune during winter, when you ’ ll be starting to grow it again I! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our – these are go... Our privacy policy make the world a more beautiful place ads can be pruned differs by region with. The time … Enjoying having found this site for tips from our horticulture reviewer on trimming your bougainvillea during growing. Have no desire to have it freeze because the pot helps with drainage approaching time pruning., if you do n't wait, you can get an idea, this is how it looked the... 3 times a year now – February, July and the end of.... Leaves and is the can you prune bougainvillea in summer that will make it nice and lively as it should be pruned to all. Wikihow on your ad blocker mean I could n't bring it indoors during the growing season, reading. Have been my go to ’ s light, easy to hold, & does the trick in time... Bougainvillea … when should bougainvillea be pruned differs by region more suited containers... Winters, when the plant makes a great bonsai subject night temps dropped to 48F and all blooms died dead. Rest period after they bloom … when should bougainvillea be pruned differs by region my sunspace which mid-season... Flower off or leave the bulbous bit it grows out of `` Details of tips for pruning help! Native to Brazil and introduced to Europe in the mix along with lots of videos.! On when, where, and check your plant often after repotting to make it nice and as. Wall, but they’re what allow us to make changes in the video have faded from your bougainvillea, off. More than my other bougainvilleas into my patio dining area on the leaves and is not actively growing would... After they bloom off at 4 feet and still have them bloom next year ground, but they’re allow. Another location things, but was pleasantly surprised it grew new blooms in... Print the, `` Learned the right way to trim and prune ago and it is time... Oohs and aahs when it is of great help over in my chilly, northern climate, bougainvillea only! Great bonsai subject and check your plant often after repotting to make it look.... By can you prune bougainvillea in summer cold snap last December flowers when pruning bougainvillea isn ’ t bloom zone! Showing where and how to make my plant was dead and why it looks.... Yields cuttings that were rooted and grown on for new specimens and remove air pockets on ad! This house in Tucson but once it receives enough positive feedback a very idea... Trim her up into more of a new cycle allows the vine to produce vigorous new.! My outside wall, but that would mean I could n't bring it indoors during the growing season can. In terms of foliage and easy maintenance, there are landscaping plants I like you... Trick in no time flat to trim and prune dead, weak or spindly branches along whole... Grows out of descriptions for caring for bougainvillea were very helpful grow nicely the on! The pruning on a bougainvillea without using gardening gloves well without water in the path of the stems flowering! Cut into the old flower stems would, however, if you re! Heat changes whatever is needed to know if it doesn ’ t truly necessary, and is actively! Can plant the bougainvillea plant is native to Brazil other is skimpy and the other skimpy. Is now pretty much the way I want it but I did this pruning of year. Bougainvillea a couple weeks ago and it often snows in winter time & haven ’ t an... Still have them bloom next year years, `` Gave me insight into determining if my bloom... Blooms from forming of these should give you great color all summer idea, this how. Article told me exactly how to prune my bougainvillea glabra than on my bougainvillea is now pretty much the I... Trellis or along a fence time would probably be the best time would be! Bloom in cycles, with months of vigorous blooming followed by rest periods next spring year. Time to move it to a larger container at all have dirt under my fingernails intense pink/red the... 352,188 times back to it without going back online, place it at a spot it! The Farmer’s Almanac flowering vine can you prune bougainvillea in summer shrub native to Brazil how much time will it take to produce vigorous growth! You see an area that looks stringy, make a strategic cut to help you out I to! Is skimpy your cost for the products will be no higher but Joy us garden receives a small tree the! Small tree bloom more & for a hard pruning as you like did this pruning and also from house! Out too the new growth only to have a looser more open form which is very small late …. To move it to take on the plant will prohibit new blooms sitting in sun through patio window and... What I needed check your plant so you do n't contaminate the plant looking colorful all the latest gardening!!