How to care for your Bougainvillea

Caring for my bougainvillea has been a journey in foolishness right from the start. In essence it was more about my lack of respect for this plant that almost bought it undone.

My disrespect for bougainvillea began as a result of myths I had heard from other gardeners. Their 'wisdom' expressed that these plants needed very little to care to help them grow and once in the ground would virtually look after themselves. Their comments were partly right, but there are a heap of things that gardeners can do wrong to ensure these plants won't succeed.

Our faux pas was to plant it at the same time as many other plants in our new garden bed. I had trellised some wire along the fence to give it some support - which was good - but then inadvertently planted some faster growing plants in front of it.

It wasn't until our front garden makeover that we discovered this plant even existed having not seen it for nearly two years. The amazing thing about this bougainvillea was that while it had been ignored, hidden and competed against, it still survived. Sure, it didn't grow and it never flowered - but it was still alive.

So, this season I decided to ensure that this battler of the warmer climate garden was permitted its far share of growing opportunities. And it has not let me down. At the beginning of spring, some five months prior, it weighed in at a little taller than 60cm. Today, it has surpassed the top of the 6ft fence and has branched out along some of the trellis wire. Plus, it is even flowering.

And not to get too confused with the semantics, the bougainvillea picture above is not of its flower. Its merely the colourful bracts that we all admire. The flower is hidden inside and is quite small and insignificant.

So, what changed in the care that I gave this plant that allowed it to succeed?

It started to get some light - the lack of sunlight is the reason most gardeners never enjoy the colourful bracts flourishing on the bougainvillea. If yours, and this one wasn't, isn't getting at least 6-8 hours of sunlight per day then forget ever seeing colour on this climber. Cut away competing branches to let some light in or move your bougainvillea if you must.

I removed its competition - while bougainvillea is a fast-growing climber, it will struggle to get the water and nutrients needed if planted with other vigorous fast-growers. If similar speedy plants are grown near it you will need to ensure that top-ups of soluble fertiliser and required water is added.

I changed my attitude - caring for a bougainvillea wasn't high on my list of things to achieve in the garden. I expected that once it was planted it would take care of itself. And while that is predominantly true, I have had far more success this season while nurturing it than in the past couple of ignoring it.

While I failed to care for this bougainvillea in its early life - and had there been a Department for Plant Cruelty I'd be punished severely - it has been most forgiving. I look forward to sharing more pictures with you in the coming years - and maybe a story of how it took my appreciation for granted and took over the garden completely! Who knows?

Posted by Stuart on February 21, 2008 6:11 AM | Permalink | Check to Subscribe to this Comment:

Comments

Very interesting post!

Posted by: Marie | February 21, 2008 7:41 AM

Stuart, interesting to read your perspective. I just got a bougainvillea last week, but being in New England, US I had to settle for an indoor variety that is trained into small shrub form. It's a challenge to keep one in this climate but definitely worth it. You can see it here, I'm very proud of it: http://earthfriendlygardening.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/i-got-a-bougainvillea/
:) thanks again for the informative post.

Posted by: Caroline Brown | February 21, 2008 10:25 AM

I like the bract colour of your Bougainvillea. This was interesting to read today, since my poor pot Bougainvillea is soldiering along - yesterday I realised that it is putting out a series of new bracts and leaves. The bracts are about 1/4 the size of the usual size ... I keep the pot right against the front window and it doesn't seem to mind the cold. Sunlight seems to make the difference.

Posted by: kate | February 21, 2008 1:07 PM

Hi, I have just bought my second bougenvillia. We live in Cyprus, and bougenvillia's here grow pretty much like weed, they are everywhere and seem to respond really well to the climate. I have a garden and a trellis that I put up for the bougenvillia to climb on. I planted one last september and after months of struggling and not looking well, it finally dropped all its leaves never to recover. We waited in hope until now, but since all the other ones in the neigbourhood bloomed, we finally pulled it out to find a dead root. I have just planted another one today, but within a few hours the few flowers that it had (it didn't have many, as it just started sprouting) got all wilted. I am worried. Can anyone give me any advice? Is this normal, will it recover, or is there something seriously wrong. I have planted a wisteria a while ago a bit further, and it seems to be doing really well (so I don't think its the earth). Thanks, Maja

Posted by: Maja Zivkovic | April 30, 2008 12:54 AM

I just started to grow an orange bougainvillea from a small and old stump that was given to me in July. It rooted well and has grown 4 branches but frail and thin. they are attached to a support. but I am afraid that it won't flower. It receives 4/5 hours of sun from my east window. I water it once a week. it looks healthy but I would like it to grow more branches. What do I do? Do I keep cutting the tips? Kindly send your advice.

Posted by: Monique Serres | November 19, 2008 7:24 PM

My bougainvillea has become spindly...all branches few blooms. I know that I need to repot it but I was wondering if I should prune it and if so how far back should I cut it. We live in Houston, TX very humid climate.

Posted by: Leah | December 11, 2008 12:36 AM

I have a Bougainvillea,that I bought this spring in 1/2 gallon container. I live in an apartment with a south and a north facing balcony. I placed it on the North balcony where it thrived. Now that fall has come it's starting to die. the flowers are dieing and the leaves are starting to die.
This a beautiful plant and I need to know what to do for it. I can now move it to my south pourch where it will be warmer with moor sunlight. I just don't know. I don't know what to do. Did I water it to much? Please help me.
I'm a new resident of Cocoa Beach,FL. I really want to save this plant. Any help will be apprciated. Thank you

Debbie

Posted by: Debbie Bryant | October 26, 2009 8:13 AM

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