BOUGAINVILLEA CARE

With their gorgeous flowers and bold shape, you sure can’t miss a bougainvillea in full bloom. Bougainvillea plant care isn’t difficult but there are a few things you should know.

SUNLIGHT

To ensure that your bougainvillea blooms abundantly, make sure to place it in a sunny spot where it shall be exposed to the direct sunlight for at least 5-6 hours every day.  When it doesn’t get enough sun, the flowering will be lackluster and the plant will look thin and leggy.  They also love the heat, so in cooler areas, planting them up against a warm wall or in a sheltered spot will help them thrive.

WATER

Bougainvillea are pretty drought tolerant.  They don’t require frequent waterings. It’s best to water established plants deeply when the topsoil goes dry, rather than shallow watering them frequently. Keep bougainvillea on a slightly drier side for abundant blooms. If you water a bougainvillea too much, it’ll put out excess foliage growth & won’t flower as much, if at all. If growing in pots or if they are newly planted and not fully established, they may require more regular watering.

SOIL

Bougainvillea should be planted in well-draining soil.  If you plan on planting your bougainvillea in a pot, make sure that it has plenty of drainage holes to avoid root rot.

PRUNING

Bougainvillea are vigorous growers and benefit from pruning after each flowering cycle.  Always wear gloves, as the majority of them have thorns. It’s good to know that bougainvillea blooms on new growth, so you’ll want to prune and pinch yours to bring on the flowering.