She also runs her own lifestyle blog, Sweet Frivolity (www.sweetfrivolity.com). Allow the first inch of soil to dry out before watering the plant again. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! They should be pruned in the early spring or later winter after they flower, or at the beginning of the rainy season. Reduce the amount of water if your bougainvillea doesn't flower as a period of drought encourages the plant to bud. She holds a Master of Science in Publishing from Pace University. Even so, they can also be grown indoors, although they do not grow nearly as big when kept inside. Outdoor bougainvillea needs six or more hours of full sun every day to produce its showstopping flowers. Even large bougainvilleas may need to be watered daily during hot, dry spells. Reduce watering during the winter months to encourage your plant to rest. Aim to keep the soil barely moist during the coldest months of the year. Bring the soil to visual dryness between watering; when the plants are almost at the wilting point, watering is required. Some bougainvillea species are grown more like trees or hedges. Bougainvilleas are fast-growing and sprawling vines from South America that produce a showy display of color with minimal care. These plants bloom best when their soil is slightly (but not completely) dry. Light watering encourages a shallow root system and makes your plant more vulnerable to drought and makes it not flower vigorously. The watering interval will vary depending on the temperature and amount of wind. It prefers a deep watering every 7-14 days rather than more frequent shallow waterings. If it looks wilted, it may be thirsty, so try to maintain even soil moisture. So, bougainvilleas do tolerate part sun but won’t look as good as when growing in full sun. Avoid light watering that only moistens the surface of the soil around your bougainvillea. It will not thrive in shaded areas. If your bougie isn’t flowering, it could very well be due to lack of sun. Bougainvillea also loves the heat, and even here in the Sonoran Desert where I live, it flowers throughout the extremely hot summers. Large plants are drought resistant and reward occasional, heavy watering with more flowers. In tropical and frost-free areas, bougainvillea vines will thrive in sunny conditions and produce year-round color. Bougainvillea which is newly planted needs watering more frequently. Smaller bougainvillea plants can be kept in pots, while larger specimens can be allowed to cascade from trellises or mounted window boxes. Do not neglect watering during the hot summer months. Do not grow bougainvilleas in damp soil or areas prone to flooding. They may also have thorns. Place it in a sunny location that is close to a large window, and remember: the more sun it gets, the brighter its blooms will be, according to The University of Florida’s Gardening Solutions. It may be easier to try a slow-release bougainvillea fertilizer instead, since you only need to do this twice a year, in the spring and midsummer. If your bougainvillea starts to wilt, water it immediately. Outdoors, these plants prefer bright, sunny locations, high temperatures and acidic soil. It bears repeating: do not overwater your bougainvillea, since this could lead to fewer blooms or root rot. The woody vine varieties of this plant are the most popular, as they produce the most vibrant, colorful displays, thanks in part to their bracts. Certain bougainvillea species do well indoors, so it is a good idea to check with a local garden center before buying a plant. The bracts on a bougainvillea appear from time to time during the year and are usually most plentiful in the wintertime. Bougainvillea Watering and Care Outdoor bougainvillea needs six or more hours of full sun every day to produce its showstopping flowers. Water large and established outdoor bougainvilleas only when the surface of the soil is completely dry. Do not neglect watering during the hot summer months. The woody vine variety of this plant is the most popular, as it produces the most vibrant, colorful displays. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. The plant does well as ground cover and in containers, and its tiny white or yellow bud-like flowers can be hidden in modified, colorful leaves, called bracts. Regular fertilizing also helps bougainvillea show its beautiful colors. She owns her own content marketing agency, Wordsmyth Creative Content Marketing (www.wordsmythcontent.com), and she enjoys writing home and DIY articles and blogs for clients in a variety of related industries. It depends on the age of the plant & what climate you’re growing it in. Called a “flowering machine” by some, the bougainvillea species (Bougainvillea glabra) are vining shrubs, regular vines or small trees that grow in USDA plant hardiness zones 9b to 11. If it is planted in a borderline-hardy zone, the plant will do better in a corner against the house or on a warm wall. Reduce the amount of water if your bougainvillea doesn't flower as a period of drought encourages the plant to bud. All Rights Reserved. Water aiming to thoroughly soak the soil around the roots. These are different from most plant leaves, and when watered properly, you can expect splashes of yellow, white, orange, red and fuchsia. Bougainvilleas are not frost tolerant but can be grown as houseplants or annuals in nontropical areas. Danielle Smyth is a writer and content marketer from upstate New York. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, Floridata: Bougainvillea; Jack Scheper; 1999, Clemson University Cooperative Extension: Bougainvillea; Al Pertuit; 1999, University of Illinois Extension: Bougainvillea; Jennifer Schultz Nelson; 2005. Outdoors, it does well with a deep watering about once every three to four weeks. Indoors, check the soil regularly; it should be moist in the spring, summer and fall, but close to dry in the winter. Bougainvilleas are fast-growing and sprawling vines from South America that produce a showy display of color with minimal care. Bougainvillea watering is a situation in which less is usually more, but consider your cultivar and the planting location to ensure proper care. Use a water-soluble fertilizer made for bougainvillea, mix it at half-strength and apply every seven to 14 days. Their flowers are in fact small, white and tubular, and the plant's color actually comes from the surrounding modified leaves or bracts. You can expect indoor bougainvillea to grow up to 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Bougainvilleas are drought-tolerant, requiring little water once established. According to Joyus Garden, bougainvillea does not need a great deal of water, as it is quite drought-tolerant. Avoid light watering that only moistens the surface of the soil around your bougainvillea. The Best Time to Transplant a Mature Bougainvillea, University of Florida: Gardening Solutions: Bougainvillea, The Lowest Temperature for the Tropical Plant Bougainvillea, Difference Between Mandevilla & Bougainvillea. Take care not to let your bougainvillea become too dry, as this will cause bracts and foliage to drop. Reduce the amount of water if your bougainvillea doesn't flower as a period of drought encourages the plant to bud. Water your potted bougainvillea as soon as the top inch of soil has dried out. Even large bougainvilleas may need to be watered daily during hot, dry spells. 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