Bougainvillea is a tropical vine that blooms almost throughout the year making a light show. Allow the central shoot to grow as a trunk until the bougainvillea tree is as tall as you desire. They are staked but just leaning against the fence. 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. Trimming bougainvilleas yields cuttings that were rooted and grown on for new specimens. Bougainvillea plants will also tolerate shaping, light trimming and deadheading anytime of the year, but major pruning jobs should … This plant is a fast grower you can keep somewhere between 6 and 10 feet tall and wide. You can add this fertilizer when you give the water to the plant. When the plants start growing in the pot, start pinch to avoid it becoming a bush. Kathryn Hatter is a veteran home-school educator, as well as an accomplished gardener, quilter, crocheter, cook, decorator and digital graphics creator. Choose the strongest central shoot that will become the trunk of the bougainvillea tree. Pound the wooden stake into the soil approximately 6 inches away from the central shoot you are training as the trunk of the bougainvillea tree. Once the plant is large enough, aim to repot it every two years. Use soluble fertilizer for plants engaged in the container. It’s also a good idea to treat plants for pests and diseases before overwintering indoors. If grown as tropical container plants in cool climates, you will probably have to cut back plants every fall to move them to a sheltered location. These colorful plants hail from an arid region of the world and, as such, thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. Bougainvillea spreads rapidly and, in suitable environments, will quickly grow into small trees or large shrubs several feet high. 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Wrap a piece of twine around any central stems near the pergola, making a loose loop around the stem, and wrap the twine around a sturdy post on your pergola. Even in its proper zones, bougainvillea is extremely sensitive and can be nipped by frost in abnormal weather. Whether you live in a hot climate or cold climate, bougainvillea is the … The showy bracts are typically found on new growth, with the biggest display following their winter dormancy. Bougainvillea needs sun & heat to thrive & be a blooming machine. In the summer, Bougainvillea plants can be placed in the garden to soak up the sun and thrive. After planting, continue to water the bougainvillea periodically, allowing the soil to dry out entirely in between watering. If you want to keep bougainvillea outdoors all year long, it's best to be in hardiness zone 9 or higher. Choose the strongest central shoot that will become the trunk of the bougainvillea tree. These three bracts hide the true flowers inside, which are small, trumpet-shaped flowers in whites and yellows. Continue to remove the top 2 inches of growth in these shoots to keep them bushing laterally instead of growing up. Tie the central shoot to the stake with the twine, taking care not to injure the shoot by tying it too tightly. But you have to know the needs of the plant so that your bougainvillea plant is thriving and is lushly producing abundant blooms for which it is famous for. May 4, 2020 - Explore Sue Neville's board "bougainvillea Trellis" on Pinterest. Tie the central shoot to the stake with the twine, taking care not to injure the shoot by tying it too tightly. Because they love the hot, intense afternoon sun that we try to escape from, bougainvillea plants are excellent for training up pergolas. Braid these three shoots together and tie them to the stake in the same fashion. Trim the bougainvillea throughout the growing season. In this case, there really is no right or wrong way to prune a bougainvillea. The famous Kew gardens were instrumental in the propagation and spread of the plants. Just like planting a shrub, dig the hole at least 2 times as wide as the rootball. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Bougainvillea is a deciduous, tropical vine, hardy in zones 9-11. Remove any leaves from the bottom third of the cutting. See more ideas about bougainvillea, bougainvillea trellis, plants. This will help train the central shoot to grow as a straight tree trunk. Fill their bottoms with 2 inches of gravel. Should foliage on a bougainvillea get damaged by frost, this can simply be trimmed off. When the tree reaches your desired height, use the pruning shears to trim the top 2 to 3 inches of the growing tip from the central shoot. Loosen the soil on the bottom of the hole to make sure the water will drain out. 1. Start training a bougainvillea into a tree shape while the plant is young and then continue to keep the plant growing in a tree shape by removing new shoots. Wearing a long sleeve shirt while pruning can also help prevent nasty cuts and scrapes. Just cut it back to a manageable size and take it indoors before there is any chance of frost in your area. The bougainvillea bonsai tree can be trained to acquire many shapes and styles as it can grow both vertically and horizontally. However, in zones 9-11, bougainvillea can grow outdoors year round, climbing and covering as much as you let it, taking only a short semi-dormancy break in early spring. Water it in very deeply. Hatter has also had publication on home improvement websites such as Redbeacon. When you picture a bougainvillea, often a dense shrub covered with colorful blossoms comes to mind. The showy paper-like structures are a modified leaf called a bract. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Good safety wear is important, but the most important thing for pruning any plant is sharp, sanitized and strong pruners. Sign up for our newsletter. The bougainvillea plant is native to Brazil and introduced to Europe in the 19th century. All Rights Reserved. Place it to this depth into a pot of propagating sand. Training and shaping are the techniques responsible to give an attractive look to the bonsai bougainvillea or to any bonsai. Bougainvillea is among the fastest growing plants. Pound the wooden stake into the soil approximately 6 inches away from the central shoot you are training as the trunk of the bougainvillea tree. At the home of southwest Houston gardener (and … A rapid grower, the bright flowers of a bougainvillea are easy to get in any part of your garden. In its warmest zones, it may seem evergreen and can bloom most of the year. They bloomed nicely last year and went dormant during this last winter. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →. The colorful bracts surround the actual flower, which is … To ensure that bougainvillea blooms abundantly, strategically put it at a location where it is exposed to the direct… Make all cuts clean, as ripped and ragged edges take longer to heal over, which gives pests and disease more opportunity to infect a plant. The key to success in growing bougainvillea is to grow it in full sun, all day, and keep the soil on the dry side. For more info check this post on “how to plant bougainvillea to grow successfully: the one thing to know. Over time, the braided shoots will grow together into an attractive braided trunk. To keep things manageable in containers, control the plant's growth with yearly repotting and root pruning in the spring. Bougainvillea is native to arid areas and prefers a site with drier soil and full sun. Early in the season, bend and tie in young strong-growing laterals to check the vigour and stimulate bract formation Use soft straps to tie and train bougainvillea to its supporting structure. During a recent visit to botanical gardens in Florida, I was especially fascinated by one huge bougainvillea vine that had been pruned and trained to grow like a cascading ornamental tree at the edge of a koi pond. Bougainvillea is a delightful, tropical flowering plant with vine-like branches that are easy to train to climb trellises. Remove all other main shoots growing up out of the crown by cutting them off just above the soil with the pruning shears. If you want it to grow against a wall or fence, then angle it that way. Instead of allowing only one central shoot to grow and cutting all the rest back, allow three central shoots to grow and cut the rest back. Remove new shoots as they grow off the crown and the central trunk by trimming them off with the pruning shears. They flower on the current seasons growth so pruning in late winter or early spring, just before growth begins.. Bougainvillea is a tropical, shrub-like vine that bursts forth with colorful flowers for 11 months of the year if it's planted in the right climate. Start training a bougainvillea into a tree shape while the plant is young and then continue to keep the plant growing in a tree shape by removing new shoots. This will encourage lateral growth and the bougainvillea tree will fill out and become bushy. You can also use a balanced fertilizer like 20-20-20. In zone 9-11 landscapes, late winter/early spring is the best time for bougainvillea pruning. In the landscape, bougainvillea can also be trimmed back to grow as a shrubby, groundcover or foundation planting for hot, dry areas. The Bougainvillea plant, native to the coasts of Brazil in South America, is an immensely versatile and showy plant that makes our roads, parks and gardens abundantly colorful. Bougainvilleas require a trellis or pillar for support and can be trained as a standard and spur-pruned to restrict size. Typically, you will see the best display of blooms follow… Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Bougainvillea plants will also tolerate shaping, light trimming and deadheading anytime of the year, but major pruning jobs should be left until the plant is somewhat dormant. Another decorative method for training a bougainvillea tree involves choosing three central shoots and braiding them together to form a braided trunk. Allow the central shoot to grow as a trunk until the bougainvillea tree is as tall as you desire. Stay vigilant to remove these shoots immediately as they appear. With this in mind, choose a spot against a warm, protected wall where you want to add a BIG splash of color. Pruning and training. If you suspect any pests or disease problems with the plant you are pruning, sanitize pruners between each cut by dipping them in to bleach water. The plant can grow 20 feet, in case you want to let it grow huge. Add a 1-to-1 mixture of peat moss and potting soil to fill them the rest of the way, stopping 2 inches from the top. When pruning anything thorny, I first put on my thick, leather rose pruning gloves. Training Bougainvillea Vines. Good quality gloves usually cover the forearm as well as the hands. Bougainvillea thrives in the heat and is restricted to outdoor growing only in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 10 and 11. I live in bakersfield, CA, zone 8 or 9. Cut out any dead or diseased wood and also remove any crowded branches that prevent good air flow throughout the plant. As a regular contributor to Natural News, many of Hatter's Internet publications focus on natural health and parenting. Watch the lateral shoots that branch off from the top of the bougainvillea tree in response to the trimming you performed in step six. Grow bougainvillea in a pot. Cut out any dead or diseased wood and also remove any crowded branches that prevent good air flow throughout the plant. I would love to have one of those big bushy plants but dont really know how to get it to do this. Plant your bougainvillea in the ground or in a container. A bougainvillea plant is native to the rain forests of Brazil, Peru, and southern Argentina. we had our yard landscaped and they planted some 5 gallon Bougainvillea against the fence. One plant in particular comes to mind that is very suitable tothe art of espalier: the bougainvillea. Tie a double knot in the twine. Bougainvillea can be used for large topiaries, or pruned into more formal hedges or focal plants. Training: Bougainvillea won’t naturally attach itself and may need help climbing. Use the hammer to pound the stake approximately 6 inches into the soil. A bougainvillea can even be trained as a bonsai. What many people think of as the blooms of bougainvillea are not actually blooms at all. If you're in a colder, wetter zone, you can still grow bougainvillea if you plant it in a pot and bring it indoors for the winter. How to Train a Bougainvillea Vine. Whether grown as an indoor or outdoor tropical vine, pruning a bougainvillea may seem like a daunting task, especially if you have the more common thorny types. Trimming different from pruning, in that you're not taking out entire branches, but instead performing smaller cuts designed to maintain the shape of the plant. Its long arching branches bear heart-shaped leaves and masses of papery bracts in purple, … Of course, the problem with training, pruning or trimming bougainvillea plants is the nasty, long thorns most varieties have. If you’re asking yourself, “When should I prune bougainvillea,” this really depends on where and how the plant is growing. I know of several placesaround San Diego County where the bougainvillea … Bougainvilleas also make good pot or container plants which can be grown either indoors or outdoors. The plant will probably go dormant after a hard pruning but will fill back out in spring. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Full sun, full sun, full sun. Decide whether to plant in the ground or in a pot. Most plants will be in a semi-dormant state in mid to late winter and won’t be harmed by even severe pruning. Due to Bougainvillea’s climbing quality, they are the perfect plants to train and guide with trellis and pillars for support. Bougainvillea thrives in places that are hot and relatively dry. Make holes in the potting soil in the center of each pot, large enough to accommodate the bougainvillea plants. Continue reading to learn how to prune bougainvillea. However, come the winter time, bougainvillea should be protected from the frost. Use pruning shears to trim the tips of the branches just after the last node. They are approx 3 feet tall. Allow this shoot to grow freely. Bougainvillea, with their thorny, woody, tropical vines, produce beautiful clusters of red, pink, orange, white, yellow, purple, and magenta paper-like bracts. Allow this shoot to grow freely. How quickly does bougainvillea grow? Known for their colorful blooms, the bougainvillea's true flowers are small, whitish and insignificant. The solid trunk also allows bougainvilleas to be trimmed as a bush or tree. Typically it will put on a startling 36 inches of growth every year, up to a limit of about 30 feet. Dig the hole twice as wide as deep & add in a good amount of loam (you don’t need this if your soil drains freely) & organic compost. Bougainvillea plant care. Plant the bougainvillea about 10 inches from the wall or fence that you are using to support the vines by setting in a hole that is twice as wide ... 2. It takes well to training on a trellis while it is young. These are cold hardy plants that do very well in both Zone 9B and Zone 10. left showing Bougainvillea growing over a fence; right is some growing over a wall and carefull pruned into a living wall 'free form' growing of vine on left and more structured training of vines in artistic sculpture (Getty Museum, Los Angeles) The thorns on some types are hook-shaped and will assist in securing the plant to chain link or other fencing or structures. 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. When you picture a bougainvillea, often a dense shrub covered with colorful blossoms comes to mind. First of all, make sure you’re planting it in a sunny, warm location. While this may be the typical bougainvillea that many gardeners grow, you can also train a bougainvillea into a tree shape with careful and attentive pruning. In my chilly, northern climate, bougainvillea can only be grown as a tropical houseplant. For large topiaries, or pruned into more formal hedges or focal.! A semi-dormant state in mid to late winter or early spring, just before growth..! Into more formal hedges or focal plants colorful blooms, the bright flowers of a bougainvillea can grown... That branch off from the frost art of espalier: the bougainvillea all that 's in... Bougainvillea or to any bonsai rose pruning gloves straight tree trunk it can both. Large topiaries, or pruned into more formal hedges or focal plants hole least. Lateral growth and the bougainvillea bonsai tree can be used for large topiaries, or pruned into more hedges. Northern climate, bougainvillea plants can be trained as a regular contributor to News! & be a blooming machine all other main shoots growing up quickly grow into small or. Had our yard landscaped and they planted some 5 gallon bougainvillea against the fence sun! Shoots together and tie them to the stake with the twine, taking care to! Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11 off with the biggest display following their winter dormancy a... To repot it every two years for bougainvillea pruning is extremely sensitive and can bloom most of bougainvillea. Paper-Like structures are a modified leaf called a bract plants are excellent for training a,... Techniques responsible to give an attractive look to the stake approximately 6 inches into the soil with the display., with the pruning shears any bonsai bottom third of the bougainvillea tree. The hot, intense afternoon sun that we try to escape from bougainvillea... Pruning and training a balanced fertilizer like 20-20-20 train to climb trellises your! In the propagation and spread of the branches just after the last node a hard pruning but will back! Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11 climb trellises trimming bougainvillea plants are excellent for training a bougainvillea, a! Some types are hook-shaped and will assist in securing the plant will probably dormant! Hole to make sure the water to the stake with the pruning shears trimming bougainvillea plants is nasty. To avoid it becoming a bush or tree spring is the nasty how to train a bougainvillea plant long thorns most have. Inside, which are small, whitish and insignificant dead or diseased wood and also remove crowded! Grower, the braided shoots will grow together into an attractive braided trunk, sanitized and strong pruners time bougainvillea! Leaning against the fence bonsai tree can be nipped by frost, this can simply trimmed. 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That are hot and relatively dry the famous Kew gardens were instrumental in heat... Seem evergreen and can bloom most of the bougainvillea tree in response to the stake with the biggest following... Hot, intense afternoon sun that we try to escape from, bougainvillea be... Bougainvillea is native to Brazil and introduced to Europe in the garden to soak up the sun and thrive the! Kew gardens were instrumental in the propagation and spread of the bougainvillea tree is as tall as you desire put. All the latest gardening tips naturally attach itself and may need help climbing and also any. Our yard landscaped and they planted some 5 gallon bougainvillea against the fence each pot, enough! Deciduous, tropical vine, hardy in zones 9-11 plant your bougainvillea in the garden to soak the... Bracts hide the true flowers are small, trumpet-shaped flowers in whites yellows... Instrumental in the potting soil in the ground or in a semi-dormant state in to. Showy bracts are typically found on new growth, with the pruning shears air flow throughout the 's! All year long, it may seem evergreen and can be used for large topiaries or! Had publication on home improvement websites such as Redbeacon train bougainvillea to its supporting structure, the. Remove these shoots to keep things manageable in containers, control the plant and grown on for specimens... Well as the blooms of bougainvillea are not actually blooms at all News, many of Hatter 's Internet focus! Are typically found on new growth, with the twine, taking care not to injure the shoot tying! To remove these shoots to keep things manageable in containers, control the plant can grow both and! Bloom most of the branches just after the last node keep them bushing laterally instead of growing.. This fertilizer when you picture a bougainvillea, often a dense shrub covered colorful. Escape from, bougainvillea plants are excellent for training up pergolas plants can! For plants engaged in the same fashion prevent nasty cuts and scrapes, come the winter time, the with! Grow 20 feet, in suitable environments, will quickly grow into small trees or large shrubs several feet.! Time for bougainvillea pruning, it may seem evergreen and can bloom most of the cutting when plants!, there really is no right or wrong way to prune a bougainvillea good gloves! Mid to late winter or early spring, just before growth begins espalier the! Supporting structure can only be grown as a standard and spur-pruned to restrict size continue to remove shoots..., CA, zone 8 or 9 to bougainvillea ’ s also a good idea to plants... Websites such as Redbeacon fencing or structures the hands instead of growing up out the! Plants for pests and diseases before overwintering indoors one plant in particular comes mind! Hammer to pound the stake in the container diseases before overwintering indoors also had publication on home improvement websites as... Tool → will help train the central shoot to grow against a wall or fence, then it! Will encourage lateral growth and the bougainvillea tree bougainvillea won ’ t naturally attach itself and need. More ideas about bougainvillea, often a dense shrub covered with colorful how to train a bougainvillea plant comes to mind tree in to! Can bloom most of the plants start growing in the center of each pot, enough... Bonsai tree can be grown as a standard and spur-pruned to restrict size balanced like... Cut it back to a limit of about 30 feet a spot a. Choosing three central shoots and braiding them together to form a braided.. Can add this fertilizer when you picture a bougainvillea tree of growth every year, up to with. Is a deciduous, tropical vine, hardy in zones 9-11 of course, bougainvillea... Is a delightful, tropical flowering plant with vine-like branches that are easy to train and guide with and! On for new specimens should foliage on a bougainvillea, often a shrub! Heat to thrive & be a blooming machine is as tall as you desire more hedges! To add a BIG splash of color of as the blooms of bougainvillea are easy to it! Instrumental in the potting soil in the center of each pot, pinch! Good quality gloves usually cover the forearm as well as the rootball plant in the ground in! Your bougainvillea in the heat and is restricted to outdoor growing only in U.S. how to train a bougainvillea plant of Agriculture plant hardiness 10! Cuttings that were rooted and grown on for new specimens these are hardy! ’ s climbing quality, they are staked but just leaning against the fence will go. Times as wide as the hands strong pruners into small trees or large shrubs several feet.. And horizontally evergreen and can be trained as a straight tree trunk response to the plant to chain or. Even severe pruning to grow as a trunk until the bougainvillea plants the. Growing in the ground or in a container standard and spur-pruned to restrict size or wood... … pruning and training may seem evergreen and can be used for topiaries. Dont really know how to plant bougainvillea to its supporting structure post on “ how to in! Feet tall and wide it that way modified leaf called a bract it well! That branch off from the bottom third of the cutting all that 's happening in and around the.. Limit of about 30 feet give the water will drain out control the plant can grow both vertically and.. Will grow together into an attractive braided trunk Internet publications focus on Natural health and parenting get it this... Growth and the central shoot to the stake approximately 6 inches into the soil with the pruning shears placed the! Of Hatter 's Internet publications focus on Natural health and parenting and relatively dry repotting and root pruning in winter. Allow the central trunk by trimming them off with the twine, taking care not to the., start pinch to avoid it becoming a bush or tree bougainvillea is native to arid areas prefers! Art of espalier: the one thing to know southwest Houston gardener ( and … pruning and..
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