Bougainvillea is a intrepid plant life , but the cold winter ’s frost will destroy it .
If you want to keep and salve your bougainvillea for next time of year , there are steps you could take to winter it .
Originating from South America , this popular garden works has over 300 types . They ’re known as perennial evergreen and grown for their smart bract , nerve shaped leaves , and barbellate nature .
This flowering bush is super fearless to bugs , heat , and even some drought when establish . But not the common cold . Bougies will get wrecked by the severeness of it .
So it ’s swear onYOUto save it .
protect it from the cold is a crucial footfall . And you must do it before the temperatures start to sink in the fall because it can be too later .
Depending on the size of it of your bougainvillea , whether it ’s potted or not , and your local mood , it can be a cinch to get these Guy safe from the cold .
Or it can be a nightmare if yours is already instal so it ’s just unwieldy .
Let ’s winterize your bougainvillea with this elaborated pathfinder . If you still have head after reading it , post a comment so I can get back to you with my opinion .
If you do n’t do it redress your bougies will suffer . It can drop leaves , and petal , or even fail to bloom .
You do n’t want that , correct ?
scan on to get the contingent to keep your plants safe from the wintertime . And find out how to bring it back to the open air in the leaping .
Guide Contents
When to overwinter bougainvillea
As you probably know , paperplants are perennial by nature . They ’re not one magic ponies that only show off those gorgeous pink petals just to fly .
They come back every twelvemonth if the conditions supply .
Bougainvillea is a bloom vine works that is well large-minded of heat , pestilence , and even the inhuman once they get some strength . vernal industrial plant are more vulnerable .
But established ones can handle some degree of frigidness .
Regardless of the industrial plant ’s years , they do n’t like the cold . Bougies are n’t insensate stout . They do n’t do well in the cold during the descent and into the winter , so that ’s why you ask to protect them !
Bougainvillea bloom are almost nonstop in quick regions . For those in these zones , you have nothing to interest about other than some basic mulching or plant swathe .
But for northern gardeners , you ’ll have to do a bit more work to keep it well during the cold .
These plant will show signs of harm when the outside air pay back to around 40F but can tolerate plunge to 30F when they become established .
wintertime maintenance ensures a happy plant that grow passel of bright peak next time of year with those pretty bract .
For those growing in zones 9 - 12 , you do n’t have to occupy too much about it . It can handle a light frost but deep one will damage the root scheme .
But for those growing these plants in cooler zone , you ’ll have to do some work . These plant should be grown in containers and then move into the shelter , whether that ’s inside your garage , house , or shed .
Warmer zones in the Confederate States like Texas can have hot summers , but very cold winters . So do n’t assume your bougie will be fine .
So if you ’re in zona 9 or high , the temperatures are n’t cool enough to damage bougies in the winter .
But still , watch out for cold snap that come outta nowhere . watch over the atmospheric condition and ready to take action mechanism when necessary .
Some lighting to temperate inches of mulch on the root word system will suffice . In areas where rough weather is present in the cooler season , there are some things to make it easier on yourself .
In northerly zone , winter preparation should be done ahead of sentence before the frost .
When the temperature in the soil fall to 32F , your bougainvillea is in risk . The aviation temperature do n’t matter as much as the soil temperature , but you may use them as a gauge . When the ambient temperature dips to 40F , then you need to start winterize .
Giving yourself meter will be less of a rush for last - moment change and gives your bougie spate of meter to adjust . If you just toss it right it can cause plant shock .
Thankfully , most masses do grow them as container plant . Their shrublike appearance ease up them acme upwards of 20 feet tall . you could imagine that some pruning is require .
When to start winterizing
The way to do it is to check your local temperature ! It ’ll tell you on the button when to overwinter .
When the temperatures draw near 50F , it ’s a reasonable meter to bulge out . It gives your works more time to adjust .
Wherever you ’re located , you need to take action before the cold come in .
Once free fall come and it catch cooler , it can severely damage your plant . But if it ’s only been a few days or so with minimal inhuman picture , you may only see slight browning , leafage drop , or wilt .
These can be fixed if you move your works to refuge for the rest period of the winter .
What happens tobougainvilleain winter?
It calculate on where you are .
For warm zones , like California , Arizona , or New Mexico , the flora will infix a state ofsemi - dormancy . It wo n’t grow and wo n’t produce flowers , but it ’s not fully dormant .
In cooler zones , such as Texas or some parts of Florida ( Key West ) , it can get reasonably cold so it ’ll enrol full dormancy . In temperate zona , it ’ll likely stay evergreen all season . Cool huh ?
Prune it back
Cutting it back is necessary to aid it drop those supernumerary farewell .
It ’s cash in one’s chips to drop them anyway , but if you cut back it back before the winter time of year , it reduce the risk of pests or pathogen overrun the wilting bougie .
reduce it back to avail make it easier to care . It save outer space and the leaves will be dropped .
When they begin to brown , remove them from the cane .
If you decide to wait , you may prune when the leaves drop . Cutting back will be necessary for nerveless zone . Get a sportsmanlike pair of trimmer then sterilize them with some scratch alcohol .
Put on some protective gloves so you do n’t get grab in the thorns .
Prune the cane back to slim the sizing of the works so it ’s more manageable . It makes it easy to wrap in plant life cover or move around if involve . get rid of all in leaf , branches , or expend blossom . These can be completely pruned off as they ’re not die to help during the wintertime .
There ’s no need to prune it down to the soil spirit level . Just cut the canes to the next thickening in line . It should be bulging at the joint .
Nyctaginaceaewill pull through the wintertime if it ’s trim and protected from the clime even if sternly turn out back , so do n’t worry too much about it .
Winter pruning helps get you more blooms next spring so it ’s a good thing !
In lovesome zone , pruning may not be necessary . If your flora does n’t in full enter dormancy , it ’ll need some leaves to corroborate itself .
you may still prune , but do n’t skip it back as much .
dilute back the cane that stem from the elementary trunk . sleeping species will grow back in the spring . But semi - dormant species may be harmed if rationalize too far .
Bougainvillea dormancy
Bougainvillea will come in quiescence when winter approaches .
The plant will go to “ sleep ” to conserve its neckcloth of nutrients in the roots . This is what the plant life feeds itself with during the inhuman season and sustains itself .
The leafage will fall off on their own and the plant will die back . The ground for the foliage drop-off is that it knows there ’s very little photoperiod ( light ) in the winter , so it drops them because it does n’t call for to photosynthesize .
With few leave , it has less to give .
During dormancy , reduce tearing and stop fertilize . Gradually cut down the water over time at the end of summer . The dirt should be earmark to become less saturated with H2O . The key is to not hurry .
You may be question whether or not your bougainvillea has die during this time .
you may test it by doing a scratch test- scraping a piece of the barque . Look for some green or yellow under the branch bark . The tips or outer stratum may be damage , but the inside is still good .
Dormancy does n’t always occur . If it does n’t , quash hard pruning . This is uncouth in areas that are warm in the winter .
How to overwinter bougainvillea
This part of the guide includes some general point you’re able to utilize to make your winterizing a success .
Again , depending on your location , your needs will change .
Supplement with mulch
Add a 3 - 5 ” thick layer of organic mulch over the root organisation to aid isolate it from the frigidness .
you could use hay , straw , leaf litter , or just plain old wooden mulch . This will aid keep bug out , protect them from cold-blooded , and give the industrial plant some nutrient to raise in the springtime .
If you ’re planting in a warmer , more temperate zone , you may be able to get away with just order a layer of it . It can also come in ready to hand when cold snap take place for some agile protection .
Mulch also helps hold back wet , so you’re able to water less throughout the onset of winter .
Use plant wraps
Wrapping your plant can supply some security from sudden temperature changes , bugs , and even scorching sun .
There are stacks of binding and wrapping on the market available in various size of it and materials .
nullify using charge card . While cheap , it can trap humidness which can increase humidity .
It also leave little protection from the common cold . reckon into using other material like Velcro , burlap , or fleece .
You need the wrapper to be boneheaded , effective , and tender good protection from hoar and cold weather .
If it ’s push to isolate seedlings or untested plants from the coldness , then you ’re on a good track .
Younger bougainvillea that are only a few feet grandiloquent can be covered with floating row covering .
These need to be staked so they do n’t get blown away by the malarky . great bougies can be covered with polypropene which let breeze and ultraviolet radiation light exchange .
They ’re an economical solution because they ’re cheap , recyclable , plus bid protection down to 25F on medium . you could leave them on your plant during the whole time of year . The wrap can be removed when spring comes .
Or you may put them on if cold shot fail out or during cooler temps . In regions where it ’s expected to be glacial outside for a few sidereal day or more , wrapping may not be sufficient .
You ’ll have to move your theme plant indoors or into a temperature - control greenhouse combined with wrapping .
Larger bougies are harder to wrap , but you do n’t need to enclose the whole works !
The root are what ’s significant , not the canes or leaf . utilize a deep layer of mulch to aid protect the root word arrangement at the groundwork of the plant .
If the root get too cold , the whole affair will die . So do n’t lease that happen to your treasured plant !
you’re able to wrap the upper portion of the plant with wrapper , but apply a 3 - 4 inch stratum of organic mulch for the root system of rules . Hay , straw , leaf bedding material , or compost can be used . Avoid touching the actual trunk with it though .
Remove the mulch in the bound when the temperatures rise . you could also use sheets , blankets , or immobilise textile for plant life . Do n’t let your creativity get limited to commercial products !
On lovesome days , remove the wrapping if yours is made from material that do n’t leave an interchange of oxygen or loose trapped oestrus . This will allow for the passion to escape . Too much heat trapped in there is just as big .
The humidity will also be a problem if you ’re using something like plastic . humidness will lead to molder , so regularly take out the covering and letting it vent is adept practice .
Since these covers can be used with potted bougainvillea , you could help insulate it . lend it inside your garage or business firm for the winter and then put a cover over it
Choose a smaller variety
opt a dwarf diverseness of bougainvillea will make it a lot easier to move it around .
When the plant is young , you could move it into the household or protection with minimal effort . When the temperature free fall , you could make for it indoors when needed .
Choosing a low plant that can brandish in a container is idealistic for easy rapture . Bougie hybridsare also a good choice .
Some gnome variety that are good for container planting include :
Grow in a container
Bougainvillea grow in a pot provides plentiful benefits compared to soil - sown plants . Container - grown bougies are much easier to move around , which make winter less of a nuisance .
But they do come with their own drawbacks as well .
Generally , flora in pots will have less thermal insulation compared to soil - grown industrial plant because the pot is exposed to the day / night cycle .
This make the material lose heating system much more quickly equate to the filth . Of course , the material , size , and position will make a difference .
lastic will be more tender to temp golf shot compare to terra cotta , for example . large pots will hold heat more efficiently than smaller Mary Jane . And so on .
When choose a batch to expend , get something that ’s holey and retains heat well . It should also reconcile your plant ’s root organization and be light enough to move around .
Consider using a plant roller so you’re able to just campaign it around so you do n’t collapse your back . blend a dwarf variety with a well - isolate muckle would be ideal for winterizing .
Choose a internet site that has easy memory access indoors .
If you ’re growing it as a patio plant on the balcony , this is ideal because you’re able to easily hook it inside your habitation if needed .
patio , porches , or balconies are effective placements . When the weather have cool , just bring it inside into a cheery bit until spring .
The container should be a couplet of inch larger than the plant ’s beginning bollock . The flora grows in ironical soil natively , but you should keep it moist to help insulate the temperature from affecting the territory .
If the good deal is too minuscule , it can curb the roots . Using rich , organic , well - draining soil if possible .
Note that bougainvillea will become accentuate when you uproot it , so using a pot from the startle is ideal . This means , you do n’t risk damaging the roots .
How to winterize in containers
plant in zona 8 or lower in general will need to be brought into the tax shelter . geographical zone 9 is hit or omit . You ’ll likely have to bring it within anyway , so you may as well make for it .
The elision is if your domain never drops to the 40 - 50F degree range .
You may be able to keep it out if the place you ’re keeping it is safe from the coldness . Some people create microclimates in their gardens to accomplish this .
play it inside before the first frost because container wo n’t provide rich security . The soil insulates the most expeditiously . Containers are raised , so they do n’t keep heating system as well as the soil because it just dissipates .
retrieve a good pip that gets wintertime sun exposure to keep it warm and dry .
Bright , permeate light is idealistic . Some direct light in the morning is also beneficial .
Keeping temperature at elbow room temp ( 72F ) is okay , but it should have some degree of frigid exposure so it stays dormant . stress to aim for a kitchen range between 50 - 60F.
Ensure that there are no winds , drafts , or extremely trafficked arena . Garages , sheds , or greenhouses are honest choices to overwinter bougies .
When work it inside , the plant will be emphasise . One of the biggest mistakes that newbie gardeners make is move it in and then out without acclimatisation .
Or plant it in the soil and then move it into a pot . It hate being eradicate once it ’s install .
Check for sign of works viruses , gadfly , or other nasties before you convey it in . Neem oil can assist reduce the occurrence of pests or fungal issues but must be used with care .
say the directions and keep pet / people off . It must be applied out of the direct sun and extra oil should be wash out off .
But once you hold it , you’re able to have peace of mind because neem has a residuary impression .
Choose a localization that has a stable temp above 50F , is gratuitous from winds or muster , and set out ambient sunlight in the daytime .
Once you ’ve decided , drench the soil . This helps isolate the roots from swings .
Wet grunge provide superior insulation over ironic soil . Put a stratum of 3 ” mulch over the root system . Organic mulch can also course your plant during winterization .
Next , envelop your plant using a plant cover or mantle . If temperatures are expected to dip below 45F , apply thicker or multiple layer .
Do n’t use credit card or house of cards wrap . guarantee the industrial plant material so it does n’t blow away or become loose . This will prevent the coldness from father in .
depend on where you ’re located , gardeners that do n’t face tremendously cold winters can get crinkly with leaving their bougainvillea outside . Wrapped up of course of action . encounter somewhere that ’s destitute from the winds .
Keep the land moist , but not wet . Ensure that the industrial plant wo n’t tumble .
You may demand to put in some plant supports so it does n’t devolve over when it ’s wrapped . Note that the pot should be wind , not the entire plant !
For cooler zones , you ’ll have to move it indoors combined with some plant life wrapper . When the temperature douse to the scurvy 40s , it should already be safely nestle inside your theatre .
crop it back when it ’s fully dormant and then move it inside . If it ’s semi - sleeping , move it to a protected surface area with minimum pruning . Do n’t amply prune unless it ’s fully torpid .
you may stack away bougainvillea in the service department , shed , or glasshouse to prevent the cold from getting to it , but not totally end its dormancy
Some inhuman exposure is necessary so it can put down dormancy , but not too much !
During the winter , jibe the piss stratum every 2 weeks . pee it to get it moist , but nothing more . It should never be fully dried out between tearing sessions . Light can help offer some warmth , but it ’s not necessary during overwintering .
ensure that middling wet is incur by your plant in quiescence will help oneself it thrive . you’re able to also prune heavily in its dormant res publica .
Do NOT prune when it ’s dynamic or semi - dormant if possible !
If you prune when it ’s torpid , it ’ll answer by rewarding you with dense growth and colorful flower bract in the spring .
You should be doing most of the pruning during quiescence and short to none during the summertime / spring .
How to care for bougainvillea during the winter
There ’s not much to do during this fourth dimension . Your plant is pillow , so lease it be .
It call for minimal forethought and some people even push prune until the evening temperature stabilize above 40F. But some will cut now because it ’s dormant .
It ’s recharging for next time of year to bring you those gorgeous bloom once again . There are only a few thing you need to do when it ’s overwinter :
First , only weewee when the territory is scarcely dried out . I ’ve mentioned this multiple times in this post , but it ’s because it ’s reasonably darn of import .
Some people do n’t need piss at all during this time .
The plant cover help keep the body of water from evaporating too chop-chop . You may even get away with watering once every other month or so .
Water deeply and sparingly rather than frequently and shell only .
Winter care for potted industrial plant involves more tearing than garden - sown ones .
To ensure that your industrial plant dumbfound the water it needs , expend in high spirits - quality soil that has a good mixture and allow for superb drain . There should be multiple hole in the sight you use as well .
This does n’t signify let it dry out but only scantily . apply a soil meter if you do n’t know when to irrigate . This will give you soil specifics so you’re able to water appropriately .
in general , you ’ll water about once or double per month for winterized bougainvillea . If you overdo it , the water wo n’t be used so it ’ll just collect at the base of the plant . This land pests or plant pathogen like root rot .
For warmer twenty-four hours where temperature rise above 65F , you ’ll desire to take away the wrapping to have it ventilate . Moisture or heat buildup will be an yield .
Placing it somewhere gay is ideal with full sun in the morning and then dipping in the afternoon .
It does n’t need a clustering of ignitor during this metre , but some will help it vaporise the water and keep it warm . Bougies wo n’t be as racy or hardy if no lighting is give ( such as in your service department ) .
Never bung your plant during this time . This let in flora food , fertilizer , or any other plant supplement .
The plant life is in quiescence and it has no leave to yield vigor from photosynthesis so no food is necessary .
It ’s choose a break from bloom , so it does n’t need to eat . Water is the only affair I need , but at a trim back amount . It drink less because it ’s not grow . It ’s just square away itself .
You may need to set out doing a clear cockscomb - over with a pruner . This can help further more blooms next leaping , but you do n’t have to do it now . you may wait until the end of wintertime if you bid . But weighed down pruning should be done during quiescence .
Not during the bound when it ’s active . If you see lily-livered or brown leave , avoid pruning excessively . This can be a sign of inhuman impairment . Your plant may be in a province of disrepair . Prune away any ugly leave so it conserve energy .
Lastly , check for pests or infestations . you’re able to ascertain once per calendar month for glitch activity . If you stack away it somewhere secure , you should n’t have much of an issue with pests , peculiarly with the cold temperature .
But be on the watch for pesterer like rodent , which are known to hide in the same region for the wintertime . They may munch on the soil , and leaves , or dig through it which can uproot your plant life .
If your leaves are wilting or you notice fungal government issue , release humidity and reduce watering . It ’ll be laborious to manage with it during winter , but you may need to prune off overrun parts or move it somewhere else . Do n’t disturb it too often .
That ’s about it . Let your plant rest during this meter and just keep tab on it every now and then . minimise disturbance is a near matter .
When to bring your bougainvillea back out
As you hold off for spring to make out , keep supervise the weather .
When the Dominicus beam a second longer and the wintertime jump to go off , it ’s clock time to acclimatize your bougie back to the yard ! Your hard pruning will have paid off because it ’s much easier to deal now .
So how do you get it on when it ’s safe to bring in it back out ? When the temperature are systematically above 60F during the mean solar day , this is the ideal sentence to start expose it . Coming out for wintertime quiescency is n’t light for bougies . You may acknowledge some scathe from the cold .
It ’s not safe to just plump it back into the garden- plants need time to harden off to the outside environs after being sheltered for months . This is done by lento disclose your bougainvillea to the outside element for a few hours each day .
bump off the industrial plant wraps and work the entire throne out of doors for 3 - 4 hour , then bring it back in when the sun sets .
Wrap it back up for the night . Repeat the process day by day for 2 weeks . The container should stay on wrapped at all metre , but the plant itself should be unwrapped when accept it out .
Check on the water level and give it some clean water if the grease is nigh dry . water system at the base- not the canes .
begin harden it off when day / night temperatures persist above 60F.Coverings can be removed permanently at this period . This is unremarkably 2 weeks before the last Robert Lee Frost day of the month . queer your works to the Sunday so it can slowly wake up from quiescence .
Just ascertain out for temp drop during the night . You may get a random cold-blooded press stud that can damage your bougie . Your bestie is the weather prognosis .
Keep supervise it for sudden changes . If nighttime temporary are expect to drop below 50F , you ’ll need to put the strap back on and bring them deep down .
you could get watering it and feeding lightly in the early spring . Potted plants will have salt buildup from the former plant food dosing , so take this chance to cleanse the weed before you feed it again . Gradually increase water .
When the temperature alfresco plunk up again , the plant will react to it . The vulnerability to sunlight during dormancy helps keep it prim for the spring . you’re able to even start easy break it to light during the transition period . It also help keep it dry .
This is why pot bougainvillea aid is quite different from garden - sown plants .
Fixing cold damage
When the cold is just too much for your bougie , it ’ll start to show some obvious signs of terms .
You may notice white blotches on the leave of absence or browning leaves . Or they just may drop on their own .
Cane damage await like dry out , browned , crispy foliage . It ’s extremely fragile and will conk out upon simple movement .
The canes will settle off and should be trim . Sometimes , they ’ll grow new foliage . But they ’re commonly not worth the free energy expense for the plant . Remove the cane with a sterilized pair of pruners .
Snip the entire came off and edit out it diagonally right above the leaf node . These nodes are where new foliage will pullulate . Prune before the plant bring about new growth .
When you cut the ends of the branches , it reduces the number of bracts which entail fire bloom . So if it ’s really growing actively , do n’t prune .
If your bougie has yellowing or browning leaves , it may not always be dusty legal injury . It can be pests as well ! Or possibly something with fungus from the water or poor drainage .
Check it out before you go cutting !
Commonly askedquestionsabout winterizing bougainvillea
This subdivision is a Q / A for lector question that are asked about bougie care .
What is the lowest temperature a bougainvillea can tolerate?
Bougainvillea will be damage when temperature throw below 32F.
This is the absolute minimum you should allow . Even temperature that are slightly above 35F can damage your plant , especially if it ’s younger .
instal plants can tolerate cooler temperature for long photograph periods .
It ’s all about how cold it is and how long the plant has been exposed . When temperatures souse , denigrate the damage by bringing it at heart , mulching , or wrapping it up with thick wrapping .
Bougies can handle casual temperature dips that are below freezing , but not for stretch forth straight nights . A few days of insensate snap are OK , but many in a course will damage it .
If the roots are unwrap to these temperatures , they ’ll expire . If the roots are safe , but the canes are exposed , it ’ll droop but should still be fine though damage . discredited arm postulate to be pruned .
There ’s no precise temp that bougies can care . It deviate depending on your plant ’s strength , location , duration of exposure , climate , soil quality , feeding habit , lacrimation , etc .
Does bougainvillea need to be covered with frost?
If your zona reaches 40F or lower , then yes , it needs to be covered with a Robert Frost - resistant plant wrap .
affectionate zones only need to wrap the container , but cooler ones need to wrap both . To keep it simple :
Do they lose their leaves in the winter?
For the most part , yes . Bougainvillea will drop their leaves in the late tumble and early winter .
In the former spring , the new industrial plant growth will start to show and the foliation from last time of year will light off .
In early summertime , the leaves should be fully motorbike and only new foliage is present .
swerve off the branches or leaves that are damage or yet to be dropped . This will facilitate it conserve its energy for the canes and elementary stem .
Does bougainvillea come back every year?
Bougainvillea are evergreen perennial shrubs , so they will produce their lovely flowers once again in the spring .
If you give it the right wintertime upkeep , you should have no problem with it producing those marvellous bract next time of year .
Be certain to give it a good prune in the winter while it ’s abeyant to encourage the production of more flowers in the outpouring for you to enjoy .
Bougies are fantabulous works to keep nearby on your patio or porch so you could see them every day when you get your coffee bean or tea .
Further reading/references
Overwintering bougainvillea is easy!
Bougies are n’t fans of the cold , but they can still tolerate it with your help .
you could enjoy your bougainvillea all year once you con how to winterize it .
It ’s not hard once you get into the groove of how it works .
Yes , it seems like a lot of steps and fine print to give to . But severely , it ’s just overcomplicated from the guide I ’ve read online- even my own .
It come down to where you ’re located and how you want to overwinter it .
Start with the well-off path first and check how it responds to it . Mulch it , wrap it , water it , prune it , acclimate it ! Keep it warm above 50F and you should be good to go .
I ’ve always been concerned in gardening , but I never claim it in earnest until I was forcefully gifted an orchidaceous plant . This was what father me into the hobby and I ’ve never seem back . I enjoy writing about it , but not nearly as much as receive into the dirt and sculpting the perfect decorative ornamental to enjoy for the times .
