How to prune bougainvillea (pruning method diagram)

1. Pruning time

Bougainvillea is usually pruned in spring, when the plant begins to grow. Pruning is more conducive to recovery and can also reduce nutrient consumption, which is helpful for the plant to bloom. If pruning is done too late, it will delay its growth and affect the development of the plant.

2. Pruning method

1. Short pruning: If the bougainvillea grows slowly, short pruning can be used to stimulate the development of new shoots. This method is generally aimed at new branches, and is divided into light pruning and heavy pruning. Light pruning cuts off about one-third of the branches, while heavy pruning cuts off half of the branches. Normally, the cut should be made close to the bud for better stimulation. In addition, short pruning can also prevent the mother branches from becoming thicker.

2. Thinning: If the bougainvillea is too dense, the intertwined branches will block ventilation and light transmission, which is not conducive to internal growth and also poses a risk of causing diseases and pests, so thinning is necessary. This method mainly involves cutting off dense branches and overlapping branches so that the inside can also receive light and have good air circulation. At the same time, weak branches should be removed to promote the growth of the plant.

3. Pruning: If the old branches of bougainvillea do not bloom much, you should consider pruning them. Pruning usually retains weak branches. If the strong branches are retained, although it has a rejuvenation effect, it will not allow the branches to bloom. However, it is different for weak branches. They do not consume much nutrients themselves, so there are enough nutrients to help them bloom. In addition, the shortening cannot be completed all at once, but must be done in several steps.

3. Maintenance after cutting

After pruning the bougainvillea, apply carbendazim to the wound to prevent it from being infected by bacteria and causing disease. At the same time, we should also pay attention to fertilization to supplement nutrients and facilitate the growth of new shoots.