How to grow bougainvillea in winter

Wintering place

Bougainvillea is not cold-resistant. When the temperature drops to six to eight degrees, it needs to be moved to a new maintenance location. Bougainvillea cannot survive the winter in the open field, so it should be placed outdoors in a sunny, sheltered place, or in a double-layer plastic film shed with its back against the north wall. Or place it in an enclosed south balcony, 40-80cm high, in a windproof and sunny place. It will be safer over the winter. It will be better if you can put it in a bag to keep it warm.

Entry time

Bring it indoors when the temperature reaches 8 degrees, which is generally mid-to-late November in the south and around late October in the north.

Winter management

Trim Bundle

Before moving it indoors, prune the bougainvillea, retaining the main branches and some flowering branches to reduce nutrient consumption.

Stop fertilizer and control water

In winter, the temperature is low and water evaporates slowly, so reduce watering and keep the soil in the pot dry. Stop fertilizing to prevent the plant from growing vigorously again and losing its cold resistance due to the high temperature indoors.

Bougainvillea will enter a short dormant period in winter and experience leaf shedding. Try not to water it after the leaves fall. If the soil is too dry, pour a small amount of (warm) water locally on the edge of the pot.

Aphid control

When plants are moved indoors in winter, they are very susceptible to aphid infestations before their leaves fall, and timely prevention and control are required.

Heating, ventilation and lighting

After moving indoors, place the plant in a well-ventilated, sunny, and temperature-appropriate place for maintenance. Remember to open windows for ventilation to avoid a stuffy environment.

If the ambient temperature is low, you can use bamboo and wooden strips to make a cover, and directly buy a barrel-shaped plastic film to cover it. Tie the upper edge of the plastic film with a rope to secure it. Loosen the rope to make it convenient to water the bougainvillea from the top, which can moisturize, keep warm and prevent leaves from falling. Putting a plastic bag on a smaller bougainvillea pot can help retain moisture, keep heat, and prevent leaves from falling.

Time to leave the room

It is better to move Bougainvillea out of the house later. In late March, the Bougainvillea on the balcony will sprout new buds as the temperature rises. Some of them have already differentiated flower buds by Qingming Festival. If they are moved out of the house at this time, the flower buds will be frozen and cannot bloom in May. Therefore, it is necessary to wait until the minimum temperature stabilizes at 12-15 degrees before moving them out of the house. It is best to move them out of the house in April or May. After taking the plant out of the house, you need to trim away dead and useless branches to beautify the plant shape.