How to prune bougainvillea

Time to prune

As we all know, pruning bougainvillea is the top priority in bougainvillea cultivation. So, when is the best time to prune bougainvillea? So as not to hinder the normal growth of bougainvillea?

Generally speaking, the time to prune bougainvillea is after it sprouts in spring. Because during this period of time, we can determine which branches are weak, which are strong, and which are dry. You can have a more obvious control over the pruning of bougainvillea.

Bougainvillea can also be pruned at ordinary times. For example, after Bougainvillea blooms, it needs to be pruned moderately, cutting off the flower stalks, retracting 1/3 of the branches, thinning out weak branches, short branches, inner branches, etc. In addition, pruning can also be done in winter in conjunction with changing the potting soil.

The purpose of pruning bougainvillea

At this point, someone will ask, why does bougainvillea need to be pruned? Wouldn't it be better to let him grow on his own?

Here the editor will explain to you that the main purpose of pruning bougainvillea is to make it strong and create space. Cut out layers and shapes. Cut out the curvature of the trunk and branches, etc.

Pruning bougainvillea is actually to reduce the consumption of its growth, so that the remaining branches can store more nutrients and the newly grown branches can be stronger. Be willing to give up, be willing to give up, only by giving up can you gain, and only by being willing to prune can you get a healthy growing bougainvillea.

People need to be humble and trees need to be hollow. This old saying is absolutely true. There must be space for growth and area for branches to receive sunlight. Therefore, bonsai must have layers, with 3-5 layers, and the inner branches should be removed as much as possible.

If you want the bougainvillea to have a beautiful shape, the main branches should be thick and have a certain degree of curvature. A certain degree of curvature represents a kind of vicissitudes and antiquity, and can reflect the big picture from the small, just like a big tree.

Bougainvillea pruning method

Heavy Cut

Heavy pruning, as the name suggests, is a very large pruning operation. Almost all branches need to be cut off, leaving only the stump and a few main branches. The remaining main branches must also be cut very short.

In particular, unnecessary branches should be completely cut off. Heavy pruning, as the name suggests, means a lot of hair will be cut, so this pruning method is generally used when changing the shape.

Medium Cut

In the middle, pruning is naturally lighter than heavy pruning. It only cuts off some dead branches and unnecessary branches, and shortens the parts with good growth. The shape of the whole tree does not change much. The medium cut is generally used on formed bougainvillea bonsai.

Light Cut

Just slightly shorten some weak branches, cut off diseased and dead branches, and slightly shorten healthy branches.

It is generally used on seedlings, saplings and small trees. The purpose is to preserve as many branches as possible so that they can form strong trees in the future, make good use of photosynthesis, and allow the seedlings to grow quickly.

Retraction

Cut all branches short so that the shape of the tree after pruning this year is not much different from the shape of the tree after pruning last spring.

The purpose of shrinking is actually to free up enough space and room for the plants to grow.

Sometimes the four pruning methods cannot be separated completely and must be organically combined.

Steps for pruning bougainvillea

Identify branches that need pruning

Before pruning bougainvillea, you need to know its various branches so that you don't cut the wrong ones when pruning.

Upright branches: branches that grow upright in the crown of a tree.

Drooping branches: branches with the tips drooping downward.

Parallel branches: Two branches are on the same horizontal plane and extend parallel to each other.

Overlapping branches: Two branches are in the same vertical plane, overlapping each other.

Dead branches: branches without life.

Leggy branches: branches that protrude outside the crown of the tree.

Inner branches: short branches sandwiched between the main branches.

Reverse branches: branches that grow toward the center of the crown and intersect with the main trunk or main branches.

Whorled branches: Several branches grow out from the same node or very close to each other at the same time and extend radially in all directions. These branches are called whorled branches.

First trim

The first pruning time is from March to April. The branches that are not suitable for shaping requirements will be cut off, and the thicker branches will be shortened to leave space for new branches to grow, and also leave space for flowers to grow. The thicker the pruned branches are, the stronger the sprouts will be.

Second pruning

June, July and August are hot and rainy, which is a good period for tree growth. During this period, sufficient fertilizer should be applied to facilitate the healthy growth of branches. However, excessive fertilization will cause leggy branches that must be pruned off.

With the purpose of not destroying the plant shape, thin out the buds appropriately and remove the overly dense or weak new buds to ensure that the branches in the crown are evenly distributed and not tilted. After pruning, the newly grown branches need to be pruned again after they become lignified.

The correct way to prune

The position of the cut bud should be the correct one shown in the figure as much as possible.

This is a beautiful cut.

Downward branches, vertical upward branches, and crossing branches all need to be removed.

If there are two parallel branches, the weaker one needs to be removed.