How to spend the winter in potted bougainvillea and how to prune it

1. How to spend the winter in potted bougainvillea

1. Increase the temperature: When maintaining indoors in winter, ensure that the temperature is above 7°C. When the temperature is below 10°C, be sure to cut off the water supply and wait until the temperature rises before watering again.

2. Water less: control watering when the temperature is below 15℃, and wait until the soil in the pot is completely dry before watering it a little along the edge of the pot. When the temperature is above 15℃, weigh the soil in the pot with your hand, and if it feels noticeably lighter, water it thoroughly.

3. More light: Bougainvillea itself likes light, and the light in winter is warm and soft, so it should be exposed to more sunlight. Adequate light can also increase the local maintenance temperature, allowing Bougainvillea to accumulate nutrients and safely overwinter.

4. No fertilizer: Do not apply fertilizer when the temperature is below 15℃, otherwise the plant will be in a dormant state and it will easily cause fertilizer damage after fertilization. If the indoor heating is on in winter and the temperature is higher than 15℃, you can apply thin fertilizers frequently, and a lighter concentration is safer.

2. How to prune bougainvillea in winter

The temperature is low in winter, so domestic bougainvillea must not be heavily pruned. After heavy pruning, the leaves of the bougainvillea will become fewer, which will affect the photosynthesis of the plant. The organic matter transported to the root system will also decrease. The root system cannot absorb nutrients and the seedlings will become stunted, neither growing nor dying. Therefore, when growing bougainvillea in winter, do not prune it heavily. If the bougainvillea is still blooming in winter, you can wait until the flowers of the plant fade, and then lightly prune the remaining flowers and 1-2 pairs of leaves under the flowers.