When and how to prune bougainvillea

1. After germination in spring

After budding in spring, bougainvillea grows vigorously and well. Many branches grow out, which may be messy and disorganized, which is not conducive to later growth and viewing. First, cut off the dead, diseased and yellow branches on the plant, as leaving them will affect its growth. Weak branches should also be removed, as they will have difficulty growing into strong branches. Some of the overgrown branches and crossed branches should also be removed to increase the light transmittance of the plant and facilitate its later growth. It’s okay if you accidentally cut it too hard, as the plant has strong germination potential at this time and will grow out quickly.

2. After flowering

After flowering, it is also a good time to prune. First remove the withered flowers, then cut off the flower stalks. The flower branches also need to be shortened appropriately, cutting off one-third of the branches, and also thinning them appropriately. This way, pruning will be conducive to the next flowering.

3. When changing pots

The plant needs to be repotted after 1-2 years of cultivation. When repotting, you can do some proper pruning of the plant, mainly the roots. You need to cut off old and dead roots. The overall branches and leaves also need to be thinned out to reduce transpiration and promote its recovery.

4. Regular pruning

There is no fixed standard for pruning time, and pruning can be done at any time. The main thing is to cut off useless branches and leave strong branches and leaves.