Management methods for bougainvillea overwintering

Bougainvillea is a popular flowering plant, and as winter approaches, it becomes a challenge for the plant, which does not like low temperatures. In areas where the temperature is low in winter and there is a lack of heating, such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai, it is very important to ensure the safe wintering of Bougainvillea and learn the wintering management methods of Bougainvillea.

1. Avoid over-pruning

It is autumn now and the climate is still warm in many areas, so it is not suitable to carry out large-scale pruning of bougainvillea. Prune only when dead flowers fade or dead or diseased branches appear. After pruning, bougainvillea will continue to grow new branches in warm climates, which are susceptible to freezing in winter. Therefore, random pruning should be avoided and should be done only when the growth of the bougainvillea stops in mid-to-late November to reduce nutrient consumption, prevent the growth of new branches, and lay the foundation for shaping in the spring of next year. Pruning is best done in sunny weather.

2. Reasonable fertilization

In autumn, organic fertilizer can be applied to the surface of the soil in the bougainvillea pot so that nutrients can penetrate evenly when watering. Organic fertilizer not only provides nutrition, but also enhances the resistance and cold resistance of plants. In order to improve the cold resistance of bougainvillea, you can add phosphorus and potassium fertilizers 2-3 times, such as diluting 1200 times potassium dihydrogen phosphate with water and then irrigating the roots, use it once every half a month. Fertilization at this time is intended to strengthen the root system and accelerate branch aging. Fertilization should be completed before the temperature drops below 15 degrees to avoid fertilizer damage caused by low temperature fertilization.

3. Control watering

In autumn and winter, especially in winter, watering of bougainvillea should be greatly reduced. In autumn, wait until the branches and leaves begin to wilt before watering, and make sure to water thoroughly. Reducing watering helps the root system age and reduces the risk of frost damage.

4. Adjust the maintenance environment

Bougainvillea are usually grown outdoors, but they are not tolerant of low temperatures. When the outdoor temperature is below 10 degrees for a long time, the bougainvillea should be moved indoors in time and the indoor temperature should be kept above 5 degrees to avoid frost damage. If the temperature is between 0-5 degrees, bougainvillea may shed its leaves and its stems may appear withered. At this time, watering should be reduced or stopped to help the bougainvillea survive the winter. When spring comes, the bare stems may still sprout again.

The above is an introduction to the key points of overwintering management of Bougainvillea. It is not difficult to ensure the safe overwintering of Bougainvillea by following the measures mentioned in the article.