Drilling flowers are very easy to cut and can therefore be cared for very well as bonsai. What you need to consider when pruning and caring for so that the triplet flower thrives as a bonsai and produces many beautiful flowers.
How do you care for a triplet flower as a bonsai?
A triplet flower as a bonsai requires frequent cutting, wiring of the shoots, regular watering and fertilization during the growth phase. In winter, the plant should be placed at about 12 degrees and watered less while reducing fertilizing.
What styles are possible?
Bougainvilleas can be designed in many different ways. Almost all bonsai shapes are conceivable:
- Half trunk
- Single tribe
- Multiple trunk
- Half cascade
Cutting triplet flowers as a bonsai
The younger the plant, the more often you have to use the knife. All new shoots are shortened to two pairs of leaves.
From May onwards, you no longer cut the triplet flower as much, but only remove shoots that are very annoying. Otherwise you will cut off too many flowers.
If the triplet flower is older, it no longer needs to be cut as often. It is sufficient if you cut them back heavily after flowering. During the rest of the year only light topiary cuts are carried out.
Triplet flowers can be wired
As long as the shoots are still soft and flexible, you can wire them very well. However, remove the wires in good time, as the triplet flower grows very quickly and the wire will otherwise grow in.
Caring for triplets as a bonsai
From March to September, the triplet flower is watered more frequently. However, you must definitely avoid waterlogging. Never leave water standing in the saucer.
The triplet flower as a bonsai is fertilized during the growth phase from April to the end of summer at one or two week intervals. Special liquid fertilizers for bonsais (€4.00 on Amazon) are suitable. To save yourself having to fertilize regularly, you can also use slow-release fertilizer.
Overwintering triplet flowers
In winter the bonsai is set up at around 12 degrees. If the winter location is very dark, it loses its leaves. If there is sufficient brightness - for example from plant lamps - the leaves will be preserved.
Water the triplet flower very moderately during the winter to avoid waterlogging.
The triplet flower is no longer fertilized in winter. Only if you keep them in warmer temperatures and sufficient light should you give some fertilizer once a month.
Tip
Triplet flowers can be easily cared for outside in summer as long as the temperatures are not too low. The plant is not hardy and must be kept indoors frost-free over the winter.
