Bougainvilleas come from a subtropical area - so it's hardly surprising that they can't tolerate frost at all. We'll show you how you can protect your colorful climbing flower from harmful cold and enjoy recurring abundance of flowers in spring.
How do you overwinter bougainvillea in frost?
Bougainvilleas are sensitive to frost and must be brought indoors when temperatures are below 0°C. They do not need tropical conditions during the winter; +5 to +15°C is sufficient. If you lose your leaves, don't panic, they will sprout again in spring.
What the bougainvillea needs to feel good
Bougainvillea, which belongs to the miracle flower family, comes from a select region along the Andes in subtropical South America. Of course, it gets a lot of sunlight and heat there. These factors are the most important so that the climbing plant with its magnificent, red to purple bracts can develop optimally. You don't need to move south to provide it with enough light and warmth. The following basic measures promise successful cultivation:
- If possible, choose a south-facing, full-sun location
- mix a nutrient-rich but permeable base for the bucket
- careful, regular watering practice
- make sure there is enough heat, avoid temperatures below 0°C
The Achilles heel of bougainvillea
The most impressive thing about the bougainvillea is its colorful sea of flowers - this means it has enormous decorative value and is a popular feast for the eyes. However, it is not the flowers that are responsible for the generous red, violet and sometimes orange to white colors, but rather the three flat bracts that surround the actual, inconspicuous flowers (hence the nickname “triplet flower”). As beautiful as they are, they are also sensitive. Mechanical stress such as heavy rain or hail makes it difficult for them - and also frost.
Get it in at 0°C at the latest
If you care about your bougainvillea, keep a close eye on the weather forecast this fall. When the first frosty nights are forecast, it's high time to bring the bougainvillea into the house. If, despite your best efforts, you forget the tropical beauty on the first night of light frost, the oven doesn't necessarily mean that it's off. Most specimens survive short periods of cold.
Don't panic if you lose leaves during the winter
Even for overwintering, you don't need to give your bougainvillea a tropical climate by spending a lot of energy. A temperature window of +5 to +15°C is completely sufficient. If the plant sheds its leaves over the winter, you don't have to worry about death from the cold. Even if you have chosen a bright wintering location, the Central to Northern European winter light is not enough for the bougainvillea - but in spring it will still easily sprout again in its former glory.
