It is probably the most attractive and also most challenging thing that the bougainvillea has to offer the hobby botanist: its wonderful flower splendor. All the more tragic when the climbing beauty suddenly begins to drop its flowers. What could be the reason? Here are some tips and first aid measures.
Why is my bougainvillea losing flowers prematurely?
If the bougainvillea suddenly loses flowers, a nutrient deficiency, changes due to moving or over-fertilization may be responsible. Protection against mechanical damage, fertilizer for flowering potted plants and waiting until the next season can help.
What you should know about bougainvillea flowers
Anyone who has already spent a little time with bougainvillea will know: the color spectacle of the flowering phases is not due to the flowers themselves - they are rather inconspicuous structures. It is the large three bracts that surround them and shine in strong purple, red and orange tones. This construct is generally a rather sensitive matter. The surface of the beautiful bracts is particularly vulnerable to mechanical influences such as heavy rain, hail or physical violence.
You also have to know that bougainvillea always has several flowering phases throughout the season. At the end of each flowering period, the flowers naturally disappear - but then quite properly in a withered form. You only have to worry if the flowers suddenly fall off in the middle of the flowering phase and in a visually perfect condition.
So let's first note:
- Protect sensitive bracts of the triplet flowers from mechanical interference factors
- Bougainvillea always has several flowering phases per season
- Flower loss is only critical when flowers fall off without wilting
Possible causes of premature flower loss
Nutrient Deficiency
If the beautiful flowers fall off before their time, it could be that the plant is starved of nutrients. Basically, the bougainvillea needs a lot of nutrients, even more so during the energy-sapping flowering phases. In the event of a sudden loss of flowers, it can help to give it a little fertilizer (€9.00 on Amazon) - ideally special fertilizer for flowering potted plants, which contains an enrichment of phosphorus that is optimal for flower formation.
Moving and over-fertilization
If you have recently purchased your bougainvillea from a specialist plant store, the multiple changes can have a disruptive effect on the flower formation. Of course, the move from the large greenhouse to your home does not leave the plant unscathed - in case of doubt, it foregoes the luxury of flower formation and maintenance.
It may also be that when it was raised commercially, it was brought to a sales-promoting flower through heavy fertilization. Weaning off this (over)fertilization can also lead to flower loss. In that case, you just have to wait and see - if in doubt, until next season.
