The exotic bougainvillea leaves its winter quarters as a picture of misery. The magnificent potted plant is not immune to growth depression even in summer and suddenly drops leaves and flowers. You can find out how to successfully save your suffering triplet flower here.
How do I save my bougainvillea when it loses leaves and flowers?
To save a suffering bougainvillea, you should first cut it back and remove dead shoots. Then repot into new substrate and water sparingly. After the winter, only move it to a warm, sunny location from mid-May onwards.
What is the best way to save a bougainvillea?
A two-step program ofpruningandrepotting is the best way to save a bougainvillea. The stressed triplet flower should then regenerate in a suitable location. This is how the rescue operation succeeds:
- Thin out bougainvillea and cut back dead shoots down to the he althy wood with sharp, disinfected scissors (€14.00 on Amazon).
- After pruning, repot the triplet flower in a structurally stable substrate over expanded clay drainage.
- Before clearing out the bright window seat, water sparingly and do not fertilize for four weeks.
- In mid-May, clear out to a warm, rain-protected, sunny location on the balcony.
How can I save a bougainvillea from drying out?
With aimmersion bath you can successfully save a bougainvillea from drying out. Typical symptoms of drought stress include drooping leaves and dropping flowers. It's best to fill a bucket with rainwater and place the bucket in it until no more air bubbles appear from the root ball.
You can save a heavy triplet flower from drying out by watering the plantwatering thoroughly Let the soft water run onto the root ball until the saucer fills up. As an exception, leave the excess water in the saucer.
Tip
Frost causes bougainvillea to die
All rescue operations will be in vain if you clear out your bougainvillea too early after winter. The triplet is native to South America and has not learned to survive in temperatures below freezing. For this reason, bougainvilleas should overwinter brightly and frost-free at 5° to 15° Celsius. You can put the plants out in mid-May when there is no longer any risk of night frost after the Ice Saints.
