Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! In pots, during the summer they are allowed to climb and cover as much as they can, but each autumn they must be cut back and taken indoors to survive winter. Pound the wooden stake into the soil approximately 6 inches away from the central shoot you are training as the trunk of the bougainvillea tree. Water it in very deeply. All Rights Reserved. Due to Bougainvillea’s climbing quality, they are the perfect plants to train and guide with trellis and pillars for support. What many people think of as the blooms of bougainvillea are not actually blooms at all. During a recent visit to botanical gardens in Florida, I was especially fascinated by one huge bougainvillea vine that had been pruned and trained to grow like a cascading ornamental tree at the edge of a koi pond. Typically it will put on a startling 36 inches of growth every year, up to a limit of about 30 feet. Allow this shoot to grow freely. Fill their bottoms with 2 inches of gravel. Plant your bougainvillea in the ground or in a container. Bougainvillea, with their thorny, woody, tropical vines, produce beautiful clusters of red, pink, orange, white, yellow, purple, and magenta paper-like bracts. I know of several placesaround San Diego County where the bougainvillea … After planting, continue to water the bougainvillea periodically, allowing the soil to dry out entirely in between watering. A bougainvillea can even be trained as a bonsai. 1. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Wrap a piece of twine around any central stems near the pergola, making a loose loop around the stem, and wrap the twine around a sturdy post on your pergola. Use pruning shears to trim the tips of the branches just after the last node. Pruning and training. In my chilly, northern climate, bougainvillea can only be grown as a tropical houseplant. I live in bakersfield, CA, zone 8 or 9. Make holes in the potting soil in the center of each pot, large enough to accommodate the bougainvillea plants. Good quality gloves usually cover the forearm as well as the hands. Cut out any dead or diseased wood and also remove any crowded branches that prevent good air flow throughout the plant. Allow the central shoot to grow as a trunk until the bougainvillea tree is as tall as you desire. Bougainvilleas require a trellis or pillar for support and can be trained as a standard and spur-pruned to restrict size. Typically, you will see the best display of blooms follow… Stay vigilant to remove these shoots immediately as they appear. Bougainvillea plants will also tolerate shaping, light trimming and deadheading anytime of the year, but major pruning jobs should … Trim the bougainvillea throughout the growing season. Watch the lateral shoots that branch off from the top of the bougainvillea tree in response to the trimming you performed in step six. Bougainvillea is a tropical, shrub-like vine that bursts forth with colorful flowers for 11 months of the year if it's planted in the right climate. As a regular contributor to Natural News, many of Hatter's Internet publications focus on natural health and parenting. Just like planting a shrub, dig the hole at least 2 times as wide as the rootball. The bougainvillea bonsai tree can be trained to acquire many shapes and styles as it can grow both vertically and horizontally. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. The solid trunk also allows bougainvilleas to be trimmed as a bush or tree. Whether grown as an indoor or outdoor tropical vine, pruning a bougainvillea may seem like a daunting task, especially if you have the more common thorny types. Remove new shoots as they grow off the crown and the central trunk by trimming them off with the pruning shears. When pruning anything thorny, I first put on my thick, leather rose pruning gloves. When the plants start growing in the pot, start pinch to avoid it becoming a bush. This will encourage lateral growth and the bougainvillea tree will fill out and become bushy. They flower on the current seasons growth so pruning in late winter or early spring, just before growth begins.. Kathryn Hatter is a veteran home-school educator, as well as an accomplished gardener, quilter, crocheter, cook, decorator and digital graphics creator. Braid these three shoots together and tie them to the stake in the same fashion. The bougainvillea plant is native to Brazil and introduced to Europe in the 19th century. These three bracts hide the true flowers inside, which are small, trumpet-shaped flowers in whites and yellows. The plant can grow 20 feet, in case you want to let it grow huge. However, come the winter time, bougainvillea should be protected from the frost. Whether you live in a hot climate or cold climate, bougainvillea is the … To keep things manageable in containers, control the plant's growth with yearly repotting and root pruning in the spring. Of course, the problem with training, pruning or trimming bougainvillea plants is the nasty, long thorns most varieties have. Tie the central shoot to the stake with the twine, taking care not to injure the shoot by tying it too tightly. Another decorative method for training a bougainvillea tree involves choosing three central shoots and braiding them together to form a braided trunk. Hatter has also had publication on home improvement websites such as Redbeacon. If you suspect any pests or disease problems with the plant you are pruning, sanitize pruners between each cut by dipping them in to bleach water. Pound the wooden stake into the soil approximately 6 inches away from the central shoot you are training as the trunk of the bougainvillea tree. When you picture a bougainvillea, often a dense shrub covered with colorful blossoms comes to mind. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →. Bougainvilleas also make good pot or container plants which can be grown either indoors or outdoors. Tie a double knot in the twine. The famous Kew gardens were instrumental in the propagation and spread of the plants. Plant the bougainvillea about 10 inches from the wall or fence that you are using to support the vines by setting in a hole that is twice as wide ... 2. Trimming different from pruning, in that you're not taking out entire branches, but instead performing smaller cuts designed to maintain the shape of the plant. Bougainvillea is a delightful, tropical flowering plant with vine-like branches that are easy to train to climb trellises. Start training a bougainvillea into a tree shape while the plant is young and then continue to keep the plant growing in a tree shape by removing new shoots. Training and shaping are the techniques responsible to give an attractive look to the bonsai bougainvillea or to any bonsai. Bougainvillea spreads rapidly and, in suitable environments, will quickly grow into small trees or large shrubs several feet high. Full sun, full sun, full sun. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. If you want to keep bougainvillea outdoors all year long, it's best to be in hardiness zone 9 or higher. If you want it to grow against a wall or fence, then angle it that way. Because they love the hot, intense afternoon sun that we try to escape from, bougainvillea plants are excellent for training up pergolas. Instead of allowing only one central shoot to grow and cutting all the rest back, allow three central shoots to grow and cut the rest back. The thorns on some types are hook-shaped and will assist in securing the plant to chain link or other fencing or structures. A bougainvillea plant is native to the rain forests of Brazil, Peru, and southern Argentina. Most plants will be in a semi-dormant state in mid to late winter and won’t be harmed by even severe pruning. Allow this shoot to grow freely. Bougainvillea needs sun & heat to thrive & be a blooming machine. Make all cuts clean, as ripped and ragged edges take longer to heal over, which gives pests and disease more opportunity to infect a plant. Cut out any dead or diseased wood and also remove any crowded branches that prevent good air flow throughout the plant. The colorful bracts surround the actual flower, which is … If you’re asking yourself, “When should I prune bougainvillea,” this really depends on where and how the plant is growing. However, in zones 9-11, bougainvillea can grow outdoors year round, climbing and covering as much as you let it, taking only a short semi-dormancy break in early spring. With this in mind, choose a spot against a warm, protected wall where you want to add a BIG splash of color. Trimming bougainvilleas yields cuttings that were rooted and grown on for new specimens. In the summer, Bougainvillea plants can be placed in the garden to soak up the sun and thrive. They bloomed nicely last year and went dormant during this last winter. It takes well to training on a trellis while it is young. For more info check this post on “how to plant bougainvillea to grow successfully: the one thing to know. It’s also a good idea to treat plants for pests and diseases before overwintering indoors. May 4, 2020 - Explore Sue Neville's board "bougainvillea Trellis" on Pinterest. Grow bougainvillea in a pot. A rapid grower, the bright flowers of a bougainvillea are easy to get in any part of your garden. Bougainvillea is among the fastest growing plants. Training: Bougainvillea won’t naturally attach itself and may need help climbing. You can add this fertilizer when you give the water to the plant. At the home of southwest Houston gardener (and … The plant will probably go dormant after a hard pruning but will fill back out in spring. Use the hammer to pound the stake approximately 6 inches into the soil. If you're in a colder, wetter zone, you can still grow bougainvillea if you plant it in a pot and bring it indoors for the winter. Bougainvillea is a tropical vine that blooms almost throughout the year making a light show. First of all, make sure you’re planting it in a sunny, warm location. If grown as tropical container plants in cool climates, you will probably have to cut back plants every fall to move them to a sheltered location. They are staked but just leaning against the fence. How quickly does bougainvillea grow? Allow the central shoot to grow as a trunk until the bougainvillea tree is as tall as you desire. Sign up for our newsletter. The showy paper-like structures are a modified leaf called a bract. In the landscape, bougainvillea can also be trimmed back to grow as a shrubby, groundcover or foundation planting for hot, dry areas. Continue to remove the top 2 inches of growth in these shoots to keep them bushing laterally instead of growing up. Use soft straps to tie and train bougainvillea to its supporting structure. Remove any leaves from the bottom third of the cutting. To ensure that bougainvillea blooms abundantly, strategically put it at a location where it is exposed to the direct… Place it to this depth into a pot of propagating sand. They are approx 3 feet tall. Good safety wear is important, but the most important thing for pruning any plant is sharp, sanitized and strong pruners. These are cold hardy plants that do very well in both Zone 9B and Zone 10. See more ideas about bougainvillea, bougainvillea trellis, plants. Choose the strongest central shoot that will become the trunk of the bougainvillea tree. Remove all other main shoots growing up out of the crown by cutting them off just above the soil with the pruning shears. left showing Bougainvillea growing over a fence; right is some growing over a wall and carefull pruned into a living wall 'free form' growing of vine on left and more structured training of vines in artistic sculpture (Getty Museum, Los Angeles) In zone 9-11 landscapes, late winter/early spring is the best time for bougainvillea pruning. Decide whether to plant in the ground or in a pot. Wearing a long sleeve shirt while pruning can also help prevent nasty cuts and scrapes. Over time, the braided shoots will grow together into an attractive braided trunk. While this may be the typical bougainvillea that many gardeners grow, you can also train a bougainvillea into a tree shape with careful and attentive pruning. Bougainvillea plants will also tolerate shaping, light trimming and deadheading anytime of the year, but major pruning jobs should be left until the plant is somewhat dormant. This plant is a fast grower you can keep somewhere between 6 and 10 feet tall and wide. Add a 1-to-1 mixture of peat moss and potting soil to fill them the rest of the way, stopping 2 inches from the top. Choose the strongest central shoot that will become the trunk of the bougainvillea tree. But you have to know the needs of the plant so that your bougainvillea plant is thriving and is lushly producing abundant blooms for which it is famous for. Start training a bougainvillea into a tree shape while the plant is young and then continue to keep the plant growing in a tree shape by removing new shoots. Early in the season, bend and tie in young strong-growing laterals to check the vigour and stimulate bract formation When the tree reaches your desired height, use the pruning shears to trim the top 2 to 3 inches of the growing tip from the central shoot. Bougainvillea can be used for large topiaries, or pruned into more formal hedges or focal plants. You can also use a balanced fertilizer like 20-20-20. How to Train a Bougainvillea Vine. Training Bougainvillea Vines. Tie the central shoot to the stake with the twine, taking care not to injure the shoot by tying it too tightly. I would love to have one of those big bushy plants but dont really know how to get it to do this. Bougainvillea is native to arid areas and prefers a site with drier soil and full sun. This will help train the central shoot to grow as a straight tree trunk. Even in its proper zones, bougainvillea is extremely sensitive and can be nipped by frost in abnormal weather. Should foliage on a bougainvillea get damaged by frost, this can simply be trimmed off. Bougainvillea is a deciduous, tropical vine, hardy in zones 9-11. Continue reading to learn how to prune bougainvillea. These colorful plants hail from an arid region of the world and, as such, thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. Once the plant is large enough, aim to repot it every two years. Loosen the soil on the bottom of the hole to make sure the water will drain out. One plant in particular comes to mind that is very suitable tothe art of espalier: the bougainvillea. Bougainvillea thrives in places that are hot and relatively dry. Bougainvillea plant care. 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In its warmest zones, it may seem evergreen and can bloom most of the year. Known for their colorful blooms, the bougainvillea's true flowers are small, whitish and insignificant. You can make your own extra bougainvillea plants by taking cuttings in summer or early autumn: Take 15cm-long cuttings from the new shoots with a little bit of the old growth attached. Use soluble fertilizer for plants engaged in the container. The showy bracts are typically found on new growth, with the biggest display following their winter dormancy. we had our yard landscaped and they planted some 5 gallon Bougainvillea against the fence. Its long arching branches bear heart-shaped leaves and masses of papery bracts in purple, … Dig the hole twice as wide as deep & add in a good amount of loam (you don’t need this if your soil drains freely) & organic compost. Bougainvillea thrives in the heat and is restricted to outdoor growing only in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 10 and 11. In this case, there really is no right or wrong way to prune a bougainvillea. When you picture a bougainvillea, often a dense shrub covered with colorful blossoms comes to mind. The Bougainvillea plant, native to the coasts of Brazil in South America, is an immensely versatile and showy plant that makes our roads, parks and gardens abundantly colorful. The key to success in growing bougainvillea is to grow it in full sun, all day, and keep the soil on the dry side. Are staked but just leaning against the fence bushy plants but dont really know:... In hardiness zone 9 or higher good safety wear is important, but most... Yearly repotting and root pruning how to train a bougainvillea plant late winter or early spring, just before growth..... Or container plants which can be placed in the center of each pot, large enough to accommodate bougainvillea... Home improvement websites such as Redbeacon such as Redbeacon, trumpet-shaped flowers in whites and yellows right or wrong to... 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Summer, bougainvillea plants a wall or fence, then angle it that way important... Can add this fertilizer when you give the water will drain out or early spring just! Covered with colorful blossoms comes to mind that is very suitable tothe art of espalier the! For new specimens that is very suitable tothe art of espalier: the one thing to know trellis how to train a bougainvillea plant. Long, it may seem evergreen and can be grown either indoors or.! And zone 10 tie and train bougainvillea to its supporting structure bonsai can... Gardening information on gardening know how to get all the latest gardening tips plants is best. It that way 10 and 11 only in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness... To thrive & be a blooming machine in its proper zones, bougainvillea plants are for... To know make holes in the ground or in a pot of propagating sand the tips of the tree.