Overwintering of bougainvillea

Overwintering of bougainvillea
The bougainvillea is not a frost-tolerant plant and therefore requires protection in winter. Bougainvillea can die if temperatures remain below freezing for 4 hours. A light frost will not kill the plant, but all leaves and bracts will fall off within a day of the frost. If the plant is not exposed to a prolonged frost, it will resprout.
As bougainvillea are still actively flowering at the autumn equinox, towards the middle to end of September and early October, it is not unusual for an early frost to mean you have to take the plant indoors even when it is full of flowers. Once you move such a flowering plant in, all its bracts will drop off almost immediately, followed by the shedding of leaves. Don’t be alarmed by this, it’s a natural process caused by a sudden change in environment.
Almost any room where the temperature does not drop below 6 to 8°C even on the harshest winter days is suitable for overwintering bougainvillea. The optimum temperature range for wintering is between 8 and 12°C.
- if the plant is kept warmer than that and in a bright place, it will not go dormant. You will then need to water more often. If you keep it in a warm room, keep it in natural light as much as possible, otherwise the shoots of the plant will elongate in an ugly manner.
- conversely, if you keep it in a darker, cool place for the winter, expect the plant to go dormant. The most common mistake that can be made at this time is overwatering. A dormant overwatered plant may die. Keep the soil slightly moist, 100-300ml of water per week is sufficient in these conditions. Do not give the plant more than this because it has no leaves to evaporate the excess water. If you over-water a stunted bougainvillea for a prolonged period during the winter months, root rot will set in and the plant will die.
As soon as the nights are consistently around 8-10°C in spring, take the bougainvillea outdoors again and start watering and fertilising. Within a few weeks, bud break will occur, growth will begin and flowering will soon resume. If the bougainvillea has already started to grow indoors, keep it outdoors in partial shade for a few weeks to avoid the young, weak shoots becoming burnt by the sun. Once it is used to sunlight, you can put it in full sun.
If you’re lucky enough to have a conservatory, your bougainvillea will continue to bloom in winter with the appropriate care.
As an artisanal nursery based in Hungary, we are dedicated exclusively to growing, propagating and selling bougainvillea mutations. Our purchasing system is overseen by the National Food Chain Safety Office (NÉBIH). Our mother plants and propagations are supervised by a plant protection expert, a plant protection specialist and a plant doctor, assigned by NÉBIH. Our bougainvillea are delivered with a plant passport. The plant passport is the official label required for the transport of plants within the European Union, certifying that the plants bearing it meet the health requirements of all EU plants. In addition to the bougainvillea varieties known in Hungary, our collection also includes the rarest tropical mutations. The procurement of mother plants and propagation from them is continuous. We propagate locally and do not sell to other traders. All our Bougainvillea for sale have strong roots, are healthy and resistant to disease. Plants are delivered by GLS, MPL, or other local couriers. Our plants can be delivered to any place in Hungary within one day of order. Need more reasons to buy?

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