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Will my plant bud?

Articles

Will my plant bud?

As the spring months approach and the cold, overcast weather is replaced by longer, sunnier days, not only are we in a better mood, but our outdoor plants also feel the change in weather, starting to circulate moisture and budding their branches.

The first spring shoots of Rayfish bougainvillea.

In the case of bougainvillea, bud break occurs at different times depending on their wintering period and also on the variety. Thus, if someone else’s bougainvillea is already in leaf or flowering in April, it doesn’t mean that yours will be too. All plants adapt to their environment. Let’s take a look at the overwintering possibilities.

Those in the best position are those which have wintered in a bright, sunny greenhouse or conservatory all winter long, where the temperature never drops below 15 degrees. In such an environment, bougainvillea will continue to thrive in winter and flower as early as March, when others are still waiting for spring.

A bougainvillea that has been kept at room temperature all winter in a bright indoor room with a sunny south-facing window will, after some acclimatisation to the sun outside, continue to live a happy life outdoors, adapting quickly to stronger direct sunlight. So those who keep their plants in this way during the winter need not worry about bud break, as the plant has practically not been in hibernation.

Many people do not have a suitable place to overwinter their plants, nor a south-facing window in which to place them. Those who have grown their bougainvillea in a warm room with little light will undoubtedly have the most trouble getting their plant acclimatised to the outdoors. In fact, they should consider themselves lucky if the plant has survived the winter, as these are the least suitable conditions for overwintering. In such conditions, bougainvillea will not adapt to winter, as the warmth does not stop the plant’s circulation and it wants to grow, but it does not get enough light for this, which results in long, weak and elongated shoots and branches. These shoots will burn off in the sun as soon as the plant is placed outside. Not to mention the strong spring winds that cause structural damage to the weak leaves. But these are just aesthetic flaws, bougainvillea will recover quickly. After the sunburn, the reddish or yellowish strong buds, already used to the sun, will reappear on the branches.

If you overwinter in a sunless room at 8-12°C, you should usually take the bougainvillea outside in spring without leaves, as the plant will drop its leaves under these conditions. This is a natural process. After a few warm, sunny days, the plant starts to bud, with strong, sun-loving shoots and, after the leaves, the colourful bracts start to form. Many people wonder, when they see a bald plant, whether it will sprout, if it will grow again or is it already dead? For those who have followed the most important wintering rules, there is no need to worry. The plant needs warmth, plenty of sunlight and patience. More on overwintering in this article.

Certain bougainvillea varieties behave differently.

Just to complicate matters further, we need to consider that each bougainvillea variety behaves differently. Among the infinite number of mutations that exist today, there are some that are already in full, glorious bloom in mid-spring, while others that are still languishing by mid-spring and don’t seem to realise that summer is on the doorstep. In our collection, the Tanglung and Chili varieties are like that. Nevertheless, there is no need to worry or hurry with them, we have to appreciate that they will do what they need to do in their own good time. Experience is obviously needed to assess the situation. And experience requires patience, so be patient. For those who start the season with leafless bougainvillea, you certainly have until mid-June to hope to see bud break. Nothing needs to be done with them until then, just keep from overwatering them. Without leaves, bougainvillea cannot transpire, so they do not take up water to the same extent as a deciduous plant. Keep the soil slightly moist.

Bougainvillea overwintered in the dark at 8-12 degrees Celsius will tend to dry back a little, although this also depends on the variety. If you are lucky, only a few centimetres of the branch tips will dry back, leaving the part below completely intact. But not everyone is so lucky. The overwintering of bougainvillea sometimes results in partial or complete branch drying, the extent of which depends on the overwintering temperature and the amount of watering. The branches of the shrivelled plants are strangely discoloured, with reddish, reddish-brown, rust-coloured tints. Care must be taken, however, as these branch colours are characteristic of certain mutations, although there are not too many of them. Typical are the branches of Thimmas that are not yet fully woody. And the branches of Jindas tend to have a light yellowish tinge. One thing is for sure, if the inside of a branch is not distinctly green, but yellow or pale yellow and smells rotten, that part of the branch is no longer alive. This by no means implies that the plant is not alive. The plant is alive and can sprout from its roots or from the underground part of the branch as long as the roots are intact. No matter what we see above ground, if the root is alive underground, it has a chance to live, and you have no reason to panic.

Thimma bougainvillea

Two terrible pieces of advice you should never take from others if your bougainvillea has dried back:

  1. it needs more water
  2. it needs pruning

Give both of these a very wide berth if you want your plant to stand any chance.

Don’t water, because the most common cause of drying is overwatering; complete branch drying occurs because the roots drown in water. Keep the soil slightly moist, don’t over-water and don’t water too often. The plant won’t absorb the water and it will just lead to the rot increasing.

Don’t prune the plant, as this may cause it to dry out further. And don’t shape it, because that will also involve pruning. Why would you shape a plant that might not even be alive? It may be interesting as a learning process for you, but it won’t save the plant, it will only cause it further stress.

Bougainvillea teaches patience. But it also rewards patience.

magenta vonal

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?

Bougainvillea sales in European Union, bougainvillea purchase in Hungary domestic nursery specialized in gravel gardens

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