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Care & Maintenance: Please help a Sydney Australian with a standard bougainvillea

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    • CommentAuthorMonty
    • CommentTimeDec 5th 2009
     
    Hi, I have a standard boug and i live in sydney australia, we are in the start of summer and in sydney at the moment we are having high 30 degress celius days and my boug is in full sun for at least 6-8 hours a day. My boug does not look bushy, it is only a single plant made into a standard in a 40cm / 16" pot and i bought it from my local nursey about 8 months ago and i was wondering if you could give me some suggestions on how to make it more bushy and also produce more bracts .
    Thanks, Monty from Sydney Australia.
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      CommentAuthorKellieBGI
    • CommentTimeDec 7th 2009 edited
     
    Hi Monty,

    There are three things you should do after each blooming cycle (every 4-6 weeks) to make your bougainvillea more full, with increased branching that will in turn produce more foliage and bracts on your plant: Prune, Pinch, and Bougain. If you check out our website, you'll see that we have a wealth of information on that very topic. Also on our website is a very helpful article with pictures on exactly How To Pinch and Prune Bougainvillea

    Click on the underlined text above to take you directly to those sections of our website.

    Thanks for the question!
    • CommentAuthorMonty
    • CommentTimeDec 9th 2009
     
    Thanks Kellie for your answer to my Question. When are the flowering cycles, which months of the year? Im now in summer in Sydney Australia. How much should i prune off the plant, should i do just a light prune or prune it hard?
    Anymore help would be fantastic.
    Many thanks, Monty.
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      CommentAuthorKellieBGI
    • CommentTimeDec 9th 2009
     
    It's safe to say that different countries have different flowering cycles. Great variations in longitude and latitude affect bougainvillea's cycle. For the answer to your question about flowering cycles, I would consult with your local garden center.

    Everyone has their own take on what is a "light" prune and a "hard" prune. A good rule of thumb is to perform a trim of 1-2" off the tips of the branches after each blooming cycle. This I would call the light prune. During months of faster growth, feel free to perform a hard cut of of anywhere from several inches to several feet - depending on how large/mature your bougainvillea. This I would call the hard prune.

    A light prune or hard prune depends on what the plant needs. If it's getting unruly or not quite the size you want, feel free to cut it back to any size. Just make sure not to perform a hard prune in cold weather months.

    Thanks for your questions!

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