Q. I came from Southern
California where I had beautiful red and yellow bougainvillea that grew with
little help. I tried to save my beautiful pink bougainvillea last year by
moving it onto my patio close to the house. I covered it every night,
uncovering it in the daytime. It appeared dead this spring but just now I see some
very tiny green leaves close to the bottom. Do you think this bougainvillea can
come back?
California where I had beautiful red and yellow bougainvillea that grew with
little help. I tried to save my beautiful pink bougainvillea last year by
moving it onto my patio close to the house. I covered it every night,
uncovering it in the daytime. It appeared dead this spring but just now I see some
very tiny green leaves close to the bottom. Do you think this bougainvillea can
come back?
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| Even a light freeze will damage bougainvillea like this. |
A. Yes, it will come back.
Bougainvillea is a frost indicator plant. In other words, if the temperature
drops one degree below freezing, you will see damage to this plant. If the
temperature is freezing for several hours combined with strong winds, it will
die to the ground.
Bougainvillea is a frost indicator plant. In other words, if the temperature
drops one degree below freezing, you will see damage to this plant. If the
temperature is freezing for several hours combined with strong winds, it will
die to the ground.
Bougainvillea frequently dies to the ground each winter it
freezes and resprouts from its “crown” in the spring. The crown is where the
top attaches to the roots and grows just below soil level.
freezes and resprouts from its “crown” in the spring. The crown is where the
top attaches to the roots and grows just below soil level.
After the first freeze in the fall, cut it to the ground
and cover the area with 3 to 4 inches of woodchip mulch. I will sometimes use a
nursery container turned upside down with the bottom cut off. I place this over
the trimmed bougainvillea and fill it with mulch.
and cover the area with 3 to 4 inches of woodchip mulch. I will sometimes use a
nursery container turned upside down with the bottom cut off. I place this over
the trimmed bougainvillea and fill it with mulch.
Never fertilize bougainvillea after August 1. High
nitrogen fertilizers make sensitive plants more tender when the freezing
weather comes. But always continue to water it through the winter months every
10 days to two weeks.
nitrogen fertilizers make sensitive plants more tender when the freezing
weather comes. But always continue to water it through the winter months every
10 days to two weeks.
 |
| ‘Barbara Karst’ Bougainvillea With leaf cutter be damage |
As soon as freezing
weather has passed (tomatoes have been planted), uncover it and let the sun
warm the soil. As soon as you see new leaves sprout, fertilize it or apply
compost. One fertilizer application is probably all it will need for the whole
year.