Q. While most of our bougainvillea are in large pots
which we bring in doors for the winter; this year we planted one in an above
ground planter built around the Jacuzzi. My question is what should I do to
help it survive the winter without having to dig it up and transplant it again
in the spring. Should that even be an option?
which we bring in doors for the winter; this year we planted one in an above
ground planter built around the Jacuzzi. My question is what should I do to
help it survive the winter without having to dig it up and transplant it again
in the spring. Should that even be an option?
A. I like your idea of wrapping the bases of the plants
before any freeze. Unless you have a very warm microclimate in your yard, and
there are some in Las Vegas, you will see damage to them at the first light
freeze with temperatures below 32° F. Wood mulches will also protect the base
of bougainvillea but wrapping it is more effective. This way when it freezes it
will kill the top of the bougainvillea to the mulch or wrap and not much
further.
before any freeze. Unless you have a very warm microclimate in your yard, and
there are some in Las Vegas, you will see damage to them at the first light
freeze with temperatures below 32° F. Wood mulches will also protect the base
of bougainvillea but wrapping it is more effective. This way when it freezes it
will kill the top of the bougainvillea to the mulch or wrap and not much
further.
Of course this works to temperatures below freezing for short periods
of time. If the temperatures are extremely cold or at these temperatures last a
long time that it may freeze the plant to the ground. How well you protect the
base of the plant will determine how strong it will come back, or not, next
spring. Having bougainvillea in the spot in the yard which does not have a lot
of wind and is very close to a warm, South or even better yet, West-facing wall
will improve its chances for survival.
of time. If the temperatures are extremely cold or at these temperatures last a
long time that it may freeze the plant to the ground. How well you protect the
base of the plant will determine how strong it will come back, or not, next
spring. Having bougainvillea in the spot in the yard which does not have a lot
of wind and is very close to a warm, South or even better yet, West-facing wall
will improve its chances for survival.
Plants that freeze to the ground will come back like
gangbusters next spring because of their established root system. Plants that
are planted in the spring have to grow both the roots and the tops and so
growth is divided between the two. Plants that have an established root system
only have to grow the top back and so all of that growth goes to top growth and
we see huge amounts of growth in the spring.
gangbusters next spring because of their established root system. Plants that
are planted in the spring have to grow both the roots and the tops and so
growth is divided between the two. Plants that have an established root system
only have to grow the top back and so all of that growth goes to top growth and
we see huge amounts of growth in the spring.
You do not want to feed them anything this time of year.
This goes for any winter tender plant. These plants should get no fertilizer
applied to them any time after mid-August. Fertilizers which stimulate new
growth will cause the plant to become more succulent and lower its chances of
surviving winter freezes. This is not true of plants that have no problem
surviving winter freezes. In fact, those plants can receive mid fall applications
of fertilizer with no problems. A mid fall application of fertilizer can
substitute for a Spring application but not winter tender plants.
This goes for any winter tender plant. These plants should get no fertilizer
applied to them any time after mid-August. Fertilizers which stimulate new
growth will cause the plant to become more succulent and lower its chances of
surviving winter freezes. This is not true of plants that have no problem
surviving winter freezes. In fact, those plants can receive mid fall applications
of fertilizer with no problems. A mid fall application of fertilizer can
substitute for a Spring application but not winter tender plants.