When to Prune Bougainvillea? A Detailed Guide to Pruning Branches and Leaves
Growing plants and then shaping them so they grow into the form we envision is something plant lovers enjoy doing, so generally speaking, people with growing experience who love tending flowers will prune their plants, but the pruning methods and the timing of pruning both affect plant growth, so we must pay close attention.
Methods for Pruning Bougainvillea Branches and Leaves
The horizontal branches and leaves of bougainvillea should be cut back short, new growth should be heavily pruned, and dense and weak branches should be thinned out. As for the timing of pruning, there are also requirements: generally the first pruning is before budding, that is, between March and April; afterward, pruning should also be done in summer to avoid branches and leaves becoming too dense. When pruning, you should also pay attention to the size of the pot; if the pot is small, you should ensure the plant does not grow too large. The branches that need pruning are dead branches, horse-riding branches, parallel branches, leggy branches, and so on. Finally, attention should also be paid to the cut surfaces.
When to Prune Bougainvillea
When growing bougainvillea, you can actually prune it all year round; generally it is pruned multiple times, but not excessively.
When pruning bougainvillea, it is generally done after the peak flowering period; once the peak flowering period has passed, pruning can remove all the remaining flowers. This can reduce nutrient consumption and accumulate nutrients for the bougainvillea's next flowering.
Pruning during the growing period is generally for shaping the bougainvillea, seeing which branches are unsuitable to keep and cutting them all off; this can also encourage side growth and increase the number of flowering branches.
In daily pruning, you need to prune those poorly growing branches and maintain the plant shape so it reaches its best condition. After flowering, besides cutting off spent flowers, also cut off any branches that affect growth and ornamental value; the remaining branches do not need pruning and can just be slightly tidied up, without heavy pruning.
Bougainvillea Cutting Propagation Methods
1. Soil treatment
First prepare the cutting medium. (Vermiculite, perlite, peat, 1:1:1. Sand, plain sandy loam, etc. can also be used.) Add a small amount of cinder to the growing soil; before cutting, the cinder must be sieved, selecting particles about 2 to 5 mm, soaked in boiling water, and sterilized. Drain until no water drips, then mix thoroughly and set aside.
2. Prepare flower pots
If you need to propagate many pots by cuttings, you can use simple plastic pots, and pot them up after successful rooting. After choosing the flower pots, you need to fill them with soil; place a thin layer of elastic wadding at the bottom of the pot. After the soil is put in, water thoroughly, place in sunlight, and let it dry for later use.
3. Cutting branches
Cut sun-facing branches as cuttings; new branches are best with a bit of old branch. After June, new branches that have become semi-lignified do not need to include old branch. When cutting the cuttings, old branches should be thick, and new branches with leaves should be used. Use a sharp knife to slice off the cutting; for large leaves keep two half-leaves, for small leaves keep two leaves and one bud, about 7-10 cm long; after cutting, the base of the branch has an uneven cut and damaged tissue, so use a sharp knife to shave off the damaged tissue and cut the base into a slanted surface in one stroke. The picture below shows the prepared branches.
4. Soaking the branches
Prepare rooting powder according to the instructions and soak the base of the cuttings.
5. Cutting method
Use a clean (sterilized) wooden stick to make holes at an angle, 7-8 cm deep, then insert the cuttings so that the leaf-bearing nodes are exposed. After planting a pot, pour a little cold boiled water or bottled water so that the medium comes into close contact with the base of the cuttings; if conditions permit, you can place a pot outside for easier management. Cover with plastic wrap to retain moisture; make ventilation holes on top, and keep it in a place with sparse sunlight for care. By mid-June the seedlings have rooted, and can be divided and potted up.
Repotting Bougainvillea
1. Choosing a pot and preparing soil
Before repotting, prepare the soil and the pot to be used; choose soil rich in organic matter, loose and fertile, and you can mix in a little sawdust or leaf mold. Generally, the new pot should be a bit larger than the old one, which helps the plant grow better.
2. Removing the plant from the pot
There is a bit of technique to removing the plant from the pot; for a small pot, just use the right index and middle fingers to hold the plant's base, turn the pot upside down directly, use the left hand to cover the drainage hole, and lift outward, and the whole root ball will come out. For larger pots, first loosen the soil around the pot to reduce weight and friction, then grasp the base and lift it out.
3. Potting up
After removing the plant from the pot, clear away part of the soil around the roots; do not disturb the soil close to the roots. Place tiles in the new pot and it is ready for planting. When potting up, add soil while planting; hold the plant with the left hand and add soil with a trowel in the right hand. Do not bury the soil too deep, as it easily causes oxygen deficiency. If the plant is too large, two people can do it together.
4. Completing the repotting
Care after repotting: after repotting, water it; if there is no drooping of the leaves, you can immediately apply a little dilute fertilizer water, then carry out normal care.
Besides pruning, cutting propagation, and repotting are all very important steps in a plant's growth process; done well, they can greatly improve the plant's appearance and growing condition, so mastering these steps in plant growth is very beneficial for the plant's beautification and healthy growth.