How to Get Bougainvillea Through Winter? A Full Guide to Winter Care Tips

Bougainvillea is a common flower in daily life with high ornamental value, and it can be grown in many areas. So how do you get bougainvillea through winter?

1. Overwintering location

Bougainvillea is not cold-tolerant. Once the temperature drops to 6 to 8 degrees, it needs to be moved to a different care location. Bougainvillea cannot survive winter in the open ground. Placed outdoors in a sunny, wind-sheltered spot, bougainvillea can overwinter in a double-layer plastic film shed built against a north-facing wall. Alternatively, place it on an enclosed south-facing balcony, set 40-80cm high in a wind-sheltered, sunny spot, and it will overwinter relatively safely. If you can additionally wrap it in a bag for warmth, even better.

2. Time to bring indoors

Bring it indoors when the temperature reaches 8 degrees. In the south this is generally mid-to-late November, and in the north around late October.

3. Overwintering management

(1) Pruning and tying

Before moving it indoors, prune the bougainvillea, keeping the main branches and some flowering branches, to reduce nutrient consumption.

(2) Stop fertilizing and control water

In winter, low temperatures slow water evaporation, so reduce watering and keep the potting soil on the dry side. Stop fertilizing to prevent the higher indoor temperature from causing vigorous vegetative growth again, which would weaken cold tolerance.

Bougainvillea enters a brief dormant period in winter and may drop its leaves. After dormancy and leaf drop, try not to water; if the soil is too dry, water a small amount (warm water) around the edge of the pot.

(3) Controlling aphids

In winter, when the plant is moved indoors, aphid pests are very likely to occur before the leaves drop, so timely control is needed.

4. Increase temperature, ventilate and supplement light

After moving indoors, place the plant in a spot with good ventilation, ample sunlight and suitable temperature for care. Usually pay attention to opening windows for ventilation so the environment does not become stuffy and hot.

5. Time to move back outdoors

Bougainvillea should be moved outdoors late, in late March. On the balcony, as temperatures rise, new buds begin to sprout on the bougainvillea, and by Qingming some have already begun flower bud differentiation. If moved outdoors at this time, the flower buds will be damaged by cold and it will not bloom in May. Therefore wait until the lowest temperature is stable at 12-15 degrees before moving it outdoors, from April to May. After moving outdoors, prune away dead branches and useless branches to improve the plant's shape.