Bougainvillea dropping flowers may be caused by overwatering

As a flowering ornamental plant, bougainvillea is deeply loved by people for its long flowering period, bright colors, and unique shape. In the actual care process, many flower enthusiasts report that their bougainvillea shows flower drop, or does not bloom as scheduled. What exactly is the reason? How should it be cared for after bougainvillea blooms?

1. What causes bougainvillea to drop flowers?

1. Overwatering

After bougainvillea develops flower buds, it is enough as long as it is not drought-stressed; keep the potting soil alternating between dry and moist. Some flower enthusiasts heard from somewhere that bougainvillea needs more water when it develops flower buds, and as a result watering every few days caused the flower buds to drop early. This is because overwatering causes the roots of bougainvillea to lack oxygen, and water instead cannot be delivered to the flower buds in time, causing the flower buds to lose nourishment and wither. During the period when bougainvillea has flower buds, normal care is enough; there is no need to increase the amount of watering. In addition, when bougainvillea already has flower buds, it is best not to spray water on the leaves; when too much water is sprayed on the leaves, it can also cause the flower buds to drop.

2. Overfertilizing

After bougainvillea develops flower buds, it indeed needs relatively more nutrients, but if there were no problems with your earlier care and the bougainvillea has luxuriant branches and leaves, then even without fertilizing after the flower buds appear, it can still bloom normally. On the contrary, if the bougainvillea was already fertilized heavily in the earlier stage of care and fertilizer is still continuously applied after the flower buds appear, it is very easy to cause excess nutrients, with branches and leaves becoming too dense while the flower buds drop or few flowers open. As long as the bougainvillea is very healthy, fertilizing should stop once the flower buds begin to change color. If your bougainvillea at home did not receive attention to fertilizing before and is sallow and thin, then applying a small amount of fertilizer when it has flower buds is very necessary, but be sure to pay attention to the concentration and apply dilute fertilizer frequently.

3. Moving the flowerpot

Bougainvillea flowers store relatively little water and are very sensitive to environmental changes. If the flowerpot is frequently moved or the light is changed when the flower buds grow out, it may cause bud drop. Previously there was a flower enthusiast who, after the bougainvillea grew flower buds, in order to let it get more sun, placed it at the east window in the morning and the west window in the afternoon every day, and as a result the flower buds dropped before the flowers even opened. After bougainvillea grows flower buds, it is best not to move the flowerpot, nor to artificially change the light duration and intensity; just place it steadily in one place and care for it there.

2. How to care for bougainvillea after it blooms?

1. Pay attention to fertilizing

After bougainvillea blooms, it enters vegetative growth, and at this time timely fertilizing is needed. Generally, urea is applied once a week, which can supplement the nutrients consumed by the bougainvillea during flowering, and can also promote the growth of new branches and leaves, preparing for the next bloom.

2. Pay attention to light

After bougainvillea blooms, one thing to pay attention to is light. Bougainvillea is a flower that likes light; if there is insufficient light, the plant will grow weak and flowering will be affected. In general, after bougainvillea blooms it is winter and spring, and at this time the sunshine is not good, so make sure the bougainvillea receives a relatively long period of light every day, and it is best to place it in a bright location.

In addition, attention should also be paid to temperature. The suitable growing temperature for bougainvillea is between 20°C——30°C. In winter the temperature is generally relatively low, and if it is below 5°C, a large number of leaves will drop. Therefore, after bougainvillea blooms, it is necessary to ensure relatively warm light.

3. Pay attention to pruning

After bougainvillea blooms, a very important point is to prune. Because throughout the entire flowering period of bougainvillea, there are many fallen flowers and fallen leaves. In addition to timely cleanup during the flowering period, timely pruning is also needed after flowering. Potted bougainvillea generally needs to be pruned into a beautiful shape, with the requirement of many branches. Ground-planted bougainvillea also needs a support frame to help it climb. Newly grown branches also need timely pinching, and be careful to prune away overly dense, leggy, and diseased or dead branches.