Bougainvillea dropping leaves after transplanting: causes and solutions

We all know that bougainvillea needs to go through a transplanting process from cuttings propagation to growing into a potted tree with a certain ornamental value. Transplanting is meant to let it grow in a better environment, and whether the transplanting method is scientific and reasonable will directly affect the plant's survival and growth state. In the previous article, the editor told everyone about "How to Transplant Bougainvillea", but if the transplanting method is improper, it may cause a series of problems, ranging from affecting the growth state of the young plant to possibly causing death in serious cases.

The most common problem with bougainvillea after transplanting is the phenomenon of leaves wilting and dropping. Of course, compared with wilting, the phenomenon of dropping leaves is more serious. In the article "What to Do When the Leaves of the Happiness Tree Wilt After Repotting" pushed a few days ago, the editor analyzed for everyone the wilting phenomenon of the Happiness Tree after transplanting and its countermeasures. In fact, bougainvillea is similar, and everyone can refer to it. So, what should be done when bougainvillea drops leaves after transplanting? We first analyze the causes.

Because it is transplanting into a pot, and the young bougainvillea plant also needs pruning and root trimming treatment before transplanting into a pot, this is mainly to save unnecessary nutrient consumption for the young plant, so that nutrients are concentrated and transported to the retained branches and leaves, thereby improving the survival rate of transplanting. But pruning must be moderate. If the degree of pruning is too deep, whether it is pruning of branches and leaves or pruning of the root system, this is very unfavorable to the survival of the plant.

The phenomenon of bougainvillea dropping leaves after transplanting is generally caused by excessive pruning. In particular, pruning of the root system is too severe, seriously affecting the young plant's normal absorption of water and nutrients. Because the damage is serious, water and nutrients cannot be used in time by all parts of the tree body. When the branches and leaves cannot get replenishment, if this goes on for a long time, the phenomenon of dropping leaves will naturally appear.

Of course, there is another situation, that is, the degree of pruning is relatively appropriate, and the potting process is also correct. Then why does bougainvillea still drop leaves after transplanting? In fact, the problem may still lie in the root system. Although the root trimming method is correct, if the roots are not sterilized and disinfected after trimming and the potting soil carries many pathogens, then the pathogens will invade and infect the wounds from the root wounds. If we still ignore it and continue potting, the infected wounds on the root system will become larger and larger, and may even cause the intact root system to rot as well. Since the root system of bougainvillea is already damaged, it is unavoidable that leaves will drop after potting.

Even if neither of the above two situations occurs, we may still encounter the phenomenon of bougainvillea dropping leaves after transplanting. This is the third situation the editor wants to mention - the root system and potting soil are not combined tightly enough. As we said before, before potting the young bougainvillea plant, in addition to root trimming, it also needs to be soaked in red soil slurry. The purpose is to make the root system contact the soil more tightly, so that the root system can more easily absorb nutrients and water from the soil.

Perhaps it is precisely because when transplanting the young bougainvillea plant, the root system was not soaked in red soil slurry, and the potting soil and the plant did not contact tightly enough, so the plant's root system cannot normally absorb nutrients and water from the soil, and therefore the phenomenon of dropping leaves appears. So, as the editor said in the previous article, during the transplanting process of bougainvillea, the root system needs to be soaked in red soil slurry.

Bougainvillea dropping leaves after transplanting is mainly caused by problems with the root system, so to identify the crux of the problem, we first need to investigate from the root system, and then take corresponding handling measures.

First, we need to check the condition of the root system, whether it is excessive root trimming or the root system has rotted due to pathogen infection, or whether it is in tight enough contact with the potting soil. Only after finding the real cause can we take timely countermeasures. If the root damage is relatively light, we need to cut off the rotten parts of the root system, then carry out disinfection and sterilization treatment, and afterward replant; if the root system and potting soil are not in sufficient contact, then we need to fill the gaps between them with soil, and then gently compact the potting soil around the plant. In short, analyze specific problems specifically, and when using rescue methods, adapt measures to local conditions.