How to care for Bougainvillea after the flowers fade? A detailed guide to practical care methods

Bougainvillea, also called paperflower, is the city flower of Xiamen, the provincial flower of Hainan Province, and the national flower of the Republic of Zambia. Bougainvillea flowers are unusual and beautiful, covering the branches when in bloom, and are loved by many people, but many flower growers do not know how to care for them after flowering. The issues are described below.

1. Temperature after flowering: The suitable growing temperature for Bougainvillea is 20-30°C. In winter, temperatures below 5°C make it prone to cold damage and leaf drop.

2. Light after flowering: Bougainvillea likes light. During the growing season, insufficient light will weaken the plant's growth and affect flowering. In winter, it should be placed in a bright location, and daily light exposure must not be less than 8 hours, otherwise a large amount of leaf drop is likely to occur.

3. Fertilizing after flowering: After the flowers fade in spring, Bougainvillea enters its vegetative growth period, and urea can be applied once every 1 week. This can both replenish the plant's consumption after flowering and promote the growth of new branches, laying a good foundation for reproductive growth.

4. Pruning after flowering: Bougainvillea sheds many leaves and flowers during the flowering period, so shaping and pruning are needed after flowering. Potted plants are often pruned into a round-headed crown or tied into shapes, requiring many branches and dense flowers to form a gorgeous crown. Ground-planted plants need supports to be set up so they can climb onto them. New branches should be pinched back regularly. After repotting, prune some overly dense branches, leggy branches, dead branches, and diseased or pest-damaged branches to encourage more new branches. Perform pinching in July-August to control growth and promote flower bud formation and abundant flowering. For 5-6 year old plants, shorten or heavily prune once for renewal.