Bougainvillea blooming on only one branch? Learn this one trick and it will burst into bloom all over

Bougainvillea is a kind of leaf flower with a peculiar flower shape, and also a potted plant that easily grows into a flowering tree. As long as it is cared for properly, it will burst into bloom all over as soon as the flowering season arrives. As long as you understand its growth habits in depth, this is actually quite easy to achieve. But a message from a flower friend says: My bougainvillea has flowers on only one branch tip, while the other branches play dumb and just will not bloom. They eat and drink together with the rest, but only grow taller and do no work. If they still do not bloom, I will cut them all off.

This flower friend is really quite funny. So what exactly should be done to avoid bougainvillea blooming on only one branch?

Let us explain in detail below

Actually this is not hard at all. If you want bougainvillea to bloom more, with flowers all over the tree, there is only one method, and that is ruthless pruning. It must be heavily pruned, and you also need to control water. Only then will the flowers be plentiful and concentrated. If the branches are not pruned for a long time and are allowed to grow freely, this situation described by the flower friend easily happens.

Now let us explain in detail how to prune.

However, in the early stage of growing bougainvillea, flower friends all give it one heavy pruning in order to shape it. This pruning is not for making it bloom more, but for creating a shape. Once the shape is formed, heavy pruning is no longer carried out.

During heavy pruning, all branches should be cut off, keeping only a few main branches. The main branches also need to be pruned substantially. Heavy pruning looks very thorough.

Generally, for a mature bougainvillea plant, pruning is needed about 1 to 3 times a year, but not too much, as it will affect the growth of the bougainvillea and affect the number of blooming cycles and the flowering time.

1. Medium pruning

This kind of pruning is relatively light. It means cutting off some leggy branches and dead branches on the bougainvillea, and slightly shortening the other branches. It will not change the shape of the plant.

This kind of pruning is generally done around Qingming. In this way, within 20 days to a month, the first flush of branches will quickly grow very tall. After more than a month, when the branches have grown longer, carry out the second pruning on all bougainvillea at the same time.

2. Light pruning

Light pruning is actually even smaller in extent, only slightly trimming weak branches, diseased branches, dead branches, and so on. From late June to July, the principle of pruning is to cut all branches evenly, just like giving a flat-top haircut.

3. Cutting back

Cutting back basically keeps the tree shape unchanged, but the branches need to be shortened, which gives the plant more room to grow.

In August, no later than mid-August (branches that grow after mid-August each carry flowers at the tip, and pruning again will affect flowering). The principle of pruning is still even cutting.

Moreover, after a branch is pruned many times, it will send out multiple branchlets. For example, one branch becomes 2 after one pruning, then 2 becomes 4 after the second, and 8 after the third. If your bougainvillea blooms less than others, this is the reason. If it grows slowly, pruning twice is also fine.

Flower friends, have you learned it?

Flower friends, if you want potted bougainvillea to bloom more, besides pruning, fertilizer must also be sufficient. Only then will the bougainvillea have more flowers later. Apply fertilizer to the bougainvillea regularly and in fixed amounts. Since bougainvillea is a flowering plant, use fertilizer mainly based on phosphorus and potassium. Only this can ensure its flowers are brightly colored, last a long time, and bloom in a concentrated way.

If you want bougainvillea to bloom early, flower friends also need to learn to control water.

The method of water control is not difficult either. It can be based on the size of the flowerpot. During the water control period, do not water. Water control generally lasts three weeks. From bud appearance to full bloom also takes about 20 days. Based on the calculated flowering time, start water control 40 days in advance. If you want the bougainvillea to bloom in October, start water control at the end of August.

Wait until the bougainvillea leaves wither due to lack of water, then water only half the usual amount, or sprinkle some water. Ensure the plant is in a state of withering for half a day and not withering for half a day every day. The purpose of water control is to have the leaves wither every day, without sprouting or growing new leaves, so that all the plant's nutrients are supplied to the old leaves, promoting branch maturity and flower bud differentiation.

Note that during water control do not apply fertilizer. In a drought state, fertilizer absorption is poor and it can also damage the roots.

Flower friends, have you learned it?

Below let us share bougainvillea that have grown into flowering trees, for everyone to enjoy. I hope you like them!

Beautiful, right?