What to Do If Your Bougainvillea Has Root Rot? Here's the Correct Way to Handle It

Bougainvillea has vivid flower colors, a long blooming period, and large bracts, making it much loved and suitable for courtyard planting or growing as a potted ornamental at home. Many friends inevitably run into some problems during the growing process, so what should you do if your bougainvillea has root rot? And how should we handle it? Let's take a look below.

Causes of Root Rot

1. Improper Watering

Improper watering is the main cause of root rot in bougainvillea. Bougainvillea likes a moist environment but hates waterlogging. If you water too much, it is very easy for too much water to accumulate in the potting soil, and excessive water accumulation easily triggers root rot.

Solution: Enlarge the drainage holes of the flower pot, and you can place a layer of coarse sand or foam plastic granules at the bottom of the pot. Do not water too frequently; water according to the growth stage and the weather and season. Water when the soil looks dry, and water thoroughly when you do water.

2. Potting Soil Problems

Bougainvillea has a relatively well-developed root system. If the flower pot is too small, the roots cannot spread out, which makes it unsuitable for its growth. The planting soil should be loose, fertile, well-draining, and also well-aerated. If the soil is too heavy and sticky, or if it becomes compacted due to water accumulation, it easily makes it hard for the roots to breathe, the plant will grow poorly, and the roots may even rot.

Solution: The flower pot can be changed according to how much the plant has grown, preferably once a year. Choose soil with good aeration, and you can add a drainage layer when filling in the soil. River sand or coal cinders can be added to the soil to increase aeration, but note that coal cinders are alkaline, so soak them in water for one to two days before adding them.

What to Do About Root Rot

Root rot can be divided into two situations. One is mild root rot, where only part of the root system has rotted and most of the roots are still healthy and intact. In this case, we only need to cut off the rotted part, and replant after the wound has healed. The other is severe root rot, where a large area has already rotted. That is quite a shame, but we can propagate it again, either by cuttings or by grafting.

The above is an introduction to root rot in bougainvillea. In fact, it is not just bougainvillea; the causes of root rot and the treatment methods are much the same for most plants. So when growing potted plants, we must pay attention to the problem of water accumulation in the potting soil, and with potting soil we should err on the side of dry rather than wet.