The secret to making bougainvillea bloom profusely: master it and you'll have flowers all year round
Bougainvillea pruning is generally divided into two stages: one is after flowering, and the other is during its growing season. If we don't artificially control water, then apart from the very free-flowering varieties, most varieties can only bloom once or twice a year. Normally, during its growing season, we need to prune it.
Please enter an image description
When pruning during the growing season, keep only one main stem. When side buds grow out from the main stem and reach two to three nodes, simply cut off the top. This makes more side buds emerge from the top; once the side buds reach a certain size, pinch them back again. Keep repeating this cycle. When you want it to bloom, and you need to artificially control water, stop pruning, then supplement with phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to promote flower bud differentiation. Continue until it blooms.
Please enter an image description
After flowering, you also need to prune. The first step is to cut off the spent flowers, and don't keep the spent stems either. Prune away a large number of the overly dense branches inside. Increase the internal ventilation, so leaf rot is less likely and pests and diseases are less likely. Thin branches should also be pruned away, because thin branches don't have sufficient nutrients, and even if they bloom, the quantity won't be large and the flowers will be small. Then, according to the overall shape of your bougainvillea, appropriately shorten the other branches. If you are in the north, before winter arrives you should also prune in this way; cutting away a large number of branches can reduce nutrient consumption and help it overwinter safely.
Please enter an image description
This is roughly what bougainvillea pruning is about. Just keep pruning this way over the long term. If it's a variety that blooms many times a year, this kind of heavy-blooming variety should be pruned back heavily after flowering. Then supplement with fertilizer and let it prepare for a second bloom.
Please enter an image description