How to care for Bougainvillea after the flowers fade? These care methods you need to master

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. The flowers of Bougainvillea are unique and beautiful, covering the branches when in bloom, and are loved by many people, but many flower enthusiasts do not know how to manage them after flowering. The issues are introduced below.

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

2. Light after flowering: Bougainvillea loves light; insufficient light during the growing season will weaken the plant's growth and affect flowering. In winter it should be placed in a bright location, and daily light must be no less than 8 hours, otherwise heavy leaf drop is likely.

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

4. Pruning after flowering: Bougainvillea drops 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 canopy or tied into shapes, requiring many branches and dense flowers to form a gorgeous canopy. Ground-planted ones need supports to be set up so they can climb. New branches should be pinched back frequently. After repotting, prune some overly dense branches, leggy branches, dead branches, and diseased or pest-damaged branches to encourage more new branches. Pinch back in July-August to control growth and promote flower bud formation and vigorous flowering. Plants 5-6 years old need to be cut back or heavily pruned for renewal once.