Bougainvillea dropping leaves

Hello,

I have a Bougainvillea Vera Purple from Logee's. I think it is their own grafted variety that grows not as a vine, but as a tree / bush. Anyhow, I have done very well with it this summer. However it is now inside in a nice sunny window (I live in zone 6). It is dropping leaves. And they are not even dead leaves. Just healthy full leaves just dropping. Is this normal? Or is the plant dying?

Attached is a photo of it before I brought it in for the winter. Nice and healthy. The leaf drop just started about 3-4 days ago I'd say.
Thanks,
Kristen

How long ago did you bring it in? Some plants will do things like that when their conditions change suddenly, so if the leaf drop started shortly after coming inside that may be all it is. It wouldn't hurt to check your watering too, although usually if you're losing leaves from too much/little water the plant will wilt or you'll see the leaves turn yellow or some other symptom like that before they fall off.

I brought it in the middle of September. There are new leaf growth at the top of the branch. Those are lime green color but healthy feeling. No leaves are wilty or off color. I water once a week, and let get a little dry between each watering.

I see in your picture above that you have a tray underneath the pot. Do you drain the excess water out of that after you water? If not that might be the problem. Otherwise, it might help if you could post a picture of the plant how it looks now.

I've never brought a Bougainvillea in to grow before, but I know my one in the pot outside really protests by dropping leaves if I over water it, even in the dog days of summer.

Maybe it is just from bringing it in?? The pot is connected to the saucer, it is raised above it so it wont sit in the water. And I don't water it so much that the water comes out of the bottom, especially now that it is on my hardwood floor. I also do let it dry out in between waterings. I have 3 photos for you to see. The spindly's at the top are from the spent blooms.
Thanks everyone!!

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My Vera Purple did the same thing a week or so ago and it is still outdoors, no major changes other than the slightly cooler weather which I think is the cause. It did the same thing last spring when it moved outdoors. I don't think they like any changes. I suspect yours will be fine as soon as it adjusts to the indoors.

This message was edited Oct 16, 2010 6:00 PM

Thank you everyone. I think you are right about changes. It had been cooler lately, and very overcast. It now has stopped dropping leaves, so maybe it is done with its temper tantrum?!