I have some container bougainvilleas that are about 3-4 ft. tall and in bloom. I need to trim
them back to a manageable size. How drastically do I need to trim(to what height) and when
should I do this? This is my first try with bogeys. Will appreciate any suggestions. Ty
P.S. They bloom just about all year since we rarely have freezes here in S. TX.
This message was edited Oct 17, 2005 2:07 PM
Bougainvillea
Ty - you will have MUCH better luck getting replies if you post this on the "Tropicals" forum.
Thanks for the suggestion. I don't know how to navigate this
site yet and am having a heck of a time doing it.
I cut mine back fairly severely after the blooming season is done but before the growing season has started.
I don't know how that translates to your particular weather, though- for me the wet season (summer) is time for growing and they flower during the dry season (winter), so I prune in spring.
You can do smaller bits of shaping anytime, but you will lose your blooms if you trim them back on the ends (as opposed to removing whole branches).
so you should remove whole branches?
Ty, I live in Wisconsin (but have a greenhouse for my tropicals) The nice man at the garden center where I bought my bougie tree said "prune it back visciously". When he showed me just where they would prune it back, I blanched, but took my trusty pruners in hand when I got it home and took 'er back to almost the "trunk" of it. Since very hard pruning seemed to be the order of things for bougies, I did my bush ones just as hard. He also told me that they'd prune it again around Valentine's day in the g'house. So, for what it's worth........ I guess I will do my own about that time also, if it makes them larger and more bushy, all the better.
should I take this back to the trunk?
I'm scared........
FWIW *I* wouldn't take that one back all that hard. I would clean out the crossing branches and give it some shape but leave plenty of foliage. It all depends on your blooming season and your future plans for it. Are wanting to keep it a smaller shaped tree or a larger sprawling vine?
Any branches you trim back will not bloom until the next cycle. If you are bringing it indoors for the winter and it won't be growing much until spring anyway, then prune away. If it has enough time left to enjoy the blooms a while longer then hold off.
As I don't know your winter plans for it (indoor lighting etc.) I can't make any more exact recommendations.