I planted 5 Bouganvilleas by my trellis ~do they need to be pruned back in the winter?
Are they to be treated like annuals?
They did not seem to do well in the same plant bed as the cannas ...
Any suggestions?
Help Bouganvillea in zone 8b
hpv, I leave my bougi in the pot and move it to the west side of the house for the winter. I don't prune it because it goes on a trellis. They like to be root bound and kept on the dry side, if it doesn't rain I water it when it starts to wilt. Maybe the bed with the cannas was too wet? What kind of problem did you have with them?
I'm only about sixty miles from you to the west-northwest, and I'm on the line between zones 7b and 8a. My bougainvilleas overwinter in the greenhouse or sunroom. We had temps down to 19 degrees twice last winter, and sometimes it goes lower than that.
I live farther south than you and I have my Bougies in pots so I can move them to a sheltered spot during the winter. We have had temps as low as 15 deg. here so they may need some shelter.
My Mother has her plant in the ground but hers is in a very sheltered area. It does come back each spring.
Lin
hpv:
I had 3 of them myself in 8b. They grew so quickly on the trellis, in 1 year they were as tall as the 6' trellis. I left them as is until spring and then pruned them back. They are not evergreen with our chills here so I thought they may have died from the cold but they started to bounce back in the spring. I decided to nix them from my garden when realized they have spines! OUCH! But they are only tough when they grow large, the ones left in pots don't seem to have the same issue.
Get this, thought I'd outsmart the spines eh? Started to cut them off over the summer..."I'll show them!" and the plant still thrived, getting larger and expanding it's glossy green foliage. But no more blooms? Hmmm? Turns out you "can't have a rose without thorns" because the BLOOMS will emerge from the ends of these sharp spines the plant has.
I'm no expert...this is just what I learned about having the plant....sure is pretty!
LOL TNN.....I love those things except for the thorns. I think they bloom on new growth.
Here's a pic....did someone ask for a picture?
Gorgeous picture fly girl!
Thanks TNN, when I bring it out in the spring I have to wear leather gloves to tie it up. It's a pain, but it's worth it.
Awesome BF!!!
Gorgeous Pic Flygirl!!..I have 6 in hanging baskets and love them..will store them against the house in a sheltered area...Jeanne
I think that the bougs are "leaners" rather than vines and that's why they look and act so much better in baskets. They can get TOO rootbound, I've found, but that can be remedied by moving them to another pot, one size larger only, w/EXCELLENT drainage or into the ground on a raised berm (sp?). If they do die back they will come back w/a vengance the following late spring. They don't like a lot of fertilizer - rose food or preferably hibiscus food in small amts. I have also found that if they are allowed to wilt even a little bit, the bracts will fall off. Mine is fairly new so it hasn't become too rootbound and is blooming allout even after we had over 7" of rain the other day. I will move mine to a sheltered spot when cold weather is predicted (or cover it lightly w/a sheet). They really like to be left alone for the most part and can take care of themselves as can most plants. They love to be admired but not handled or messed with (which is why they protect themselves w/thorns?). heehee. Right now it is on white stepping stones smackdab in the front of the house so it gets top and bottom heat from the sun all day. So enjoy!!
Ann
Fly no one asked for a photo, show off! Lovely photo and lovely BF!
I have some small ones in pots/baskets and generally move them into the garage if the weather gets to freezing or below. In my previous house also in zone 9b, I had a huge one planted in the ground and at least during the 5 years I was there it was root hardy. Not that we had our worst winter but we did have snow - not that it stayed- one year.
Zone 8b, Southeast, TX, Lake Sam Rayburn
Girls, thanks for your input.
I find Boug. very easy to propogate from cuttings.
Mine has been in a pot (23") for 5 years. I do cut the vines back before moving into greenhouse for overwinter.
By trimming back; easier to move, also, less thorns and more blooms next Spring. Broug. blooms on new growth.
I have the orange, magentia. Also, have Variegated leaf Boug.
Keep those hands dirty.
Sudie, now you sound like Rebecca! lol
April, I thought someone asked for a picture....maybe I dreamt it lol
Mine seems to bloom more with regular fertilizing, maybe it would anyway.
Does anyone else have any pics? I would love to get an orange, variegated, and that purple one.