skip to main content

Tropical Plants

Bougainvillea Blooming Times

18 years ago

What should I expect the blooming times of a Bougainvillea in the Midwest to be? I just purchased one and has just flowered out. Will it rebloom again this summer? I have not repotted it as I think it should be pot bound. Should I prune it back and fertilize?

Any advise would be great!!

Can't wait to take cuttings!!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

Heathen1
18 years ago
Bougainvillea blooms all summer for me in California... but they need heat and sun...let it dry out between waterings a little... then let it dry out a LOT during the winter.
Kameha
18 years ago
Hmm that's a tough question to answer. Heathen so your blooming period in california is the complete opposite of Florida? That would make sense because our dry season is november through may and that's when bougainvillea's bloom the most here.
Related Discussions
Blooming Bougainvillea !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Q
Comments (8)
Very nice looking tree. Ill just throw my 2c on what I know about bougainvilleas. They grow in florida and southern california, and thrive. California is a consistant dry, with a short wet season, where as florida its dry over 1/2 the year then lots or rain. Along the road where I work, they are blooming, huge hedgerows running about 1 mile along the road, about 8 feet tall, very nice to look at. I got some semihardwood cuttings to grow from them, even took them while in bloom. I had 2/24 root (low percentage). They stay in bloom for about 4 months out of the year (2 months, 2 times). My sister planted one I bought for my neice and once it rooted (about 6 months) it started to bloom. I cut one of her plants way back (thinned it out, its at least 10 foot tall) and this plant did not bloom with the others. I must have shocked it, but its shooting out all over. I guess what Im saying is, like stated, if you let it dry out between waterings, let it get rooted and dont trimm it, you should end up with a bloom. Again, thats my 2c. Good luck.
...See More
Is it a good time to plant bougainvillea in Zone 9?
Q
Comments (3)
According to Sunset's Western Garden Book, Victorville is in Sunset Climate Zone 10: "High Desert Areas of Arizona and New Mexico." Probably should add California to that list as well, given the map! Here are the main parts of the Zone description: "This zone consists mostly of the 3,300- to 56,000-foot-elevations in parts of Arizona and New Mexico. It also includes parts of southern Utah and Nevada, and adjacent California desert. Zone 10 has a definite winter season--75 to more than 100 nights below 32 deg F (0 deg C). That favors deciduous fruits, though late frosts can work against apricot crops. In Albuquerque, Mew Mexico, and Benson and Kingman, Arizona, average winter minimums ranged from 32 to 23 deg F (0 to -5 deg C). Lows of 25 to 22 deg F (-4 to -6 deg C) often come in April, with extremes averaging 10 to -10 deg F (-12 to -23 C). The cold winter season calls for spring planting, unlike Zones 12 and 13, where most planting is done in fall. "More rainfall and less heat distinguish Zone 10 from Zone 11. Annual rainfall averages 12 inches, with more falling in the east, notably less in the west. Most plants in these areas benefit from the extra summer water. The Pecos River drainage receives more precipitation in summer than in winter. Growing seasons are very long, running from 185 to 225 days." Sunset recommends bougainvillea in zones 5, 6, 112-17, 19, 21-24; H1, H2. But not 10. You will need to see which cultural requirements of a bougainvillea you can provide and which ones you'll need to figure out hot to provide. Good luck! in el cerrito
...See More
This is not the time to trim bougainvillea
Q
Comments (5)
I went crazy cutting back a large Gardenia which is taking over my flower beds. I did see many buds, but I could not control my hands. I chopped it back severely and probably lost the flowers for this year and maybe next. Its difficult living in Florida. You wait for the first cool days to start cleaning up the garden. Guess I have to learn to wait until March. Jane
...See More
Bougainvillea not blooming
Q
Comments (2)
As Lynn Marie says it might be because of the repotting. The plant is putting energy into growing roots in the new soil instead of flowers. But the little pots they sometimes come in are so small you almost have to repot them to keep from having to water them twice a day. One I bought this spring did the same thing. It had no blooms for several weeks, but it's now blooming. And yes they like LOTS of sun -- they are happiest in full all day hot sun. After they start blooming I feed my older Bougies with soluble fertilier every couple of weeks.
...See More
wanna_run_faster
18 years ago
Kameha is right. In Florida, Bougainvillea goes nuts the drier it is. (Once established, of course). Also, generally the more you prune them, the less they bloom since flowering occurs from the tips. They can get massive. They are easy propagate from cuttings, too.
dbrya1
18 years ago
Mine are just starting to come into bloom,and always do about this time and thru the rest of the summer.
{{gwi:1312463}}
patusho25
18 years ago
Here in MÃ©xico I BELIEVE it always has flowers, do this make any sense? In here thereÂ´s only 20" of annual rainfall and hot weather year round.
Kameha
18 years ago
Patusho that does make sense because it is arid almost year round where you live right? And like WRF said bougainvillea's bloom during dry periods. Here we get a few blooms during the wet period and I bet in California they bloom a bit during the winter rainy season too.
patusho25
18 years ago
Actually it is semi-arid.
sinner_gurl
18 years ago
Mine did good in Phx, bloomed much more than they do here. Last year it was really dry in the summer where I live in Louisiana and of course they started blooming like crazy in the fall after I started to water them alot.
jenny_in_se_pa
18 years ago
These bloom on new growth so for small potted ones in temperate areas, figure about 6 - 8 weeks after the last bloom, assuming that you get a new growth cycle going on it. You could prune right now to get it bushier and trigger a growth cycle. But as others noted, make sure you keep it fairly dry, even to wilting stage, before watering again and give it lots of heat and sun!
birdsnblooms
18 years ago
I'd like to add, (at least where we live) it depends on the Boug..I have two, Jamacian White and Raspberry Ice..The RI is deciduous, and blooms all summer long, while the JW blooms in winter..Toni

Related Stories

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Great Design Plant: Sun-Loving Bougainvillea Showers Yards With Color

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Bring unbeatable vibrancy to a garden or wall with this unfussy and trainable shrub packed with colorful bracts

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Idea of the Week: A Bit of Bougainvillea

By Lily Gahagan

The Brightly Flowering Plant Flourishes in Containers Too

GARDENING GUIDES Glorious Purple Blooms Bring a Crowning Touch to Gardens

Royally beautiful but mingling well with the masses, plants with purple flowers or foliage are worthy of homage in any garden

GARDENING GUIDES How to Prune Your Flowering Shrubs for the Best Blooms

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Less is often more when it comes to properly pruning flowering shrubs. Here’s what to do and why

FALL GARDENING Why Fall Is the Best Time for Planting

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Spring is overrated for planting. Starting plants in autumn has advantages for both garden and gardener

ACCESSORIES Favorite Blooms: Summer Sunflowers

By Becky Harris

Add a Week's Worth of Instant Cheer for Less Than 10 Dollars

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Double Take: Bizarrely Beautiful Spires Bloom on a Vancouver Roof Deck

By Becky Harris

Did alien-looking plants in deviant colors land in this Canadian rooftop garden? Come in for a closer look

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Amelanchier Signals Spring With Airy White Blooms

By Ellen Sousa/Turkey Hill Brook Farm

With roughly 20 species of serviceberry native to the U.S., bees can feed on the early-season blooms while birds enjoy the summer berries

GARDENING GUIDES Top 12 Summer-Blooming Perennials for Deer-Resistant Drama

Can you have garden color, fragrance and exciting foliage with hungry deer afoot? These beauties say yes

HOUSEPLANTS How to Force Amaryllis Bulbs Indoors

By creative jewish mom.com

Enjoy vibrant red blossoms even as gardens turn snowy white, by teaching this hardy repeat performer to ignore the calendar

Sponsored

J.Holderby - Renovations

4 Reviews

Franklin County's Leading General Contractors - 2X Best of Houzz!

More Discussions

Need Help Identifying this Plant

2

Jatropha mutifida : branching

0

Monstera in zone 8?

2

Tree fern in Panama turns dying fronds into new roots

0

Zamioculcas zamiifolia, aka ZZ plant,

2