Bougainvillea is a climbing plant with flowers or shrub native to Brazil. This tropical perennial has acquired its nickname "paper flower" for its delicate bracts that sprout in different colors, including purple, red and orange. The thick, thorny vine of the bougainvillea requires regular pruning, cutting and topping to keep it healthy and make it look its best. These simple steps will make your tropical plant look prettier year after year.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Prepare for Pruning
Step 1. Prune in early spring
Bougainvillea can technically be pruned at any time of the year, but the best time for the plant's integrity is early spring, before it has started producing buds with the new flowers. If you wait until the new flowers form, you will cut off the new growth and limit flower production. If you prune too early, frost could kill the new shoots that appear soon after pruning.
- Bougainvillea blooms in cycles, with months of full bloom followed by periods of rest. Pruning before the start of a new cycle allows the vine to produce vigorous new shoots.
- The exact month of the year when bougainvillea should be pruned varies by region. The easiest way to tell if it's time or not is to check the climate. When the last chance of frosts is over, but before the plant has started making new shoots, it's time to prune.
Step 2. Put on thick gardening gloves
Many bougainvillea species have very sharp spines. If you have a long pruning session planned, be prepared by wearing thick gloves. You could also wear long sleeves made of thick material to protect your wrists and arms. Some bougainvillea branches have few thorns, but others are completely covered with them.
Step 3. Disinfect the shears
To clean the shears you need to use alcohol or another disinfectant which will prevent the spread of disease. If you cut a portion of a plant infected with a disease, try not to use the dirty blades on another part of the plant. Clean the shear blades every time you cut the dead part of the plant.
Method 2 of 2: Prune, Trim, and Trim
Step 1. Cut off the dead or diseased portions of the plant
This is the main step when it comes to pruning. To ensure a long-term healthy plant, cut off anything that looks dead or discolored. This way, you will prevent diseases from spreading to the rest of the plant. Cut off the abundant branches of the main plant.
- Remember to clean your shears with disinfectant after pruning diseased branches and before pruning healthy branches, to prevent the spread of disease.
- Remove diseased branches from the area so they don't contaminate the plant.
Step 2. Remove large and obstructing branches
Pruning should open up the plant and allow it to grow into a healthy shape. If any branches appear to be threatening the health of the plant, cut them off. Step away to look at the bougainvillea and keep pruning to get the shape you want.
- Remember that each cut you make will give birth to a new branch. Pruning helps the plant grow thicker. If you see an area that looks consistent, make a strategic cut to help streamline it.
- Many bougainvilleas are made to grow on trellises or fences. When you prune, you can wrap the new shoots around the structure the plant climbs to, to encourage the plant in that direction.
- Bougainvillea shrubs can be pruned to get all sorts of shapes. If yours is in a pot, you can prune it to give it the shape of a small tree.
Step 3. Top the bougainvillea during the growing season
Topping is different from pruning, because you don't cut off entire branches, but make small cuts to maintain the shape of the plant. Use the shears to trim the tips of the branches immediately after the last knot. This will encourage a new branch to grow.
You can remove dead wood from the plant by topping at any time of the year, but make the largest cuts in the spring when the plant will not be damaged
Step 4. Trim the tips as the flowers fade
Do what is called "pinch pruning" between pruning. Simply top off the tips of the buds with your hands once they are dry, then continue to the nearby branch. This will encourage new flowers and new growth.
Step 5. Cut the new shoots during the flowering cycle
You can encourage new flowers by cutting off new growth midway through the flowering cycle. Make cuts above the knots to encourage new formations.
- Try not to wait too late in the season, though, as it will be too late towards the end of the cycle to encourage new shoots.
- Don't cut through old branches until spring comes.
Advice
- Thanks to its thick and intricate structure, the bougainvillea can become a beautiful bonsai. Prune it into the shape you want and keep it pretty short. Trim the branches evenly until the desired shape is achieved, then pinch the new growth a little at a time to maintain the appearance of the bonsai.
- Bougainvillea is hardy and can tolerate any type of pruning. Try a variety of shapes when you prune it. Cut the branches at the bottom to give it a tree-like appearance.
- When learning how to prune bougainvillea, keep in mind that the more often you prune dried flowers, the more new flowers the plant will produce. Pinch pruning is quick and easy and is the best method to use between real pruning. It can also be done at any time of the year and as often as you like.
Warnings
- Don't forget to remove the dried flowers from the bougainvillea. Leaving dry flowers on the plant will prevent new ones from forming.
- Don't prune bougainvillea too short or too low on the ground. It could cause a lack of new flowers.
- Never prune a bougainvillea without gardening gloves. The thorns and thick branches can hurt your hands.
