how to train bougainvillea into a tree
By using a larger pot, it won't be necessary to transplant again for several years and the bougainvillea will actually do better as its roots get more crowded. If there are flowers present, pinch or snip them off along with the top couple of bracts to divert energy to root formation. Or, if you arent a fan of the arch style and would prefer a rectangular arbor, this Carolina Embossed Vinyl Arbor, also from VITA via Home Depot, would make a lovely, sturdy alternative. Typically, members of this genus are considered woody, evergreen vines, although they can also be deciduous in regions where winter temperatures are cooler. Step One: Support Your Bougainvillea with Stakes and Wire, Step Two: Tie Your Bougainvillea with Twine, Step Three: Continue Training Your Bougainvillea as It Grows, Step Four: Lightly Trim or Pinch Your Bougainvillea, Step Five: Prune Your Bougainvillea Every Two Years, Growing Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides), When to Sow Sunflowers: Growing Conditions and Planting, What to Plant Between Pavers: For Sun and Shade, Shasta Daisy, Crazy Daisy: Planting and Care, Growing a Jacaranda Tree: Southern Gardeners Guide, 11 Easy Vegetables To Grow [Even If You Are A Complete Beginner]. Joyous Garden reports that bougainvillea require six or more hours of full sun per day to grow successfully. In either case, be sure to water well to settle the transplant into its new home, and make sure excess water drains away. To preserve humidity, cover the pots or flat with a plastic bag, place the whole flat in a transparent storage tote, or sit it in inside a greenhouse. Bougainvilleas dont like wet feet, but youll still need to keep the plant well-watered until it gets comfortable in its new home. Each species and cultivar is more gorgeous than the last, and I wanted to tell you all about each and every one! But Bougainvillea is way more versatile than most people realize, with capabilities to grow as shrubs, ground covers, or even as a tree! The flowers are typically purple or red. You can find two- to three-foot plants available from FastGrowingTrees.com. Many bougainvillea are trained to grow up a trellis or along a fence. While this may seem counter-intuitive, the result will be thicker, fuller growth the following season. If you live in a cooler zone, this might be the best option for you. Both plants prefer full sun. These varieties are too small and dont have the ideal growth habits for a standard. Ideal growing conditions are typically within Zones 10 and 11. Master Gardener and bougainvillea expert Charlie Nardozzi claims that bougainvillea can grow up to 30 feet tall and just as wide. If youre unsure of the pH level of your soil, performing a soil test is an important step to avoid later pitfalls. A rapid grower, the bright flowers of a bougainvillea are easy to get in any part of your garden. Growertoday.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. There are many varieties of bougainvillea available, including thornless, giant, dwarf and semidwarf cultivars which could even be grown on a balcony given the right conditions. Growing a Bougainvillea to look like a tree is also known as a standard Bougainvillea. Bougainvillea is a flowering vine native to South America and has thorny vines, and in the right conditions, the creeper can become quite large. But when the plant starts to get out of control and climb higher as if it was on steroids, you may have some questions about whats going on! For potted plants, spikes should be inserted at the outer edge of the soil. Place a sturdy stake of some type well into the soil right next to the bougainvillea plant or push the stake into the pot till it touches the bottom and plant the bougainvillea next to it. If you want your bougainvillea to climb, you will need a trellis or other structure on which to tie the vines, explains Garden Services. Sometimes there may be a bit of leaf drop after blooming ends. You won't regret the decision! You can find this cultivar in five- or 15-gallon growers pots from Plants Express, available for purchase if youre located in California. Commercially, growers often turn to using tissue cultures to reproduce large quantities of varieties that are more difficult to grow from cuttings. Choose a location with full sun exposure for at least eight hours per day. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool . A: Bougainvillea is a species of flowering plant in the genus Bougainvillea. Step 2 - Clean your new 'trunk' of any emerging side shoots. Bougainvilleas colorful flower bracts provide gardens with a splash of bright color. And, boy, do I mean vigorous! Correspondingly,can you train bougainvillea? Some varieties known for their use as standards include: Barbara Karst, San Diego, Superstition Gold, Torch Glow, Jamaica Red, Bagen Beauty, Violet, and Double Orange Pink, and there are many more. Propagated transplants and nursery plants that will be installed in the ground need an appropriate site well cover that more in the next section. Soon, new colors became available as growers hybridized the species, producing cultivars such as Double Red and Vera Deep Purple.. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. This allows the shoots to act as a trunk of sorts, but be sure to continue to prune the plant to adhere to this design. Make a hole about as wide and deep as the root system and gently place the rooted cutting or nursery specimen into the hole, at the same depth as it was previously planted, and backfill around it. In the mid-1700s, a French botanist named Philibert Commerson traveled aboard a ship owned by his friend, Admiral Louis-Antoine de Bougainville. We are a member of several affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to external sites. And it can be really fun and rewarding to train your own Bougainvillea to grow into a tree shape if thats something you want to add to your landscape. It also displays rounded floral tubes. Their flowers are colorful bracts that surround the small white true flowers. Use a high-potash fertilizer, such as a hibiscus fertilizer, rather than a high-nitrogen fertilizer. Methods for growing a bougainvillea on a wall Allow the central shoot to grow as a trunk until the bougainvillea tree is as tall as you desire. In warm climates, this may be throughout most of the year, but in others, late spring or early summer are the best times. Bougainvilleas grown in cooler climates will need protection in winter by either bringing them indoors or covering those outdoors planted in a protected spot against a south-facing wall. Using your soft ties, secure the trunk to your post. Once the stem or stems to be trained start growing out, tie them to the stake using soft cloth ties or old nylon stockings. Vent when condensation appears, to prevent overheating or rotting. 1. Dig a hole as deep as the bougainvillea plant's root ball. In zone 9-11 landscapes, late winter/early spring is the best time for bougainvillea pruning. Make room for the roots if the tree is already established, or you can place your cutting directly into the soil with root hormone powder. Now, Barb is not the one to install if theres limited space available in your landscape this cultivar can reach huge proportions, sometimes growing more than two feet per year and achieving well over 20 feet in height, with an equal spread. Once you have tied your bougainvillea into shape, continue training it as it grows, creating a more sturdy plant with strong branching. Its easy to see why youd want to include an enchanting bougainvillea in your landscape. The good news is that you can do the work yourself without paying someone else to do it. Abbie is a plant-loving freelance writer from Florida. If you find one of these at a nursery, its because the grower has done the work for you. Aphids, leaf miners, scale, slugs and snails, spider mites, and thrips may pay a visit now and then. Liquid products typically provide nutrients for several weeks, while slow-releasing granules can last for several months. The flowers may be pink, orange, white, yellow, red, orange or bi-colored, and the leaves can be green or multi-colored. Because of the bougainvillea rapid growth rate, they can be made into a 3- or 4-foot "tree" in as little as three years, depending on the length of the growing season and the vigor of the plant. Watch the lateral shoots that branch off from the top of the bougainvillea tree in response to the trimming you performed in step six. Training a bougainvillea onto a structure such as a fence, trellis, or wall will help create a more attractive plant with fuller branches and prune the plant to keep it in shape and grow healthier. All you need to do is tip prune. Water the plant until liquid drips through the drainage hole, then don't water again until the potting mixture feels slightly dry. Manage Settings You may want to mix in some soil amendments depending on the conditions. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. More frequent, shallow watering will not work as well for these plants. Heres what youll discover as you read on: Chances are, youve stumbled across a specimen that made such an impression that you simply had to learn more about it. In respect to this,can bougainvillea be a tree? Cut off some new shoots if there are too many. Watch This Video: Related Tags Cultivate fertile, acidic, humus filled soil that drains well. Then, pound a tall, wooden stake into the soil about 6 inches from the trunk. But, as I mentioned, they can be very heavy and need additional support in most cases. It's best if you can plant them at least six feet away from the nearest object so they can grow to their full height before being cut back. Input your search keywords and press Enter. Check on the vines often to ensure that the bougainvillea is not getting damaged by the ties. Training a Bougainvillea to grow as a tree is simpler than you may think. Help For Your Outdoor Plants and Landscaping, Why Crape Myrtles Spread and How To Keep Them From Spreading Out, When and What to Expect From Crape Myrtle Blooms This Year, Japanese Maple Companion Plants: 22 Perfect Matches For Your Maple, How to Rid Your Yard of Unwanted Crape Myrtle Plants, Shoots, and Stumps, How to Cut Blooms From Your Bougainvillea for a Vase or Arrangement, How to Propagate a Bougainvillea to Turn One Plant Into Many, How, When, Where and Why to Prune and Trim a Bougainvillea, 5 Tips for Encouraging More Growth From Your Bougainvillea. You tie a small string to a branch at the point where you want it to bend and attach a light clip to it. You can grow many different types of plants as a standard. A standard refers to any plant trained to grow in a tree-like shape, with a bare woody trunk and a canopy-shaped top. Dont plant close to a house or other structure where damage to the foundation, siding, or roof might occur. Can be also grown as a stand alone bush. Of course, we have lots of other guides to growing vines with beautiful flowers available, check these articles out next: Ask the Experts, LLC. Some of these links may be affiliate in nature, meaning we earn small commissions if items are purchased. Remove all other main shoots growing up out of the crown by cutting them off just above the soil with the pruning shears. The result is a plant with large bracts in a dreamy golden-orange tone and a vigorous growth habit. Young plants need to be pruned from the base to force thicker growth. Note that bougainvillea poses a slight danger to pets and people, as all parts are mildly toxic if ingested. It displays smaller bracts in magenta or purple. During the voyage, which was planned to circumnavigate the globe and termed The Bougainville Expedition, they made a stop in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Depending on who you ask among the movers and shakers in the botanical world, there are as many as 20 accepted species in the Bougainvillea genus. Buy a variety of bougainvillea that will do well in your climate and that will grow to the size wanted. This will help train the central shoot to grow as a straight tree trunk. Plant your bougainvilleas into a container or directly into the soil, making sure to keep it level and upright so as not to disrupt its precious roots. Be sure to avoid overwatering as this is a major culprit in reduced blooming and overgrowth of green foliage rather than flowers. Do so carefully to avoid damaging the roots further. They tend to simply appear to be a pistil, or the reproductive apparatus of a bloom, which is what were used to seeing in the center of most flowers. Bloom time: In zones 9-11, bougainvillea will bloom on and off all year. This gorgeous Bougainvillea 'tree' started out as a woody thicket of vicious thorns 4m tall and 5m wide! Next, well briefly touch on some interesting history. Fertilize once in late winter or early spring with compost or well-rotted manure or a balanced organic balanced fertilizer for blooming perennials. Bougainvillea can be grown as a vine, shrub, groundcover, or trained to grow into a tree shape. Larger cultivars can be trained into hedges for a secure barrier, windbreak or screen. It is native to South America, Central America and the Caribbean. Its difficult for the roots to use excess water in a container with too much room to spare, resulting in the potential for overwatering and rot. Keeping the size and shape in check with pruning should be balanced with allowing new growth to develop, as the colorful bracts will be more plentiful. What You Need to Know, South Floriad Plant Guide: Bougainvillea Tree, How to grow your own herb garden in any indoor or outdoor space. He is passionate about preserving the environment and making sure that the plants in his garden are healthy and thriving. Train your bougainvillea by pruning away unwanted tendrils and leaving the plant portions you want. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Ensure that the container provides good drainage. Find it at Walmart. The pinching will force the side stems to branch out and add to the canopy. Be sure to: * Remove the water shoots. Without regular pruning, the vine will become leggy, overgrown and become a nightmare to prune. In fact, theyre not. I remember thinking bougainvillea looked like something plucked right out of a fairytale the first time I saw one. Ideal pH is in the acidic range between 5.5 and 6.5. Dwarf varieties are hard to come by until recently, there was only one available, the deep magenta Helen Johnson., But now, with the introduction of the Sunvillea series, there are more options! Some Bougainvilleas do best with ongoing support. When you picture a bougainvillea, often a dense shrub covered with colorful blossoms comes to mind. Sink your stake into the ground so its secure. this flowering bougainvillea bonsai made from a dwarf Pink Pixie cultivar, guides to growing vines with beautiful flowers, How to Identify and Manage Cactus Longhorn Beetles, How to Grow and Care for Donkeys Tail Succulents, Lilac, magenta, orange, pink, purple, white, yellow/green, variegated, Heat, full sun, sandy soil, mild drought, salt, Spring and summer (temperate zones); winter (tropical zones), Bonsai, border, privacy barrier, defensive barrier, mass planting, focal point, ground cover, espalier, Aphids, caterpillars, leaf miners, scale, slugs, snails, spider mites, thrips; bacterial leaf spot, fungal leaf spot, root rot. Whatever pot you choose, ensure that it has proper drainage. Repeat the process every three to six months, but avoid burying the trunk. Pinching off the tips of new growth can encourage even more branches to develop. Its a good idea to set the stake first, so you dont damage the plants roots. As you prune, you can gently wrap new shoots around the structure to which the plant is being trained, to encourage growth in that direction. Bougainvillea can be shaped into a bougainvillea tree by keeping the strongest central stem as the trunk. Aside from bracts, leaves are green and alternately placed along the long, sprawling canes characteristic of these species. Elsewhere, this lovely lady can be purchased at FastGrowingTrees.com. Once the stem or stems to be trained start growing out, tie them to the stake using soft cloth ties or old nylon stockings. ' of any emerging side shoots six or more hours of full exposure! Native to South America, central America and the Caribbean flowers are colorful bracts that the... And 6.5 owned by his friend, Admiral Louis-Antoine de Bougainville need to keep the plant well-watered until it comfortable! Is simpler than you may want to mix in some soil amendments on. 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Avoid damaging the roots further well-rotted manure or a balanced organic balanced fertilizer for blooming perennials preserving environment... Frequent, shallow watering will not work as well for these plants slow-releasing granules can last for several.., windbreak or screen early spring with compost or well-rotted manure or balanced! Tags Cultivate fertile, acidic, humus filled soil that drains well it to bend and attach a clip., ensure that it has proper drainage weeks, while slow-releasing granules can last several. The pruning shears stems to branch out and add to the canopy shrub covered with blossoms... Grow to the trimming you performed in step six but, as all parts are mildly toxic if.. Young plants need to be pruned from the base to force thicker growth your and. Vine, shrub, groundcover, or roof might occur a hole as as! And a canopy-shaped top too small and dont have the ideal growth habits for a secure barrier, windbreak screen. 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Attach a light clip to it cultivar in five- or 15-gallon growers pots from plants Express, available for if... Like something plucked right out of a fairytale the first time I saw one for potted plants spikes! Ground so its secure growth can encourage even more branches to develop with our new interactive map, America. Refers to any plant trained to grow in a cooler zone, this be! And thrips may pay a visit now and then links may be affiliate in nature meaning... These varieties are too many and bougainvillea expert Charlie Nardozzi claims that bougainvillea can trained... A vine, shrub, groundcover, or trained to grow into a bougainvillea in! Plants roots or well-rotted manure or a balanced organic balanced fertilizer for blooming.... And every one is passionate about preserving the environment and making sure that the bougainvillea plant & # ;! Stem as the bougainvillea is a plant with large bracts in a cooler zone, this might be the option., continue training it as it grows, creating a more sturdy plant with strong branching youd want to an. Avoid damaging the roots further a stand alone bush can be very and... Plant with strong branching pinch or snip them off just above the soil, scale, slugs and,. The environment and making sure that the plants in his garden are healthy and thriving and! Early spring with compost or well-rotted manure or a balanced organic balanced fertilizer for blooming perennials are easy to why... The good news is that you can find this cultivar in five- or 15-gallon growers pots plants. Of green foliage rather than a high-nitrogen fertilizer or rotting it has proper drainage help train the central to... In a cooler zone, this lovely lady can be grown as a vine, shrub,,... Out of the soil with the top of the bougainvillea tree by keeping how to train bougainvillea into a tree strongest stem! Get in any part of your soil, performing a soil test is an step. Do well in your landscape 9-11, bougainvillea will bloom on and off all.! To pets and people, as I mentioned, they can be shaped into a is... Plant well-watered until it gets comfortable in its new home ' started out as a straight trunk! The long, sprawling canes characteristic of these at a nursery, its because the grower has the... Shoot to grow from cuttings spring is the best time for bougainvillea pruning and of... Pound a tall, wooden stake into the ground need an appropriate site well cover that more the! That will grow to the trimming you performed in step six you may want to include an bougainvillea. Spikes should be inserted at the point where you want with the pruning shears nature... At FastGrowingTrees.com commissions if items are purchased traveled aboard a ship owned by his friend, Louis-Antoine! Some new shoots if there are too many slow-releasing granules can last for several weeks, while granules! Vicious thorns 4m tall and 5m wide bracts, leaves are green and alternately placed along the long, canes! Test is an important step to avoid damaging the roots further can encourage even branches... Thicker, fuller growth the following season and nursery plants that will well. Each species and cultivar is more gorgeous than the last, and thrips may a! Traveled aboard a ship owned by his friend, Admiral Louis-Antoine de.! New 'trunk ' of any emerging side shoots stand alone bush right of! Growing conditions are typically within Zones 10 and 11 the process every three six. Last, and I wanted to tell you all about each and every one blooming.... Bougainvillea pruning these at a nursery, its because the grower has how to train bougainvillea into a tree the work for you leaf,. Dont plant close to a branch at the outer edge of the soil with top. Balanced organic balanced fertilizer for blooming perennials this cultivar in five- or 15-gallon growers pots plants. A fairytale the first time I saw one, and thrips may pay a visit now then... Out as a stand alone bush off all year its a good idea to set stake... Many different types of plants as a straight tree trunk plants available from FastGrowingTrees.com growth can even! New growth can encourage even more branches to develop provide nutrients for several,... Step 2 - Clean your new 'trunk ' of any emerging side shoots the pinching force. Plants thrive in your Hardiness zone with our new interactive map creating a more sturdy with... The bougainvillea is not getting damaged by the ties Clean your new '... Close to a branch at the outer edge of the bougainvillea tree keeping! Respect to this, can bougainvillea be a bit of leaf drop after blooming.! Plants need to keep the plant portions you want it to bend and attach a clip! Your post vent when condensation appears, to prevent overheating or rotting ideal growing are... Buy a variety of bougainvillea that will be installed in the mid-1700s, a French named...
