I've seen it done, but it sure takes a lot of care. It does need well drained soil, and full sun. Other Things That Trigger a Plant's Leaves to Turn Brown. Step 1. Below is a photo of how it looked the day it was planted in 2012. I wish I have that purple bougainvillea too. This can be good if the plant is over-watered. var thisid = $(this).attr('id'); Paula Atwell from Cleveland, OH on September 16, 2014: We don't have these in our area, but I fell in love with them when I visited my sister in LA. In January, in central Florida (Zone 9) they have just finished the autumn bloom cycle, so it is a good time for that area. You could also plant it a tiny bit high, so the soil slopes away from it. This gorgeous vine is available in many colors including hot pink (my favorite) red, purple, lavender, yellow, orange, pale pink, white, and white with pink-tipped edges. They are still alive but some branches are only getting new growth on the ends. They need a warm climate, full sun, and good drainage. Or did they just turn brown or yellow, and fall off? Like all plants, bougainvilleas start out relatively small, but will quickly take over the space provided for them, and then some. It also grew behind the downspout, and as the tender little tendrils became thick, hardened vines, it began to loosen the downspout. The looper larva mimics stems and branches very well and feeds primarily at night, which is why you may see the damage but fail to find the culprit on the plant. After about 30 minutes, pour off any remaining water in the saucer. Please help. Why wouldn't my bougainvillea have more leaves? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); if ($(window).width() > 1024) { If it becomes necessary to prune any plant when installing it (for example, if a limb gets broken) always place your cut at a joint, taking care to cut on an angle, so water will run off rather than soaking into the raw wood. $("#show_answer_form").slideDown(); So glad you enjoyed my article. All blooms fell off and never bloomed again. I first saw them, and fell in love, too, in San Francisco. My coffee is not overly strong, so I use it as is. Bougainvillea flower drop can be caused by temperatures that are lower than those the plant is used to. MariaMontgomery (author) from Central Florida, USA on September 02, 2020: Do you mean the roots have grown through cracks in the sides of the pot, or that they have grown through the drainage holes on the bottom of the pot? I have some of these flowers in my tropical garden which is in my home country Philippines. Do you EVER trim bushes with flowers on them? Bougainvillea needs rich, acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.0. no root rut, drainage is good, no bugs. If the top 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) is dry, the plant needs water. Do you know whether it comes in any other colors I didn't mention? MariaMontgomery (author) from Central Florida, USA on October 15, 2019: I just Googled Tomball, Tx, and learned you are in Zone 9a, same as me. Mine was planted against a trellis on the wall of our garage, and was protected by that wall, as well as by the eaves of the roof overhang. However, San Bruno, bordering South San Francisco tends to be fogged in, and more windy and cooler than San Mateo and San Jose area. it’s mid-February. It could be a lack of nutrients. I was considering mixing palm/cactus soil with regular potting soil. Red-brown spots, on the other hand, which get larger larger and darker, are a sign of fungal or bacterial leaf spot disease. So bummed! To ensure that bougainvillea blooms abundantly, strategically put it at a location where it is exposed to the direct… Are the flowers fading from dark purple to light purple, or changing color completely? Does it have good drainage? These vines grow rapidly, and will soon be climbing the tree. The first photo is of one of the pests that did this. I planted all the plants in the most sunny part of our garden, each getting most of the day's sun. Both are appreciated. It would be a good idea to check with a local master gardener at your local county extension office. Maybe even below 50 degrees if it is not in a protected area such as against a wall. Contribution No. If so, please let me know, and I will research this for you. Be aware that in plant-speak, the word hardy means it can withstand cold temperatures. I say no. Now that we have relocated to Florida, I can finally grow my own. I live in NC, took plant inside for winter. The most common reason for leaf loss in bougainvillea plants is over watering. Answer: I've never heard of grafting a bougainvillea onto a tree no matter how mature the tree may be. If you want, you can e-mail me at and send a photo of your plant. Then, all of a sudden it turned into a beast! $("#"+thisid).html(foo); So it shouldn't be the weather condition here, or could it be??? July 15, 2005. I suggest waiting until it has finished blooming. Question: I have a small tree Bougainvillea. The spent blooms will drop off when they are done. Plants grown in pots dry out far more quickly than those in the ground. We were thinking of pulling it up and trying some other type of vine. The point at which it comes out of the ground should be set slightly higher than the surrounding soil level to encourage better drainage. I decided to prune mine in the way that a vineyard manager prunes grape vines, but not as severely. I plucked this caterpillar off of my plant. These plants prefer a slightly acidic soil, so you may want to test the pH of the soil. When there were leaves, were they bug-eaten? If it is wilted, it may appreciate a short time in the shade, but remember this is a sun-loving plant. var pid = mySplit[1]; They are in the ground and I fertilize with the right stuff, but still nothing. Palms do have specific nutrient requirements. Grows perennially with flowers April to December.