Bougainvillea

[Anthona]

I have this hardy bogie that i bought in florida back in march and still in the same pot. I cannot replant it in my garden because of seasons here in the nyc area. I noticed that while its in full bloom, it needs to be watered amost daily...possibly because the roots have no more room to grow in that pot? I was hopeing that i could get it into the vine state for the summer on my sunny patio and then cut it back in time for the late fall season, and start it over again next spring. Has anyone here had experience with such a plant under similar conditions? If so, could u tell me how u handle the situation to your satisfaction? Thank you:)

[Charles]

NOt sure exactly what you are trying to do, but I have had some in pots since 1997. they never got to looking like vines. When watered regurlarly they look a lot better.

[Dave Thompson]

Out here where they thrive, Phoenix, they do best when stressed. Meaning they produce prodigious flowers when baked and ignored. Watering them produces more green than flower, and you want the opposite. You can literally get a vine 25 ft tall with nothing but color.

[Charles]

They thrive here, when in the ground. (So. Cal.) It they are in a pot and don't get any water until all the leaves drop off, they do les well.

[Anthona]

[Dave Thompson]

One thing I've found with pots, especially the original pot, is that direct sunlight can cook the roots, especially if the pot is black or thin. I lost a bunch of heirloom tomatos that very way.

Try putting it in a larger pot that's a lighter color and ceramic and aclimating out of direct sunlight but not shade. Also try a denser substrate in the pot if the soil is typical all organic soil from a bag. Bougainvilleas are used to more sand or clay and it will also help retain water.

You might also consider repotting in a larger plastic container, digging a hole in an appropriate spot in your yard, and placing the pot in for the summer. This will also keep roots cooler and allow you to yank the pot in the winter and put it inside.

But yeah, don't expect a Bougainvillea to go crazy and thrive when it's potted. They are a big expansive plant. One notable bougainvillea I remember at ASU grew up the side of a three story building covering all 3 floors about 15 to 18 feet wide. The base was about a foot across.

[Toni]

And yet I have seen some really well grown container bogies- most notably at bonsai shows. My favorite bonsai shop has one I would kill to own. I have several potted ones, but yes, summer management is tough.

[Dave Thompson]

And quite different in south florida.

[Peter Jason]

I have several types in my yard and I notice that all are not created equal. The most precocious has sabre-thorns and is a prodigious flowerer (purple) and climber, followed by a white one with similar properties. The plants with more subtle colours don't seem to be as vigorous and I have yellow, pink, and orange. I have planted the vigourous ones in pots with an 8ft stake in the middle up which these grow, and they are pruned back when they reach the top so they are forced outwards to give a tubular effect.