Hello, I am a new gardener. I have a Bouganvillia plant. One branch is very thick, and 5 feet tall. The other 4 branches are about 3 feet tall. When do I need to prune it back, and how do I do that? Thank You. Jill:)
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Hello, I am a new gardener. I have a Bouganvillia plant. One branch is very thick, and 5 feet tall. The other 4 branches are about 3 feet tall. When do I need to prune it back, and how do I do that? Thank You. Jill:)
Hi Jill,
You don't say if you are growing your bougainvilla in a pot or in the ground.* This site will be most helpful to expain when and how to prune and how to care for it.
http://www.southeasttexasgardening.info/bouginfo.htm
Newt
Hello Newt,* My* Bouganvillia is planted in the ground, in potting soil. I do use a large wooden trellis. The area is facing the East and gets a lot of good Florida sunshine. The plant is about 1 year old. The leaves are big, but turn yellow quickly and fall off. It has about 30-50 blooms. The branches seem thick, but the base of the plant doesn't seem to have much new growth. Thank You for any advice you can give me. Jill
Jill, using potting soil to plant in the ground isn't the best idea.* Maybe I'm misunderstanding, as I'm not sure exactly how you used it, but I'm thinking you may have added potting soil to the planting hole or planting area.* If so, that is not a good idea.* The best thing to use to enrich the soil is compost, but it should be mixed into the entire planting area, not just the planting hole.** Maybe you mean the plant came already planted in potting soil and you just took it out of the pot and planted it in the ground.* Most folks do that.
Hopefully you have had time to read that site I gave you.* From there:
I've never grown bougainvillia, but when I was staying in South America it grew everywhere.* As I remember the lower part of the vine would not grow leaves as it aged and became thick and woody.* Maybe yours is maturing. They would prune it at any time, but their temps near the equator were quite stable year round.*Quote:
Deficiency signs:
Nitrogen deficiency:
Older leaves turn a pale green and the veins are usually a reddish color. New growth will be stunted.
Phosphorus deficiency:
The veins will turn red to purple and the plant as a whole will look purplish.
Potassium deficiency:
Causes the edges of older the leaves to be a purple color and the leaf tips will be a brownish color.
Magnesium deficiency:
First appears on older leaves where they turn a spotted yellow or tan color.
Zinc deficiency (rare):
Will look almost like magnesium but here the leaf will be twisted.
Iron deficiency (always one of my greatest problems):
Young growth is stunted and pale -- you'll know its iron if the veins on the leaf remain green.
Calcium is another element that I always had to supplement because of the sweetness of my water... When it is deficient, dead areas appear in young growth and the tips soon die.
As per the site I gave you, you can cut it back however you like depending on the look you want.*
Hope that helps,
Newt
Newt, Thank You.* The plant came from Lowes and I did use the soil from the pot, as well as Miracle Grow potting soil, just to fill in the area. We covered everywhere with mulch. I must admit, I've never used compost. It seems it is iron and calcium deficient. I did use the website to check how to prune it. You have been a big help. Thanks again. Jill
Jill, you are so very welcome!* You said,
You might want to do some more reading on the effects of* different deficiencies in soil.* Sometimes adding one element can cause problems with others.* If you think there is a problem with your soil, a soil test from your local extension service would be a good thing to consider.* They generally cost about $15.00.* You can also get an inexpensive pH meter at most garden centers to see how acid or alkaline your soil might be.* Do keep in mind that most potting soils are peat moss based and therefore have a low pH (acid). *Quote:
It seems it is iron and calcium deficient.
You can add calcium by adding a tablespoon or two of milk to the watering can.* I do this all the time with my houseplants.* Calcium aids in the absorbtion of other elements and aids in blooming.* It might be all you need to do at first.
Yellowing of leaves can be caused by many different factors and is called chlorosis when it's due to a lack of certain elements.** There's lots of good growing info at that site I gave you, especially about fertilizing.* I prefer an organic* fertilizer rather then a synthetic like Miracle Gro for many reasons.* Synthetics leave behind residual salts.* It's not as much of a problem with potted plants because constant watering tends to wash away the salts.* In the ground there can be more of a build up and it can cause problems for your plants.* Synthetic fertilizers also don't contain trace minerals like organic fertilizers do.* Synthetic fertilizers feed the plant and not the soil. This can often cause a flush of succulent watery growth that attracts insect pests.* Organic fertilizers feed the soil that feeds the plants.* My favorite organic fertilizer would be fish emulsion mixed with seaweed.* Great stuff!* :)* You can read more about soil and the elements here.
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PTLK/2115.html
You may not realize it, but Miracle Gro potting soil comes with slow release fertilizer already in it.* I realize you planted your bougainvillia a year ago and the slow release fertilizer will have already been used up, but it's something that most folks don't realize when they purchase it.* They they pot up their plants and then fertilize.* Too much fertilizer will burn the roots of the plants. So if you pot up some plants with this type of potting soil, don't fertilize for at least 3 to 6 months.Quote:
...I did use the soil from the pot, as well as Miracle Grow potting soil, just to fill in the area.
Compost is the best and easiest way to add organic matter to your soil.* You can purchase it by the bag at most garden centers and nurseries.* It's great stuff.* :cool:
Newt