Bouganvilla

[Deana]

Hi Dkelba, sorry for the late response.

I have covered potted plants in the winter (I live in Texas -- zone 8 I think). I used very, very thick plastic - almost like garbage bag material. It's sold with other plant supplies, and is typically used as a ground cover to block out weeds. I have wrapped the entire plant - the pot too. You have to be careful though - only cover it if you are going to get a freeze, and uncover it in the morning, after it gets a bit warmer. One time I left the covering on a hibiscus all day, and it basically scorched the plant (the temp got up to about 45 degrees, but it was so sunny... I think the plant suffocated).

You can also look for large styrofoam cones. My dad (also in Texas) uses these to cover his rose bushes when we get a hard freeze.

edited to add... my neighbor just covers his potted plants with old bed sheets.

[NDWind]

My Bouganvilla has just started blooming again! :-) I originally bought it as a hanging basket ... It was in full bloom (very dark pink ... almost red blossoms) ... I hung it on the sun end of my porch overhang where it got full sun all day ... it did great most of the first summer ... but it started losing blossoms and wilting (not enough water for the heat, I suppose) along about end of August. I cut it back and put it in my neighbor's greenhouse for the winter ... it survived and started growing again. This spring, I put it in a terra cotta pot on my back porch where it now gets lots of sun in the morning with shade in the afternoon ... and I have watered it generously (but only after letting the soil dry out between waterings). It has really grown well this summer and is now starting to bloom again. I am excited that it is now blooming ... however, the blossoms are not as red as they were originally ... they are now more pink. I would love for the blossoms to be very fiery red ... does anyone know what nutrient I might use to make it bloom more hearty and to, perhaps, make the blossoms more red?

[saltydad]

I have a similar question. I have 3 bouganvilla vines in a 36" pot which is kept outside in strong sun in the late spring/summer. I move it into a sunny room inside in the early fall. Of course it drops most of its leaves but they always regrow. The growth is now about 3 ft. long. My question: it appears that I should be pruning it to encourage new blooms. I haven't for 2 years and had very low blooming this past summer. When should I prune, and how severely? BTW, this is a variegated variety. Thanks.