care, exposure, size, photos and inspiration

We love the bougainvillea planted in the garden, but they also look beautiful in pots. If you are looking for a colorful plant that will last in a pot, this is the one for you. In this guide, you will find care, cultivation and pruning tips as well as photos to get a beautiful bougainvillea in a pot.

Care of bougainvillea in pots: exhibition

To ensure a beautiful and abundant flowering, bougainvillea, whether planted directly in the garden or in a pot, needs at least 6 hours of sun per day. If our plant does not get enough sunlight, it may not flower as much. If your bougainvillea is not blooming, it may simply be due to a lack of sunlight. Bougainvillea loves heat!

Bougainvillea resistance

This plant does not like temperatures below 28-30 degrees. Older, established bougainvilleas are obviously much more frost resistant than newly planted bougainvilleas.

Many varieties will lose some or all of their leaves in colder winters. Some of the foliage from the previous season may remain on the plant and will eventually drop off when new growth appears in the spring.

If you live in a climate where the bougainvillea is at the edge of its hardiness zone, planting it against a warm wall or in a corner of the house will promote its growth. Remember that it is a plant that loves the sun and the heat!

It will be easier to protect and cover a potted bougainvillea because it will be lower than a bougainvillea planted directly in the ground.

Watering bougainvillea in pots

Bougainvillea that grows in pots needs regular watering. In hot weather, it is best to water 1-2 times a week. In winter, once every 3 weeks or more is sufficient.

The age of the plant is an important factor. At first, be sure to water your bougainvillea regularly.

Bougainvillea is more drought tolerant once it is well established. It prefers good, deep watering rather than frequent, shallow watering.

An important thing about watering and growing potted bougainvillea, like many other varieties of plants, is good drainage inside the pot to avoid puddles. Overwatering your plant with a poor drainage system could cause asphyxiation and root rot.

If your bougainvillea is in a small pot, it will need to be watered more often; if it is in a large pot, less often.

Bougainvillea in pots: size

The ideal month to prune our potted bougainvilleas is around February. In areas where the climate is particularly harsh, you can also prune in late fall to protect your plant in the event of extreme cold.

An important thing is to prune after the end of each flowering period so that the plant can renew itself.

How to prune bougainvillea in pots? You should cut off all dead branches and prune the tips in order to maintain the regular bushy appearance of the plant. If you have a climbing bougainvillea, it is good to cut the weaker, irregular branches to plus or minus a third of their length with slightly oblique cuts.