Wintering is a standard part of cultivating a bougainvillea in northern Central Europe. Not really a problem for a hobby gardener - but there are still a few things to consider with the flower miracle from the Andes.

Bougainvillea does not tolerate frost

Why the bougainvillea needs hibernation in our country

As a climbing plant from the South American subtropics, the bougainvillea doesn't really know any seasons. At least not four and above all no major fluctuations in the light and heat supply. If you want to grow the blooming vine beauty in our latitudes, you have to adapt it to the local conditions.

With us, the bougainvillea can only develop a vegetation phase over the lighter half of the year - in winter the light is simply not enough for it. This means that in the fall she should be put into a dormant mode where she doesn't need to grow or flower.

So let's keep in mind:

  • Bougainvillea is not used to a low-light half of the year from its subtropical home
  • it should therefore be allowed a rest period in winter

The Consequences for Cultivation

Cultivation in the pot

For the local bougainvillea fan, these conditions initially result in pot culture. The frost-sensitive plant cannot survive the winter months outdoors. It is mobile in the bucket and can always follow the light that is available depending on the location. In winter, it can also be brought to a suitable place to overwinter quite easily.

When to go to winter quarters

When it is time for the bougainvillea to retire for the winter, it will show you itself. As a rule, it sheds its leaves completely as soon as the light supply begins to dwindle massively in autumn.

Another factor is of course the temperature. If you let the bougainvillea grow outside over the summer, you must carefully listen for the first signs of frost in the fall. If nighttime temperatures of 0°C and below are announced for the first time, you should start catching up as soon as possible. The bougainvillea usually survives one or two light frosty nights, but you can also spare it the cold.

Conditions for winter quarters

In the winter quarters, the bougainvillea should withdraw into a dormant mode, but it doesn't fall into a complete coma there. This means that it should also be relatively bright here. Months of darkness can actually cost them their lives. If possible, place them in a bright cold house or by a large, south-facing window. On the other hand, it does not need a lot of heat to hibernate - 5 to 15°C are completely sufficient.

No watering during the winter break

Leave your bougainvillea alone during hibernation. She should continuously shut down her vital forces and not be irritated by any suggestions - that would not go with the lack of light. This also means that you do not need to water during the entire winter break. That would signal the plant to start vegetatively again, for which the other circumstances are not sufficient. Waterlogging is then inevitable - and the bougainvillea gets it particularly badly in winter.

interim balance:

  • Move to winter quarters when bougainvillea sheds leaves due to lack of autumn light
  • But at the latest with the first frost
  • As bright as possible in winter and in summer
  • Temperature between 5 and 15°C in order
  • No watering during the winter break

Measures before and after hibernation

Rough cut before billeting

Before bringing it in, it is advisable to cut back the bougainvillea, not only for reasons of space. If you let them climb up a wall or a railing in the summer, the tendrils will have to be loosened anyway, which can usually not be done without damage. In addition, it is also advisable for vegetative reasons to shorten the long shoots - this way the plant has less substance to supply in the low flame mode.

Fine cut after moving out

If you bring the bougainvillea out again after wintering, you can give it a fine pruning in preparation for its growing season. Now it's time to thoroughly remove the dead, dried-up parts of the plant - and you can also finely grind them for their decorative value. That means you prepare them for the culture form in which you want to keep them: For a tree form, shorten their crown slightly from below. Grow them as a climbing shrub, line them up along the trellis (if any).

Smooth transition

As we read at the beginning, hibernation is actually an unnatural thing for Bougainvillea. With that in mind, it's understandable that she needs a little time to get back on track after that. The budding after the winter break therefore requires a little patience and sensitivity from the hobby gardener.

In concrete terms, this means: It can take a while until your bougainvillea puts out the first leaves - until then you should not push it by eagerly watering or fertilizing. Instead, make sure that there is as much light and heat as possible and give it the time it needs.

Category:

Indoor plants