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Bougainvillea blooms profusely in summer - but what about in winter? Is Bougainvillea hardy or at least overwintering successfully?
The exotic looking bougainvillea is not only valued for its strong color in southern countries, but can also be found in many gardens in this country. The plant, which belongs to the magic flower family (Nyctaginaceae), can produce an impressive amount of beautiful bracts during the summer, which can be almost any color depending on the variety. But is bougainvillea actually hardy? And if not, how do you overwinter them in this country? We answer these questions below.
Bougainvillea: hardy or not?
The bougainvillea plant genus is originally native to the tropical regions of South America and has established itself over time as an ornamental plant in large parts of the world. Due to its origin, however, a bougainvillea can only be cultivated in areas where the winters are reasonably mild. For this reason, the exotic species in Europe can only grow freely in the Mediterranean region and are only suitable for keeping in buckets in Germany. A bougainvillea is sensitive to temperatures below 5°C and can quickly wither in frost.
Bougainvillea: Overwinter successfully
Overwintering your bougainvillea correctly is crucial to whether you can look forward to the tropical plant again next year. To hibernate, do the following:
- Prune back your bougainvillea in good time in autumn so that it becomes a little more compact. If the leaves have not yet fallen off by themselves, they can be cut off directly.
- Find a bright and cool place to overwinter. Ideally, this should have a temperature between 10 and 15°C, but in any case not below 5°C. Also make sure that the floor is not too cold.
- In spring you can slowly get the bougainvillea used to a spot in the garden again and completely plant itPlace vacancies as soon as late frosts are no longer to be expected.
Caring for bougainvillea properly in winter
You should also check on your bougainvillea from time to time during the dormant phase in winter, so that it stays he althy during the cold months. Although watering should be drastically reduced during the winter, the plant is happy to be watered every four weeks. The soil should always be slightly moistened. Also check the bougainvillea from time to time for pests such as spider mites, which prefer dry air. If you follow all of these bougainvillea overwintering tips, you can enjoy the exotic plant for years to come.
What can be the reason why the bougainvillea is not blooming? And what can you do about it? You can find out more about this in our special article.