Does Bougainvillea Shed Leaves in Winter and How to Manage It
A small knowledge of life, introducing the knowledge of how to manage the green plants and flowers of bougainvillea shedding leaves in winter, the specific content is as follows:
Does Bougainvillea Shed Leaves in Winter and How to Manage It
Bougainvillea sheds leaves in winter. It is a plant that is particularly afraid of cold, and in the dormant period of winter, the leaves turn yellow, which is a very normal phenomenon. After the bougainvillea drops its leaves in winter, its water requirement is very low. Each watering should wait until the potting soil is dry or almost dry, then water thoroughly. Even when the plant loses all its leaves in winter, it should still be placed in a sunny location for maintenance, which can promote nutrient absorption and enhance the plant's cold resistance.
Bougainvillea is an evergreen plant. In some warmer areas in the south, it is an evergreen flower that can bloom all year round. In the north, bougainvillea is very susceptible to cold, and it will shed leaves when the temperature is below five degrees, just like the trees in the north, which is a self-protection function.
Bougainvillea Shedding Leaves in Winter
Bougainvillea sheds leaves in winter. It is a plant that is particularly afraid of cold, and in the dormant period of winter, the leaves turn yellow, which is a very normal phenomenon. Many plants also shed leaves in winter, and they will grow back if placed in the sun.
Why Does Bougainvillea Shed Leaves in Winter
1. Low Temperature Environment
Bougainvillea prefers warmth and fears cold. In normal temperature environments, by December, the minimum temperature in most parts of the country has dropped to above 5 degrees, which is the growth threshold for bougainvillea. This means that it can only tolerate low temperatures of about 5 degrees. If it is below 5 degrees for a long time, it will shed a lot of flowers and leaves, and even suffer from frost damage.
2. Too Much Watering
Bougainvillea is not a plant that likes too much water. During its whole growing period, especially before flowering, it mostly needs appropriate water control to promote its transformation from vegetative growth to reproductive growth.
In winter, no matter how high the indoor temperature is, the pot should not be waterlogged, nor should the potting soil be too moist. If the roots are suffocated in the sticky soil for a long time, it will interrupt the nutrient supply, causing the flowers and leaves to fall.
3. Weak Light
Bougainvillea is a strong positive flower that needs sufficient light throughout its growing period. The light in winter is much weaker than in other seasons, especially after bougainvillea is brought indoors, the amount of direct sunlight it can receive is greatly reduced. For bougainvillea that is flowering, insufficient photosynthesis will not allow enough accumulation of nutrients, which will certainly cause discomfort such as shedding flowers and leaves.
4. Too Much Fertilization
The root system of bougainvillea has strong resistance to poverty. In winter, due to various reasons such as temperature and light, its demand for fertilizer is greatly reduced. Increasing the amount of fertilizer at this time will only increase the burden on the plant, which it cannot fully absorb and cause fertilizer damage. The root system is damaged, leading to shedding of flowers and leaves.
How to Manage Bougainvillea After It Drops Leaves in Winter
1. Reduce Watering
After the plant enters a dormant state, its water requirement is very low. Moreover, bougainvillea is a drought-tolerant plant, so it's fine to keep the potting soil slightly dry.
Water thoroughly only when the potting soil is dry or almost dry. Do not water frequently when the potting soil is moist, as this can easily cause root rot and affect the normal overwintering of the plant.
2. No More Fertilization
If you want to apply winter fertilizer to bougainvillea, it should be done in autumn by applying some slow-release fertilizer or fermented organic fertilizer to replenish the nutrients of the plant and also enhance its cold resistance.
3. More Sunlight
After the plant loses all its leaves in winter, it should still be placed in a sunny location for maintenance, which can promote nutrient absorption and enhance the plant's cold resistance. It will also allow it to bloom earlier in spring.
The above sharing about whether bougainvillea sheds leaves in winter and how to manage it, hoping it will be helpful to green plant enthusiasts!