How to Prune a Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea is a vine plant, and even though it may blossom profusely throughout the warm months of the year, as a vine it can grow quickly which requires pruning. It can be hard to part with parts of the plan that can produce blossoms, but pruning actually keeps the plant healthier and tidier when it does not have overgrowth. The bougainvillea can be kept in a pot, which would require more pruning than if it grows outside up a trellis. One of the best things about this plant is that it likes to be pruned. There is no worry about overpruning a bougainvillea, though doing so might end up in a bonsai version of the plant. Whether your bougainvillea grows inside the comfort of your home, or outside in your garden, below are some tips to pruning the plant:

Before pruning, look over the plant to see if any new stems need removing through pinching. Pinching is the easiest way to encourage new blossoms. Remove the tip of one young shoot with your fingertips to allow for more blossoms. This will help the plant grow fuller and branch out more evenly. This method is also best for indoor plants that do not have a lot of space to spread. Once the pinching has been done, then the pruning can be started.

Use a pair of garden clippers to remove any dead branches where there are no more blossoms. Bougainvillea only blossoms on new shoots each flowering season. Start cutting any branches that look too long for the desired shape of the plant. If your plant grows up a trellis, make sure all of the branches are the same length. Eliminate those branches which no longer have blossoms on them. Any parts of the plant that look dead should be removed, too. The good, growing branches should be green in color. Pruning will help the plant look and blossom its best when done on a yearly basis.

The best time of the year to prune the bougainvillea is when it starts to get new blossoms. Once the blossoms are fully open, it is easy to determine which parts of the plant require removing.

Water the plant after pruning if needed. Now you can watch your bougainvillea blossom better!

Image Credit: ERWEH in May 2003, Wikimedia Commons.