Watering

Bougainvilleas are drought-tolerant, requiring little water once established. Bring the soil to visual dryness between watering; when the plants are almost at the wilting point, watering is required. Take care not to let your bougainvillea become too dry, as this will cause bracts and foliage to drop. When it is time to water, do it thoroughly, bringing the soil to “field capacity.” Over-watering, or allowing Bougainvillea to sit in water, may cause severe bract-drop or the plant to stop blooming altogether. If your bougainvillea is grown in a pot, please ensure that drainage holes are unobstructed, since Bougainvillea do not like wet roots! Also avoid frequent light watering, since this will promote a weak and shallow root system and prevent any major coloring or bract formation on your Bougainvillea. These are general guidelines that should be observed, however Bougainvillea water requirements are directly related to the climate, soil type, plant size and weather conditions they are grown in, and watering should be adjusted accordingly.