Bouganvillea questions

[TommyHallahan]

So I was hoping that I could get some opinions from those of you who know more than I, I bought a 5 gallon bougainvillea from the nursery and pruned it back pretty hard but not crazy I figured I would work it back in stages to make sure I had live growth on everything I cut back to. It is still in the five gallon Nursery pot, but since I live in New York it will have to come inside for the winter. I read in an article when you buy Nursery material to work on it's best to do the pruning and leave it in its Nursery pot for the First full year do you think that I can get away with repotting my bougainvillea into something slightly smaller then the five gallon Nursery can, in the interest of space saving for winter storage?

 

[TommyHallahan]

I will post photos as soon as I get home

 

[Carol 83]

If you're going to repot, summer would be the time to do it.

 

[GrimLore]

Summer would be best but please post a photo or two and a bit more details such as the pot dimensions, original size of the plant, and current size... Reason being there are some easy options on the fly if appropriate

Sorry - I can tell you about Northern growing but those points are relevant.

Grimmy

 

[TommyHallahan]

So it is in a standard 5 gal nursery can, I pruned off 6-8 inches I would estimate. I don't have any before pics

 

[TommyHallahan]

When you say summer, do you mean beginning, middle, or end ?

 

[GrimLore]

When you say summer, do you mean beginning, middle, or end ?

You are bit more North then me, 60 miles or so from NYC. There is no guarantee ever but if I were there I would do it now.

Don't mess with the roots a lot, pull it from that container in one piece if possible. Do the process over a old shower curtain or liner as you may want some of the substrate back if it flakes apart. Measure top to bottom of the soil - Cut off the bottom half.

Set it next to that pot and mark the top of the substrate on the side of it. Cut the pot down to that height and replant it in your half height container. They like being root bound so don't hesitate to stuff that puppy in there

Just water for a couple of weeks until it perks up and shows new flush. Do not over water. Careful on fertilizer after that as the ultra hot weather is coming and you don't want to fertilize during that period.

Between the chops and the root reduction I would do no more then I suggested. One the bright side it will be at least half the weight

Grimmy

 

[TommyHallahan]

So your saying don't mess with the roots at all... just cut the rootball and back into same container, no new soil? (It's in the potting soil from the nursery)

 

[GrimLore]

So your saying don't mess with the roots at all... just cut the rootball and back into same container, no new soil? (It's in the potting soil from the nursery)

Yes, it has been cut back already so the bottom half of the root ball being removed will be OK. They don't like it a lot when you bare root, etc... It can be done slowly BUT not now, that will be down the road a bit after being left to grow an entire year.

Don't worry about the soil. If it drains from the center out it is just fine. Root bound enough the don't even need it, just more watering... serious. For example I have one going on three seasons now that is in what looks to be Peat Moss only and there is not much left as anything else has be washed through. It is so root bound it stays firm in the same type of container. It gets cut back from a minimum of 4 feet at the end of growing season to 8 inches or so. In the Spring as it goes outdoors it gets to be an easy 2 foot so it gets another hack back to 8 inches for the grow season.

These things are though and at the same time have limits and requirements. Over all though I find them pretty easy compared to a lot of other plants.

If you are going to be home today early Noon or so PM me and I will send you my number if you need more details. They are not the same as many trees so it can be a little tricky

Grimmy

 

[TooCoys]

Where in sam hell did you find a 5 gallon Bougie? I can't find anything larger than 2 gallon, and even then it little twig trunks. I'd pay good money for one of these!