Saturday, June 29, 2013

Bougainvillea has no leaves? It's Not Dead.

I was reading in a blog, not long ago, where someone had purchased a bougainvillea.  It became what I refer to as "sticky".  It had no leaves or blooms and they felt it was dying and gave up on it.  They opted to throw it away.  Internally I was thinking, don't...it'll come back.

It has been my experience that bougainvilleas will lose their leaves and look dead sometimes.  I am not saying it should do that, but if it does, they come back easily.

This one I was ignoring heavily.  You can see how it has very few leaves.  The date reads 6/14
 Another view of it.  Lots of flower and no leaves.  I repotted this one on this day.


I have several other bougainvilleas I was ignoring.  This one has Mexican heather growing at its base.  Not on purpose.


This was taken 6/24.  You can see it leafing up.  My assessment is that like a ton of water.  Last year when I watered it three times more than I thought it needed, it not only leafed up but bloomed.

This one is actually two.  Half this bougainvillea is sticks.
Taken this morning, yes a ton of weeds behind this container.

I have variegated like on the right

This one makes beautiful pink flowers.  I think it is has a nutritional deficiency.  It's leaves should be darker.

This one is sticky as well but coming back with regular water.  If you want more information on bougainvilleas, click HERE

They do unbelievable in my greenhouse.  See Below.





Moral of the story, is water them more, and maybe feed them.  They have lost their leaves and have come back, many, many times.

Journal notes


The rose I have grown from a seed seems to be a climber.  The mother is Gold Medal.  The only climbers that were near last year was Don Juan, American Climbing Blaze, and golden showers.  All likely hood, it would be Don Juan.  She is growing very, very fast.  I can't wait to see her bloom.

I believe this is called Granada.

I have a mystery rose that I thought was a climbing Iceberg.  According to my records, I have two granadas....so where is the iceberg...mystery continues...

1 comment:

Jean Campbell said...

Mama always wanted a bougainvillea. I think she finally bought one in a basket shortly before she died. I've seen them growing on building fronts, very pretty.