Q&A for How to Grow Bougainvillea

It's not as simple as that. You need to stick your finger into the soil up to the knuckle. If the soil at the bottom (the tip of your finger) is damp, don't water. If it's dry, give the plant a good drink. I recommend checking the soil every day- but that doesn't mean you will water every day.

Sometimes curled leaves mean you have an insect problem. Check the top and underside of the leaves for bugs, and use an insecticidal soap, insecticide, or oil to get rid of them. The flowers won't last forever- when they fade, trim them off, and trim the whole plant back a few inches. It should reflower after a while.

Ideal time is the spring, but you can probably get away with planting in the summer as well. You want the plants to be well-established before cooler temperatures begin.

Might be a water issue. Make sure you are watering deeply and then letting the top few inches of the soil dry out before watering again. It could also be from the temperature. Bougainvillia like warmth and will drop leaves if they get too cold.

Yes. According to the University of Hawaii, the cutting should be at least ⅛ inch thick and include three to five nodes. (Nodes are small protrusions on a plant's stem.)

Yes, fuchsia is one color. The plant also comes in red, white, purple, orange and yellow. Do an online search for images.

Overwatering can prevent blooms, and bougainvilleas need very little water. If you've been keeping it fairly dry, the plant may need less fertilizer, less pruning, or more sun.

Most bougainvilleas can tolerate 65ºF (18ºC) night temperatures, but there are variations of a few degrees depending on species.

Nurseries usually sell bougainvilleas at the height of their blooming period. Unfortunately, beautiful as they are, the blooms can't last forever. Yours is probably going into a growth period that should be followed by another period of blooms; don't worry. Be sure to keep the plant almost dry to promote blooms in the future.

It's hard to say, but in general this type of problem is often related to the wrong fertilizer ratio. Too much nitrogen can result in fast, spindly growth with dark green leaves. Too little nitrogen can lead to slow growth, yellowing, and early leaf drop.

Yes, by sowing them in soil and transplanting the seedlings.

You need to dig them up. They will turn to mush in freezing or frosty temperatures.

Overwatering. Keeping the soil too wet will cause the plant to lose its blooms.

Plant your bougainvilleas at least 12 inches apart. These plants have vigorous growth, and their thorns will make pruning difficult if they too close to each other.

Definitely plant in a container. While a potted plant tolerates thirties quite well, it is also protected from frost.

I planted three small Bougainvillea at the base of our lemon tree and ignored them. Now, two seasons later, all three Bougainvillea have grown over 15 feet and are blooming beautifully between the branches of our lemon tree. You can tie the vines of your Bougainvillea around the trunk of your tree, or just ignore them; in a year or two, you'll have beautiful Bougainvillea blossoms showing off by cascading from the branches of your tree.

Nocturnal or well-hidden pests include the bougainvillea looper caterpillar (scalloped edges), slugs (larger holes), or leaf miners (a network of tiny lines in young leaves). A garden supply store can sell you pheromone traps or Bt treatments, depending on your pest.

They need magnesium. Sprinkle epsom (magnesium sulfate) around the plant once every three weeks. Water deeply once or twice a week.

I have found a little known invention by Nicholas Tesla which has made a comeback lately very useful - induction lighting. It does not use a filament, but works off of electric magnets that activate the gas in the tube. It doesn't produce a lot of heat and the bulb can be handled when lit and it will not burn you. I've tried LEDs, but Induction lighting produces better growth. My bougainvillea thrive better in the grow room than they do outdoors in the summer. Another bonus is the induction lighting doesn't consume a lot of electric. I have found about 8-12 inches above the plants is perfect.

The plant will grow toward the sun. To keep it against the wall, you need to either tie it there or twine it behind your trellis or support.

Continue to water it during the cold months and let it get sunshine in the evening for about an hour.

It sounds like your plant has a disease. Talk to your local garden center for advice.

According to the article, "Most bougainvillea gardeners go with a 1:1:1 or a 2:1:2 fertilizer for regular fertilizing, not the high-phosphate fertilizer used at planting. Organic or slow-release fertilizers work best."

It can stay outside all year as long as temps don't drop too much below 18c.

Take a full sheet of dry newspaper. Place the flowers inside the paper and fold it. Place some weight over the news paper, such as a heavy book. Check after four days; if not dried, replace the sheet of newspaper and continue to press until dried.

You can add a wooden stake, or you can train it on a fence or trellis.

It's not getting enough food. Feeding the plant at least every other mouth is key to a healthy plant.

Might be a pest problem, dehydration, lack of sunlight, or a nutrient deficiency like Zinc, Nitrogen, or Potassium Deficiency.

It's pronounced "boo-gan-VEAL-yuh". It was named after a French botanist.