Overview
Bougainvillea Bonsai (Bougainvillea species) is a tropical climber with papery coloured bracts and fast thickening woody stems. It is best suited to dramatic flowering bonsai, cascade and informal upright designs. For UK growers, treat it as: Indoor conservatory or bright window in UK, outdoors in warm summer.
Placement
full sun or the brightest possible position; poor light reduces flowering
Watering
water well when growing, then allow the soil surface to dry before watering again
Feeding and fertilising
feed during active growth, switching to lower nitrogen when encouraging flowers
Pruning and wiring
prune after flowering or vigorous flushes; wire carefully because mature branches snap easily
Repotting
repot every 2-3 years in spring with minimal root disturbance
Propagation
semi-hardwood cuttings in warmth
Pests, diseases and common issues
no flowers in low light, root rot from wet soil, aphids and whitefly