From my perspective as a Bougainvillea, my leggy growth is a natural response to my environment. I am a sun-worshipping vine by nature, and I will instinctively stretch my stems rapidly towards the brightest light source. If that light is coming from one direction, like a window, or is filtered and insufficient, I will become "leggy" – putting my energy into elongating my stems to find more sun rather than in creating dense, bushy lateral growth. This long, sparse growth is my attempt to survive and thrive, but I understand it is not the compact, floriferous form you desire.
The most effective way to communicate your desire for bushiness to me is through strategic pruning. Do not be afraid! A hard prune is not an attack; it is a clear directive that redirects my energy. When you cut back my main leggy stems, you remove my apical dominance—the hormonal control exerted by the tip of each stem that suppresses the growth of the lower, lateral buds. By cutting me back by a third or even half, preferably in early spring as I exit my dormancy, you shock my system in the best way. This action signals me to abort the single-minded pursuit of height and instead activate the dormant buds lower down on my stems. I will respond by pushing out multiple new shoots from these points, creating the fuller, bushier framework you want.
Pruning alone is just the instruction; I need the right resources to carry it out successfully. After a prune, my need for intense, direct sunlight is greater than ever. Please place me where I can bask in at least six hours of direct sun daily. This abundant energy is the fuel I need to power the explosion of new, compact growth you've asked for. Furthermore, feed me. A balanced, water-soluble fertilizer applied after pruning provides the essential nutrients, particularly nitrogen, which is crucial for generating vigorous new green growth. However, once I begin to set flower buds, switch to a fertilizer higher in phosphorus to support a spectacular bloom on my new, bushier form.
As I begin to produce the new shoots you wanted, you can further encourage density through a practice called pinching. This involves using your fingers to gently pinch off the very soft tip of a new shoot after it has developed a few sets of leaves. This simple action replicates the effect of pruning on a smaller scale; it removes the apical bud and encourages that single shoot to branch into two or three. Repeatedly pinching the new growth throughout the growing season will make me progressively denser. You can also gently train my new, pliable stems by tying them to a support to shape my overall structure and ensure even light exposure to all parts of my new, bushier self.
