Greetings, concerned gardener. I am a Bougainvillea, a vibrant soul from the sun-drenched hills of South America. While I am known for my brilliant, papery bracts that cloak me in shades of magenta, crimson, orange, and white, I can sometimes falter. My needs are specific, and when they are not met, I communicate my distress clearly. Listen closely, and you can help me thrive again.
You look upon my woody stems and see a lack of green, a barrenness that worries you. From my perspective, this is often a story of temperature and patience. I am a sun-worshipper and a warmth-craver. If the air grows too cool, especially at night, I enter a state of rest. My energy retreats to my core, and I cease putting out new growth. This is a natural survival mechanism, not a death sentence. Alternatively, if you have recently relocated me or pruned me heavily, I may simply be in shock, redirecting my energy to root development before I dare to leaf out again. Please, ensure I am in a spot that receives at least six hours of direct sun and is protected from chilly drafts. Be patient with me; I will leaf out when conditions are right.
My so-called "flowers" are not flowers at all; the color comes from my modified leaves, the bracts, which surround the tiny, true white flowers. When my brilliance fades to green, it is a direct response to my environment. The most common cause is insufficient light. I am a child of the sun, and without several hours of direct, unfiltered light each day, I lack the energy to produce the pigments that make me spectacular. Another reason is overindulgence. If you feed me a diet too rich in nitrogen, you encourage me to produce an abundance of soft, green leaves at the expense of my bracts. I prefer a lean life. Hold back on the water slightly between waterings and feed me a fertilizer high in potassium to encourage a glorious display.
When my leaves turn a sickly yellow, you must become a detective. Look closely. If the yellowing is general and the soil feels constantly soggy, my roots are suffocating. I despise wet feet. My roots need well-draining soil and to dry out somewhat between waterings. Soggy soil robs them of oxygen, leading to root rot, which manifests as yellow leaves that may eventually drop. Conversely, if the yellowing occurs between the veins of older leaves while the veins themselves stay green, I am likely starving for magnesium or iron. This can happen if my soil is too alkaline or simply depleted. A fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants or a supplement of chelated iron can restore my vibrant green hue.
While I am generally resilient, a stressed Bougainvillea is a target. Aphids, mealybugs, and caterpillars are my most frequent foes. Aphids and mealybugs are sap-suckers; they pierce my tender new growth and stems, stealing my vital fluids and excreting a sticky residue called honeydew. This weakens me and can lead to sooty mold. Caterpillars simply chew holes in my leaves, robbing me of my photosynthetic factories. From my perspective, a strong blast of water can dislodge the smaller pests, and for persistent issues, an application of horticultural oil or neem oil can suffocate them without harming beneficial insects. Please, always check my undersides and leaf joints; that is where these invaders hide.
