As we all know, every plant has a common requirement; the need for water. And this is why we are interested in how often to water bougainvillea.
During the spring and summer, water potted bougainvillea thoroughly every 7-14 days. Allow the soil to dry before re-watering the bougainvillea. In the winter, water bougainvillea once every two or three weeks, making sure the soil is dry before watering.
In this blog post, we'll discuss how much water your bougainvillea plant need, as well as the best way to water bougainvillea!
Table of Contents
What is Bougainvillea?
Some refer to the bougainvillea species as a "flowering machine," probably because of its beautiful blooms.
Bougainville species are vining shrubs, regular vines, or small trees that grow in USDA plant hardiness zones 9b to 11. The woody vine variety is the most popular because it produces the most vibrant, colorful flowers.
How Often To Water Bougainvillea?
Bougainvillea is native to hot climates and grows well with a good soak, followed by allowing the soil to dry slightly. But how often should you water bougainvillea?
During the spring and summer, give potted bougainvilleas a thorough watering every 7-14 days. Allow the soil to dry before watering the bougainvillea again. In the winter, water bougainvillea once every 2 or 3 weeks, making sure the soil is dry before watering. If the soil is still wet, wait until it feels dryer before watering again.
If there is no significant rainfall and the weather is hot, water Bougainvillea once a week. Water bougainvillea every two weeks if it has rained or if the weather has been overcast and cooler.
Bougainvillea should be planted in well-draining soil and pots with drainage holes in the base for proper watering guidelines.
Continue reading to learn the best way to water bougainvillea in pots and containers, as well as how to avoid root rot caused by overwatering.
What Happens When You Overwater Bougainvillea?
Knowing how often to water bougainvillea is very important to avoid overwatering the plant. As a new and overzealous gardener, you might find yourself showering your bougainvillea plant with too much water.
You might not know this, but overwatering is a far more serious issue than underwatering.
Overwatering your bougainvillea will damage the roots and encourage disease growth. Too much water usually causes root rot, which is the decay of the roots.
At first, they will appear black and slimy before decaying completely. You might be able to save your plant if you catch it in time!
The affected plant parts should be removed and discarded away from all plants to treat bougainvillea root rot. The plant should then be repotted into new soil that allows excess water to drain easily.
What Happens When You Underwater Bougainvillea?
If you don't water your bougainvillea regularly, you may notice that its leaves begin to fall off. Typically, this occurs during hot weather; during hot weather, bougainvillea needs to be watered frequently due to heat stress.
To revive an underwatered bougainvillea, water more frequently until the soil is saturated again. If the plant is severely underwatered and about to die, you should allow it to fully saturate by submerging it in water for a few hours.
How to Water Bougainvillea in a Pot
Watering bougainvillea in pots is best done thoroughly so that excess water drips from the base of the pot.
After watering, allow the soil to dry before watering again. Watering the pot generously ensures that water has penetrated the soil and reached the bougainvillea's roots.
Allowing the soil to dry out slightly after watering with a really generous soak encourages good development (and flowering) by stimulating roots to grow deep into the soil to access the moisture they require.
This is also one of the main reasons it is important to plant bougainvillea in pots and containers with drainage holes in the bottom.
This is because water emerging from the bottom of the pot is an excellent indicator that you have used enough water to meet your bougainvillea's moisture requirements.
Watering too lightly moistens only the soil's surface, promoting shallow root growth and resulting in a less hardy and resilient bougainvillea that is more susceptible to drought.
