How to winter a bougainvillea?

When to winter the bougainvillea?

The bougainvillea must be wintered or stored away from frost before the first frosts, usually in autumn.

It is important to note that humidity combined with cold, even with positive temperatures, can pose risks of weakening for the plant.

Depending on the regions, wintering will therefore take place between mid-October and mid-November.

Which varieties of bougainvillea are involved?

All varieties of bougainvilleas are frost-sensitive: bougainvillea spectabilis ‘White’, ‘Purple Violet’, ‘Orange’, or even bougainvillea glabra ‘Sanderiana’, to name a few.

However, some varieties, such as ‘Violet de Mèze’, the hardiest of bougainvilleas, can withstand short frosts and temperatures down to -8°C in a sheltered, south-facing position.

Young plants, still too underdeveloped to reach this level of hardiness, will need to be protected in winter.

Purple Bougainvillea and White Bougainvillea

Protecting Bougainvillea from Cold in the Ground

The necessary equipment

We recommend preparing the equipment before the first waves of cold arrive, so you are not caught off guard in case of a sudden drop in temperatures:

• organic mulch to protect from the cold, to be chosen airy, to avoid water stagnation (straw, dead leaves, pruning waste, hemp, flax, miscanthus,…);
• winter fleece or winter cover with a zip, the thickness expressed in grammage will depend on the severity of winter in your area (30g/m2 for a moderate winter, 90g/m2 for an extreme winter).

How to prepare for wintering?

1. Cover the base of the plant with a thick layer of mulch, at least ten centimetres. This insulating mat will protect the roots and soil from the cold and frost. The thicker the layer of mulch, the more the plant will be sheltered from winter cold.
2. Cover the aerial parts with winter fleece, taking care not to break the branches. Secure the fleece at the base of the trunk, also covering the mulch. Weight it down with stones placed against each other, to prevent it from catching the wind. Water and air permeable, this protection allows the plants to breathe and avoids any risk of dehydration.

At the end of winter, in March or April depending on the regions, remove the winter fleece and the mulch.

Except in the case of a very dry winter, if the soil has dried out several centimetres on the surface, it will generally not be necessary to water the bougainvillea at this time. An excess of water could even lead to leaf loss.

On the left, winter cover and on the right, miscanthus mulch

Protecting the bougainvillea from the cold in pots

The bougainvillea in a pot should ideally be placed in a conservatory or in an unheated cold greenhouse. If this is not possible, position the pot behind a large window or glass door to maximise light exposure, in the coolest room possible.

The ideal winter temperature for bougainvillea is between 8 and 15°C, allowing the plant to enter a period of dormancy.

Maintaining a potted bougainvillea in winter

Maintaining a potted bougainvillea during the cold season is quite simple.

1. Gradually reduce the frequency of watering: every 15 to 20 days in autumn, then monthly in winter, always ensuring the substrate dries out between waterings.
2. Mist the foliage with rainwater or non-calcareous water to maintain some atmospheric humidity.
3. Stop fertilising.

The bougainvillea may lose leaves in winter due to overwatering, underwatering, or insufficient light. This will not necessarily affect the plant’s health: a light pruning in spring, using a sharp and well-disinfected pruning shear, will generally help it to thrive again.

At the end of winter, resume the application of fertiliser specially formulated for Mediterranean plants or flowering plants.

Once the last risks of spring frosts have passed (in April in mild regions or after the Ice Saints in May in areas north of the Loire), the pot can be taken outside to enjoy the sun’s rays.

To go further

• Discover our stunning varieties of bougainvillea
• Get inspired to dress your walls and pergolas with an original climbing plant!
• Our collection of Mediterranean climbers features the best species and varieties, discover them!
• Find our tips for pruning and training a bougainvillea