Hello,

I planted a Bougainvilla tree about two years ago. I have not proved it sense. Need to say it's growing very well and is vineing out. I think it's now time to cut it back. Can you please recommend the proper way to do this, so it encourages new growth and it's healthy to the plant. Thank you for your advice.

I wouldn't prune it while it's blooming. If you feel it's over grown than snip to shape
the wild branches, but know you may not have blooms for a while. Hope this helps. Yours looks great/healthy and in a nice location.

Are you in northern Florida or southern? In the northern part (like Jacksonville) it's a little cool still. In the south (like Sarasota) it's okay.

karmahappytoes said: I wouldn't prune it while it's blooming. If you feel it's over grown than snip to shape
the wild branches, but know you may not have blooms for a while. Hope this helps. Yours looks great/healthy and in a nice location.

Understood. I will wait until it stops (which it seems it only happens a few times) and then clean it up a bit. Does pruning promote a healthy plant?

CalPolygardener said: Are you in northern Florida or southern? In the northern part (like Jacksonville) it's a little cool still. In the south (like Sarasota) it's okay.

I am in Tampa, Florida.

Omega2009,
I live in the Pacific Northwest where we tend to get cold and our Bougainvillea we had for 20 years finally froze after losing power and being in the wrong place in the Brug House. Beings that it went into the greenhouse we would cut it back to the soil after fighting with getting stuck so many times. We had it in a 20 gallon pot and when it was cut back it would take off like crazy. I don't recommend it for being in the ground, just shape it up and try to train it to grow upward not outward. Your photo makes me miss ours. Thanks for sharing.

I'd trimmed properly they are beautiful like this:


And you can grow some of the "thicker" cuttings and make them as bonsai gifts.



I have a thick bougainvillea that had a tall thick trunk that I learned to propagate into 4 bonsai size after watching this video.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=...