Oh no! Such a lovely plant. Fingers crossed it may recover.

I had 3 and one of mine bit the dust in the garage last winter. The other 2 did fine. They have not bloomed yet this season.

Tarev - were you able get a cutting? Good luck.

Sorry about maybe losing it @tarev. Bougainvilleas that I've grown have needed a lot more additional water as container plants than what I've read. My experience with them is apparently quite different than many people. They wilt, quit growing and will not bloom unless they get regular supplemental water. They do not perform well with even a couple of days of neglect. I have a lot of plants known for needing that supplemental water often that manage better than the Bougainvillea does. My part of the world somewhat like yours - hot and dry in the summer. I think mine would die sooner than a month if it didn't get regular water and it's in a large container that shouldn't dry out rapidly. Fortunately, though they don't do well, they are pretty good at recovering after too much neglect. It's still a setback in terms of growth and bloom, but fatal. So here's hoping yours will generate some new growth yet.

Don't give up on it Tarv. Cut it back, feed it and keep it watered over the winter. You may be surprised...pray a little too.

Thanks for the hopeful thoughts everyone!

David, unfortunately when I returned it is really deadish looking, so no cutting. But will see how it goes these coming days, we had an usually cool two days, maybe it can be tricked to think it is going into Spring.

Donald, you are so right, it is quite water needy here during summer, and it usually gets daily watering but due to the family emergency it was just on its own. Actually I lost several plants, but still hoping they may come back. Other casualties were my Gaillardia, Calamondin tree, Tropical milkweed, Brunnera macrophylla and lastly this bougainvillea. I thought my lantana was gone too, but it has bounced back, so I am keeping my hopes up, maybe bougainvillea will follow similarly although just being too slow.

JB, thanks, will see if cutting back will help. I was a bit hesitant to cut back, trying to see if it will grow new leaves, seeing my lantana grew new leaves on seemingly withered branches. A real hope builder!

Stay hopeful, Tarev, and we will too. If I know know anything about Bougainvillea, it's that 1. They are hard to permanently kill, and 2. They like to throw tantrums when not treated like royalty. It'll probably take some time, and it may lose a branch or two, but I'm sure it'll come back.

Thanks James!

I am still waiting for the orange bougainvillea to bloom. The tips of the variegated leaves are tinted orange but no blooms. Not sure what that is all about. The pink, white and red are just beautiful and still blooming. I must take them in soon because the night time temps here are beginning to dip into the 60s. They are pretty good until it gets below 60 then I get nervous.
I thought I read ages ago, that bougainvilleas only bloom on NEW GROWTH. That I found to be pretty accurate with mine . That is why I cut mine back each year during the winter. I only take them down to where they are tied on the ladder or whatever they are tied to. I have cut them back further but it is not necessary. You may want to check that out. It has been a long time since I read it.

I hack mine back really hard when I take them in. I was told by one of my greenhouse clients that used to work at a garden center..........."Prune viciously in the fall, and again about Valentine's day". I try to do that.

Oh good! Thanks for the pruning info. We are back in warm temps hopefully it willl help.

Finally got a bloom on one - not the other. I still have mine on my screen porch as weather is still very mild. Will likely have to bring them in soon though.

I had one that I neglected and thought it was dead (first it was decimated by japanese beetles and then had a bad aphid infestation). I was about to return it to the store where I'd bought it. When I looked closely at it yesterday, I saw new leaves. Now I need to replace the wooden trellis it came with and bring the poor thing indoors. I think I'll kill it by keeping it dormant in the garage, when it's struggling to make a come back. I'll try to remember to get a photo tomorrow.

Deborah - my instincts tell me the same thing. I have both mine inside now and they are both blooming. I do get a lot of leaf drop. I do on many plants when I bring them in: My hibiscus always go into shock and drop all their leaves.

Please don't give up on them even if they loose all their leaves and are just stems. Keep them warm and some light and I feel sure they will come back if there is any life in them at all. They are almost indestructible. Mine get cut back really hard and don't over water them but give them a drink while they are resting. You will be surprised when they begin to get warm and soon they pop those little green signs of life.

with JB. I forgot to get a photo of mine. I'll try to do it tomorrow. It's in the garage at the moment, but won't stay there all winter.

tarev said:My bougainvillea thoroughly enjoyed our rains two days ago, lot of new bracts and just enjoying our cool sunny conditions, quite better growth this year



Oh a nice bloom in this corner:

Hey, tarev. Your boug looks very nice. Only thing is, it's probably not a "Raspberry ice". It looks like a "Blueberry ice" I have.

I love the color. Beautiful.

Sadly, my bougainvillea has not returned from its dried out state last year.

My bougainvillea are just not happy this year out on the deck. I do believe the sun is just too hot.
The variegated one is looking healthier than all of them, the others look like crap.

I am re-thinking if I will still try bougainvillea again. Maybe I should stick to the more common variety, that one seems more heat tolerant here.