[Arid_gardener] Bouganvilleas

[Kelly Conroy]

I bought some beautiful hybrid white bouganvillea's last year and they,
too, lost all their leaves from the frost and were practically dead.
One appeared to be slowly growing back flowers (but few leaves), while
the other one just looked dead.  I cut the "dead" one down to the stump
and it grew back in like 2 weeks and is about as high as my chest now.
They other one was barely spouting leaves, so I finally cut that one
down to the stump and within another two weeks, it had all new growth to
my knees.  My advice: cut it to the stump and it will grow back.
(Bouganvilla's are pretty hard to kill.  My sister has been trying to
get rid of one in her back yard for months.  She keeps murdering it and
it keeps coming back to haunt her.)

I agree that it doesn't need to be watered that often.  I probably water
it once or twice a month, but it's probably not even necessary.

~ Kelly





----- Original Message ----- From: <rosefamilyndog at aol.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2006 9:55 PM,  Sandra Rose,  85022
> rosefamilyndog at aol.com
> Can you over-water Bouganivillea to the point they lose leaves?  I
> know they don't flower as much if over-watered.  I have had 6 plants
> in for over a year and 3 totally lost their leaves last winter.  They
> are coming back, but slowly.  They get full eastern and southern sun
> until about 3 or 4 PM, but I have to water them with a hose.  I'm
> committed to watering, but maybe do it too much and/or not long enough
> when I put the hose at their roots.  They are in clay soil.  Thank
> you.  PS:  Yes I know I need a drip system, but for now I just want to
> get them through the summer.