Bougainvillea Tree Bonsai Ultimate Species Guide

Let’s get into the heart of our Bougainvillea tree guide for bonsais! We have several sections to discuss with you regarding its care, as it will help it grow sturdy and strong. We’ve gone into quite some detail to ensure you have as much information as you need.

Placement And Light

The first element we’ll discuss is placement and how much sunlight the Bougainvillea needs. We’ve received several questions about this before when we posted our previous article on social media. We’ll cover the most essential ones while also adding a few of our own to ensure you receive all the needed details.

Where Is The Best Place To Plant A Bougainvillea?

When it comes to location, the Bougainvillea thrives in full sun. It helps to create energy in the bonsai so that it can produce foliage and flowers. If you’re growing one in your garden, it helps to place a trellis for the vines to climb and spread, but you don’t need it for your bonsai tree unless you’re going for the same effect.

Is Bougainvillea an Indoor Plant?

You can grow the Bougainvillea indoors or outdoors, as it does well in both situations. You’ll need to ensure that it still receives full sun for at least six hours in the morning while there should be some shade during the peak afternoon to protect the leaves from burning.

Another factor to consider is that it loves humidity, so you’ll need to cater for it when you bring it indoors. Place it by a window that faces the sun in the morning or late afternoon, and check that it’s happy with the location after a few days.

Does Bougainvillea Need Direct Sunlight?

If you want your Bougainvillea tree to create the best bonsai flower show anyone has seen, it needs several hours of direct sunlight. It uses this natural resource to make the energy needed for all the functions in its anatomy. When you supply it with water and food, the final ingredient to make every work as wonderfully as it should is sunlight.

Can Bougainvillea Grow In Shade?

If you plan on placing your Bougainvillea bonsai in partial shade for the entire day, it will survive. It can still use the dappled or low light to make the energy it needs, albeit it won’t be as much as it would like.

There are two primary concerns to housing the tree in only shade. The first is that it won’t be able to produce flowers, as it needs at least six hours of direct light every day for this task. Secondly, you may be encouraging mold to form if there’s high humidity and low light.

Can You Plant Bougainvillea Next To House?

Many people have bonsai stands, racks, and displays on the side of their house against the walls. It helps when you want only morning sun, and then the house delivers shade for the rest of the day while there’s still indirect sunlight.

The only issue with doing this with the Bougainvillea tree as a bonsai is when winter arrives. The cold often sticks to the walls and adds to lowering the temperature. If yours is pressing against the wall or creeping up, there’s a good chance the chilly surface may prove fatal to it.

What Can I Plant Next To Bougainvillea?

The plant poses no threat to others, and you don’t have to worry about any of them having a negative effect on your Bougainvillea bonsai. The only significant consideration we have is that you provide enough space so that it can expand without tangling on other leaves and flowers. You should also try and match the blooms with the colors of the other flowers around them.

Wintering

One factor that most bonsais don’t enjoy is winter. When it becomes incredibly cold, your Bougainvillea may become a very unhappy tree, and it might look worse for wear after a few weeks. Ones in the wild do much better in these conditions, so you’ll need to give the potted version a bit more attention.

In this section, we’ll show you how to prepare it for the coming winter, which is one of the best ways to prevent it from dying. You’ll also see what else you can do when the cold sets in to make sure your Bougainvillea bonsai is completely happy. Then you can go to bed with a smile on your face.

When Should I Move My Bougainvillea Indoors?

When winter arrives and the temperature falls below 42° F, it’s time to bring your Bougainvillea tree inside. Be sure to still provide enough sunlight so it has the energy to do the minor tasks while going into dormancy.

How Do You Winterize Potted Bougainvillea?

Your Bougainvillea will go dormant in winter, but it will remain alive. To winterize your bonsai tree, you should remove all the leaves, as it won’t worry too much about absorbing sunlight. In this way, all the water stores in the stem for the next winter.

You can also place it in a dark room where it’s warm to protect it from frost or cold. You should also prune back the structure towards the design you want before the buds appear in the warmer seasons.

Should I Cover My Bougainvillea?

As an alternative to bringing your Bougainvillea bonsai inside, you can also cover the tree with a transparent bag. It will shield the stem while still keeping it outside if you want to give it some sunlight. However, you don’t need to worry if there’s too much shade.

You can also cover the soil with a thick level of mulch. It prevents the damp and frost from creeping into the soil and killing the roots. You’ll also save it from any mold or diseases forming, as long as you don’t overwater it in the winter. 

How Do You Take Care Of A Potted Bougainvillea In The Winter?

Your greatest concern is not overwatering your Bougainvillea tree in winter. It will cause root rot and other problems, and it’s the quickest way to kill your sleeping bonsai. In the same light, don’t bother feeding it fertilizer, as it will only need the food once spring arrives. When the warmer season arrives, you can start increasing the watering.

Don’t worry too much if the leaves fall, as it will mainly be focusing on keeping the trunk and branches alive. You’ll want to spend the time doing some light pruning of the branches and twigs you don’t want. It’s stunning to do it at this time of the year, as it’s easier to see the structure.

What Temperature Is Too Cold For Bougainvillea?

Bougainvillea tree species thrive in zones 9b to 11. Any other areas may be too cold for the bonsai in winter, so it’s best to watch the temperatures. As a general rule, you should bring it inside when it hits 42° F. However, there are other levels that cause greater danger.

When it goes below 40° F, you’ll notice that the bracts and leaves start wilting. As soon as it reaches 32° F, your Bougainvillea bonsai is in danger of becoming damaged. It will be too cold for it to survive and transport any required nutrients.

Watering

Next up on our list is watering which the Bougainvillea tree needs if you want it to thrive. You also don’t want to overwater it, as that also has its consequences. We’ll go into detail about each of these concerns, while you can also click on the links to read more details.

How Often Should I Water Bougainvillea?

Bougainvillea watering isn’t tricky once you have all the details. During the summer period, it becomes quite thirsty, so it will happily soak up liquid once a day. However, it’s more fond of a deep drowning once a month, which you can follow up with a light touch of water when the soil dries.

As soon as autumn arrives, you can start slowing down once a twice week and stop bathing the soil. In winter, you should only water when necessary, as overwatering can damage the roots.

What Does An Overwatered Bougainvillea Look Like?

If there’s anything that stresses a Bougainvillea bonsai tree more than anything else, it’s overwatering. While it isn’t much of a concern in summer, it becomes a significant issue in winter. When you overwater it, you’ll notice leaves changing color and falling off, and the roots will decay to leave a foul odor in the soil.

It’s always best to have adequate drainage for any bonsai, and not simply the Bougainvillea. If you see that the soil struggles to release the water, it may be time to repot the bonsai tree. You should also consider adding drainage rocks at the bottom so that the water doesn’t rest in the substrate.

How Do I Know If My Bougainvillea Needs Water?

If you want stunning flowers in summer, you’ll want the soil to dry out a bit before you bathe it in water. Your Bougainvilleas may look slightly wilted if they need water, and you can use a tray under the pot to see how quickly it drinks the precious liquid. Another method of testing is by sticking your finger or chopsticks in the soil to see how dry it is.

Don’t forget that the bonsai also loves humidity. If the air is dry in your region, you may want to consider a humidity tray or spraying the leaves. The latter isn’t encouraged, as the combination of the full sun and water droplets may cause the foliage and flowers to burn.

Feeding, Potting, And Soil

Together with watering, there are a few more aspects you need to check with your Bougainvillea tree. These three elements deal with the roots and soil, ensuring that your bonsai has sufficient stability and nutrients to thrive and flower. We’ll use a seasonal approach in some of them.

Can Bougainvillea Grow In Pots?

Since the Bougainvillea tree climbs and grows so large in the wild, many bonsai enthusiasts wonder if it will do well in pots. Surprisingly, the roots have no issues with it, as long as you repot it when needed.

It can often develop quite huge in pots, and you should complement the color by matching it with the flowers. If you’re placing it outside in the summer, make sure there’s a wall nearby to protect it from strong winds pushing it over.

Can Bougainvillea Grow In Small Pots?

If you plan on growing your Bougainvillea bonsai really small, you can use a tiny pot to control the spread of the roots. They tend to remain shallow, so you shouldn’t see them protrude through the drainage holes. You need to also trim the foliage as much as possible, which will prevent the roots from becoming too bulgy.

The only issue is that you may need to repot more regularly until the bonsai become mature. The roots will drink the water and nutrients quickly, while they’ll also take up the space in a relatively short time. You may need to transplant it at least annually for the first few years.

How Do You Care For A Potted Bougainvillea?

The same rules apply for caring for a Bougainvillea tree even as a potted bonsai. Of course, they have different settings in the garden or wild, such as drawing water from the ground whenever they need to and full access to the sun. So, the main differences are that you need to ensure it has enough sunlight, humidity, and water for the tree’s size.

One other factor you should consider is not moving it around too much. Once Bougainvilleas settle in a location, they don’t like changing to new conditions. Leave it to become used to the new area, and don’t stress too much if you see it losing leaves in the first few weeks.

Can You Replant Bougainvillea?

As long as the conditions are right, you can replant your tree into new soil or pot. When repotting Bougainvillea bonsais, ensure that you protect the roots at all times, as they are small and prone to break easily. The best technique is to dig a trench around the outer sides, pressing down and separating the soil from the container as much as possible.

When Should I Repot My Bougainvillea Bonsai?

The best time to repot your Bouganvillea tree bonsai is in early spring when you see the first leaves appear. As soon as these are fully developed, you’ve lost your opportunity to safely move it to a new container. You may cause it to stress that will lead to it dying or becoming damaged.

Some people feel it’s safe to transplant it in winter as the bonsai is sleeping. Unfortunately, this is a bad idea, as it won’t be ready to deal with any root damage or growth when you perform pruning. As it won’t be able to take in enough water and nutrients, it may not survive.

What Zones Can Bougainvillea Be Planted?

As long as you provide the right conditions, you can grow Bougainvilleas in any hardy zone. In general, it’s more suited for zones 9 to 11, as these are less likely to become too cold or develop frost that will kill the roots and foliage. If you live in any regions below these zones, protect your bonsai tree as mentioned earlier.

What Kind Of Fertilizer Do Bougainvillea Need?

To ensure that your Bougainvillea tree has enough food for the leaves, trunk, and flowers, you should provide a balance of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium (NPK) to the soil. You can use ratios of 5:5:5 or 10:10:10, as long as the numbers are the same. If you give too much nitrogen, you’ll see more green foliage than flowers.

There are two types of fertilizer you can give your bonsai. The first is a fast-release liquid form that you dilute in water and provide once a week over spring and summer. Secondly, you can try slow-release pellets that will take a few weeks to dissolve. Both are acceptable for Bougainvilleas.

Do Bougainvillea Like Coffee Grounds?

Two benefits of coffee grounds are that they raise the acidity level of the soil while providing more nitrogen. If you’re looking for healthier leaves, then this is the way to do it. You’ll see fewer flowers in the spring, but the foliage will improve as the season continues.

While the Bougainvillea will enjoy the acidic pH level, it may not be too find of the raised nitrogen. Also, there’s the chance that the coffee grounds will become moldy, which will cause problems in the soil. You’ll need to keep a close eye on it, but we don’t recommend you use this method to fertilize your bonsai tree.

What Soil Is Best For Bougainvillea?

If you use loamy soil that’s rich in nutrients, your Bougainvillea will be happy. You can also make your own mixture if you don’t trust the one your local shop sells. All you need to do is place organic compost, native soil, and loam soil in equal proportions in your pot.

You should steer clear of high peat moss levels, as it will retain moisture and cause root rot to occur. You can also use pine bark if you’d like while adding some drainage rocks at the bottom to prevent water from clogging the soil.

Can I Use Cactus Soil For Bougainvillea?

You can benefit from encouraging your Bougainvillea tree to extend its roots deeper into your pot, especially if you have a tall container instead of a shallow one. To do so, you can use cactus soil instead of the regular bonsai mix. What happens is that the water drains quicker than normal, so the roots will hunt deeper into the substrate to find it.

Flowers

Now with the significant Bougainvillea bonsai care details out of the way, let’s look at the pride and joy of this tree. The flowers look absolutely stunning, and it’s one of the reasons so many people grow them. We’ll show you how to make sure you have absolutely beautiful blooms.

Will Bougainvillea Flower Indoors?

There are two main factors involved in the effective blooming of your Bougainvillea bonsai. The first is sufficient sunlight during the day, and the second is enough nutrients for the energy it needs to make flowers. The tree will flower indoors as long as you satisfy these two requirements.

How Do I Make My Bougainvillea Bloom?

If you notice that your Bougainvillea tree isn’t showing signs of blooming in spring or summer, you may want to increase the feeding. Another method you can use is to stop watering it for about a week. When you see the leaves appear like they are dying, bath the soil in water and get back into your normal watering routine.

While this method is risky, many people use it to force the Bougainvillea to bloom. You should wait until the soil dries out again before you provide the next watering. If you’re in the middle of a hot summer, you won’t need to wait too long.

What Month Does Bougainvillea Bloom?

Under the right conditions, Bougainvilleas can bloom all year round, even in winter in warmer regions. For the most part, you’ll see the flowers appear in late spring and spread through summer. If the winter becomes too cold, the leaves and flowers will die back, and you’ll have to wait for the next spring.

What Color Is The Bougainvillea Flower?

To answer this question, we first need to explain that the colorful part around the actual Bougainvillea flower is called the bract. Many people mistake it for the flower. However, it’s actually white and yellow in the center of the bracts, which you’ll only notice if you take a close look.

This setup helps the plant attract pollinating insects so that it can develop seeds. If you ever hear anyone say their Bougainvillea bonsai has red or pink flowers, they’re referring to the bracts.

What Color Is Bougainvillea?

Every part of the Bougainvillea has various colors. When new shoots appear, they look green but become brown as they mature. The leaves are bright green, while you have the yellow and white flowers we mentioned before. However, the most outstanding feature is the bract in one of many colors.

The color ranges for the bracts include pink, magenta, orange, purple, and yellow. Not only do they vary between species, but people also grow different cultivars that develop lighter or darker shades. When you have a selection of Bougainvilleas on display, they look absolutely gorgeous.

Is There A White Bougainvillea?

The white Bougainvillea is a specific species that’s called a flowering machine. It can handle the toughest conditions and can even survive drought situations. The reason for the nickname is that it flowers like crazy even if you neglect it for a few days.

What makes it stand out is that the flowers are well hidden between the white bracts. There are different cultivars for this species, such as Bougainvillea ‘Brasiliensis’ and Jennifer Fernie White Bougainvillea. Bonsai beginners love it due to the low maintenance requirements.

Why Does My Bougainvillea Not Bloom?

There are several reasons your Bougainvillea bonsai may not be blooming. Remember, it requires the utmost care, and you’ll need to ensure it’s well looked after and maintained. Here are a few aspects you should look into:

• Overwatering: Unlike roses that love water, Bougainvilleas become stressed when you do it too often or too much. It enjoys a long bath for about an hour and then being left alone for a few days.
• Too much nitrogen: While you should ensure the bonsai has enough food, nitrogen will encourage leave production instead of flowers. You need to make sure there’s a balance in the NPK levels, and you can even reduce nitrogen if you want to see more blooms.
• Insufficient sunlight: There are two elements of sunlight that will determine how well your Bougainvillea tree will bloom: intensity and duration. Try to give it at least 6 hours of the morning and late afternoon sunlight.
• Shade from peak afternoon: Referring to the light intensity again, it doesn’t like it being too bright and hot. The leaves and flowers can burn, so your tree might stop providing flowers in these conditions. Make sure you have a shady area for the middle of the day
• Soggy soil: Another factor it dislikes is having the roots rest in the water for days on end. You should check that there’s enough drainage so the soil can dry out a bit.
• Cold temperature: If you’re having a cold spring before summer arrives, you won’t see any blooms. You’ll have the same issue if the days are hot but the nights are cold. You’ll only see flowers when it’s constantly warm for a few weeks.

Why Is My Bougainvillea Losing Its Flowers?

Out of all the factors mentioned above, the main causes for a Bougainvillea tree dropping flowers are low light and insufficient water. You shouldn’t let the soil dry out for too long, as this is detrimental to the bonsai’s health. While it can handle indoor locations, ensure you’re giving it enough direct sunlight.

Leaves

One of the features of the Bougainvillea tree you’ll need to pay attention to is the foliage. When there are problems with your bonsai, it will often warn you via the leaves. You may see them drop off, develops spots, or change colors, and your bracts may not look healthy at all.

In this section, we’ll cover as much detail on the leaves as possible. We’ll also expand into larger articles if we want to discuss any section in more detail. Be sure to inspect your Bougainvillea on a daily basis to see if there are any issues.

Is Bougainvillea Messy?

In the wild or gardens, Bougainvillea owners have an issue whereby the fallen leaves and bracts make a mess. Also, rats tend to make homes in them, which leaves behind droppings. However, you shouldn’t experience these problems with a bonsai if you maintain the foliage and keep it clean.

How Do I Make My Bougainvillea Bushier?

The best method for making Bougainvillea bonsai trees bushier is the clip-and-grow technique. Let the new shoots grow long and then cut them back a few nodes. There should be at least two nodes from where it connects to the stem. In this way, you improve ramification and increase the foliage density.

Do Bougainvillea Come Back Every Year?

It depends on your region and how well you look after your Bougainvillea. Generally, you should see it bloom and grow every spring, putting on a splendid display into summer. If it remains warm throughout winter, you’ll see another growth spurt until the middle of the season.

Why Are My Bougainvillea Leaves Falling Off?

If you see your Bougainvillea losing leaves, it could be for one of two reasons. Cold winters are the number one cause of this happening, as the tree is deciduous and not evergreen. Secondly, overwatering is another prime reason in the same way that you lose flowers and bracts.

Why Are The Leaves On My Bougainvillea Turning Yellow?

When the Bougainvillea develops yellow leaves, it’s a sign of environmental stress. It could be low light conditions, or you’ve let the soil dry out too much. It could also be a situation where there are pests in the soil or on the tree, eating at the leaves or roots and causing a loss in nutrition.

Thorns

One aspect you may not know about the Bougainvillea is that it has thorns. If you’re not careful when pruning the leaves, you might just find one of them prick you. Don’t worry; you won’t die. Also, each species is different with respect to the thorns, and they’ll look different on each one.

We know you may have some concerns, so we’ll quickly address a few of them here. Always be sure to take the proper care when dealing with thorny Bougainvilleas, like wearing gloves and sterilizing the tools before you use them on any other bonsai trees.

Do Bougainvillea Thorns Have Poison?

The main reason you need to be careful when working with Bougainvillea thorns is that it’s mildly toxic. You won’t suffer from a small prick, but any prolonged ingestion can cause you to become sick. Also, you’ll notice a rash or skin irritation from where it touched you for a couple of days. If you see it becoming worse, you need to see a doctor.

Can I Cut Thorns Of Bougainvillea?

While you can cut Bougainvillea thorns, care should be taken that the bonsai tree doesn’t lose too much sap and nutrients. They may be hard to prune, and you may end up damaging the branch and foliage. It’s best to leave the thorns in place and hard prune the branches to encourage more leaves and foliage.

What Happens If You Step On A Bougainvillea Thorn?

When you step on a Bougainvillea thorn, it makes a small hole in your skin that becomes home to pathogenic organisms. These can cause infections, so it’s best to clean the wound with water before closing it. You’ll need to keep a watch on it to ensure that it doesn’t become worse over time.

Is There A Bougainvillea Without Thorns?

You can obtain Bougainvillea tree species that don’t have thorns. The most popular one is “Miss Alice”, with stunning white bracts and flowers that grow quite tall. There are also ones that are semi-thornless with only a few spikes, such as cultivars of Miss Alice called Singapore Pink.

Pruning & Shaping

If you want a healthy Bougainvillea tree that doesn’t spread out too quickly for the size of your bonsai, you’ll need to do some pruning. It involved design and maintenance trimming, which you perform at different times of the year. Each one focuses on a specific aspect, which we’ll cover below.

Another aspect of pruning is working on the shape and style. You can take inspiration from many designs online, but we’ll discuss which ones work the best. We’ll also make sure to include a more detailed article on how you can create various styles with DIY techniques.

Should Bougainvillea Be Pruned?

The Bougainvillea bonsai is renowned for growing vigorously as soon as spring becomes warmer. The vines reach up and climb where possible, extending the reach of the leaves to find as much sunlight as possible. The best way to manage your small tree from developing too quickly is to prune it.

When Should I Prune My Bougainvillea?

In spring, you can aim for maintenance pruning while you can work on the design in winter. These two times will help the Bougainvillea tree to develop more leaves and flowers. However, if you prune in late summer or early autumn, you stand the chance of seeing less blooming when spring arrives again.

How Do You Prune Bougainvillea Indoors?

The best time to prune a Bougainvillea bonsai indoors is during the winter dormancy. You’ll be able to work on the structure while also protecting it from frost. First, remove any dead wood before working on the design you want. You can clear all the leaves if you want, as the tree will develop new ones in spring.

How Do You Prune A Potted Bougainvillea?

Pruning a potted Bougainvillea has two main focus points. The first is the foliage so that the bonsai doesn’t grow too fast too quickly. Secondly, you’ll need to pay attention to the roots when you repot the tree so that they don’t clog the soil and take up all the space in the container.

How Do You Shape A Bougainvillea Plant?

While the bonsai grows quickly and can look wild, it’s easy to develop a shape and design. There are many styles you can apply, which we’ll create a separate article for. For now, we recommend slanting, cascading, formal upright, and informal. Bougainvillea tree shaping is the best way to keep branches and leaves arranged in a stunning form.

Propagation

Bougainvilleas can be incredibly expensive to buy from the local stores or markets as bonsai trees. While you can get the standard pot or garden plant at a ridiculously low price, the bonsai is much more expensive as someone put a lot of time and energy into cultivating and designing it.

For this reason, you may want to turn to growing your own Bougainvillea tree as a bonsai. We’ll mostly show you various aspects of cuttings, which is the fastest and best way to propagate them. However, you’ll only be successful if you follow the right method.

Can Bougainvillea Grow From Cuttings?

Taking cuttings is the best method to propagate Bougainvilleas. You can do it any time of the year, but we recommend doing it in spring for top results. The sapling may take some time to become used to the pot and new conditions, so don’t give up hope too quickly.

How Do You Take Cuttings From Bougainvillea?

Look for softwood on the tree. Hardwood is too mature to grow successfully from a cutting, and the young stem will more readily feed on the nutrients you provide. It’s also best that you remove as many leaves as possible so that it can focus on root production for the first few weeks.

Will Bougainvillea Cuttings Root In Water?

It’s possible to grow Bougainvillea cuttings in water, but you’re going to wait an incredibly long chance. Also, it isn’t always successful, so we don’t recommend it. If you still plan on doing so, you can add rooting powder to the tip by the cut and place it by direct sunlight. Remember to replace the water once a week so it doesn’t become stale.

Can You Put Cuttings Straight Into Soil?

Your best option for Bougainvillea propagation is placing the cutting directly into the soil. We recommend you place it outside, but you can also use a windowsill for full sun. There needs to be sufficient water, humidity, and ventilation. If you decide to develop it inside, it will take a bit longer.

Pests And Diseases

In this final section of Bougainvillea tree care, we’ll discuss pests and diseases that you need to look out for. We’ll try to keep it short, as we have several other articles that cover these aspects in more detail. You’ll also see how you can revive it if it doesn’t look too well and might be dying.

What Kind Of Caterpillars Eat Bougainvillea?

If it looks like something is nibbling on your Bougainvillea bonsai’s leaves, there’s a good chance it’s the Looper caterpillar. They are also known as inchworms. There are different colors, such as brown,  green, and yellow, and they move along your tree by bunching up their bodies and stretching out again. After metamorphosis, they transform into the carpet moth.

What Do You Spray On Bougainvillea?

Looper caterpillars multiply quickly, so you may end up with tons of these if you have your bonsai inside the house. Outside, there are some natural predators that may assist you, depending on the location. When all else fails, you can try bacillus thuringiensis or Neem oil. There are also some local pesticides that target these pests.

Why Are There Leaf Spots On My Bougainvillea?

Leaf spots on Bougainvilleas are bacterial, and they usually occur when the humidity is too low or there’s heavy rainfall. They appear black and seem to appear on the leaf veins. If you use overhead irrigation systems, we recommend you change to a different method of watering. They can even cause problems for the bracts.

How Do You Treat Bougainvillea Leaf Curl?

The top reason for leaf curl in Bougainville bonsais is the presence of pests, mostly spider mites. The Looper caterpillar is another culprit, causing the leaves to curl after it starts feeding on it. You’ll need to use a pesticide to kill the pests, but the spray may damage any bracts you have nearby. It’s worth the loss to prevent further damage to your tree.

How Do I Know If My Bougainvillea Has Root Rot?

If you see the bonsai has yellow leaves or they’re falling off in spring and summer, there’s a good chance it has root rot. The only way to solve this disease is to remove it from the soil, clean the roots completely, and replant it in new soil. There’s a chance the condition may not improve and you’ll lose your bonsai.

How Do You Revive A Bougainvillea?

To revive a Bougainvillea bonsai, you’ll need to identify the source of the problem. If you’re watering too much or too little, you’ll need to adjust the frequency depending on how wet or dry the soil is. When sunlight is the problem, either move it to more shade or light. Keep a lookout for any pests, and make sure you’re feeding it enough.

How Do You Treat Bougainvillea Fungus?

If you have an issue with fungus developing on the leaves, you’ll need to remove them from your Bougainvillea bonsai immediately. It will prevent it from spreading all over your tree. You can also spray fungicide to protect it from reoccurring. If it’s in your soil, the only solution is to repot it into new soil and scrub or replace the pot.