Bougainvillea Bonsai Tree

Bougainvilleas thrive in hot, sunny, dry conditions and are found mainly in tropical, subtropical and Mediterranean regions. The long flowering season occurs mainly in the cooler winter months, but bougainvillea will not bloom well if kept outdoors in areas with excessive rainfall. Ideally, the winter temperature should be 8 - 15 degrees centigrade. When bougainvilleas are grown as indoor bonsai they must be kept in a warm sunny room or a conservatory. If you do not have such conditions, you should provide supplementary heating and lighting. 

Please Note: The picture is for guidance only. It is not generally possible to send the tree in the picture. We may need to send you one that's similar in terms of size, shape, pot and age. The appearance of the tree may vary depending on the season.

Care of Indoor Bonsai
Indoor Bonsai are not difficult to look after. One advantage to growing bonsai indoors is that many beginners like to keep their tree where they can see it.

What follows are some basic care suggestions. For more detailed instruction for various species please purchase The Bonsai Bible, by Peter Chan.

Location
The two main things your bonsai will need is light and water. So a bright airy room with lots of light is a good start. Direct sunlight is best in most cases, if possible. We suggest a window sill and away from any heat sources (central heating, radiator etc)

Temperature
Keep in a cool room -10-15°C is best for most indoor varieties (Elm, Ilex, Podocarpus, Citrus, Pepper, Olive, Pomegranate, Loropetalum, Buxus, Sageretia). These varieties do not like a room that's too warm. If the room is too warm, they dry out quickly and their leaves get weak and straggly.  The Elm can in fact be grown outdoors all year round as it is an indoor or outdoor bonsai.

10-15°C - Ideal for most Indoor bonsai
15-20°C - Ideal for Ficus, Jade, Serissa and Carmona

Watering
Watering is the key to keeping the bonsai alive. If you forget to water for a few days, the tree could suffer.
Keep soil damp at all times but not soggy as this can cause root rot. Spray the leaves occasionally to create humidity. Best way to test if the tree needs watering is to feel the soil, if it’s damp then no need to water.

Pruning Shoots
Prune new growth regularly to maintain the shape of the bonsai.
If you don't prune often the tree will lose its shape and can become straggly.
Prune when the new shoots grow which is normally in Spring and Summer.

Pruning Roots or Re-potting 
Re-pot or root prune only when the tree gets pot bound. Usually every two or three years (this varies so check species).

Spring (Feb/March) is the best time for repotting your tree. You can prune enough roots off to make space for new soil if you need to.

Feeding
Feed once or twice a month during the growing season usually Spring- Summer (check species)
Use liquid or pellet fertiliser (always read the instructions on the packet)

Visit our FAQ page for more advice and check out our YouTube Channel for tutorials and information.