Why My Bougainvillea Bonsai Is Light Green?

Why My Bougainvillea Bonsai Is Light Green?

Sometimes you will find that your Bougainvillea Bonsai is turning light green. Don’t worry, this is normal and nothing to worry about. The color change from dark green to light green is due to a change in temperature and the amount of sunlight. Your Bougainvillea Bonsai will adjust itself in time and return back to its original dark green color.

For instance, mature Bougainvillea Bonsai with pale green and reddish leaves may not be receiving sufficient levels of nutrients. Plants and leaves with a purple hue suggest a phosphorus shortage.

Calcium shortage is likely the cause of young plant development that produces dead spots. The following are the causes of light green leaves on Bougainvillea Bonsai;

Sunlight: If your Bougainvillea Bonsai is receiving too much or too little sunlight, it will show itself in the color of your leaves. If too much sunlight is received, the leaves will change to yellow or brown and if not enough sunlight is received, the leaves will turn light green.

If you have been planting or growing a Bougainvillea Bonsai for a long period of time in one spot, the nutrients in the soil will eventually be depleted.

Fertilizing: If you have been fertilizing your Bougainvillea Bonsai lightly, the plant may have not been absorbing the nutrients properly. This can also cause a light green color to appear on the leaves.

Watering: Fertilizers and fertilized soil promotes rapid growth of plants. After a while, this can cause a major change in the water needs of your Bougainvillea Bonsai, and this is what may be causing it to look light green.

Air circulation: A Bougainvillea Bonsai can become light green due to the lack of air circulation. The plant is not receiving enough air circulation, which causes the leaves to appear light green.

Soil: Sometimes the soil of your Bougainvillea Bonsai may be too acidic or alkaline. This will result in a light green color on the leaves. The pH should be around 6.3 – 6.8, but if it is in the acidic range, then the leaves will appear light green. Alkaline soil may leave the leaves turning yellow and brown.

Why Is My Bougainvillea Bonsai Not Flowering?

Bougainvillea Bonsai may not bloom if the soil is too wet, there is too much fertilizer, there is not enough direct sunlight, or the days are longer than 12 hours.

Bougainvillea Bonsai require fairly dry soil, warmer nighttime temperatures, six hours of direct sunlight, and fewer than twelve hours of daylight in order to bloom. The following are the reasons for Bougainvillea Bonsai not flowering;

Lack of sunlight: If your Bougainvillea Bonsai is not receiving enough sunlight, it will not bloom. Bougainvillea Bonsai requires six hours of direct sunlight in order to bloom.

If your plant is receiving too much or too little sunlight, the color of the flowers will also be affected. The color of bougainvillea flowers vary depending on the weather.

Too much fertilizer: Bougainvillea Bonsai is sensitive to fertilization and over fertilization can cause blooms that are different in color than normal. Bougainvillea Bonsai will not bloom if the soil is too wet, there is too much fertilizer, or it has been sitting in water too long.

Bougainvillea Bonsai is sensitive to fertilizer and over fertilizer can cause blooms that are different in color than normal.

Bougainvillea Bonsai will not bloom if the soil is too wet, there is too much fertilizer, or it has been sitting in water too long. Bougainvillea Bonsai is sensitive to fertilizer and over fertilization can cause blooms that are different in color than normal.

Improper pruning: Improper pruning can cause Bougainvillea Bonsai not to bloom. This is because the plant may be pruned too early or too late.

Improperly pruned Bougainvillea Bonsai will not bloom and if blooming, the flowers will be misshapen and poorly shaped. If your Bougainvillea Bonsai is being grown improperly, you should reclaim it from the nursery or find a new one that has been properly trained.

Is Bougainvillea Bonsai An Indoor Or Outdoor Plant?

Bougainvillea Bonsai can be an indoor or outdoor plant, depending on the variety. Some varieties of Bougainvillea Bonsai are suitable to be placed outdoors as they are hardy against most conditions outside and will not lose their leaves easily.

However, there are other varieties which should have their roots confined to the pot when placed outdoors. Bougainvillea Bonsai that can be placed outdoors can tolerate frosts to a certain degree and even a dry spell. It will thrive better if the temperature is warm and never below freezing.

Bougainvillea Bonsai that are cultivated indoors need more light, which should be direct sunlight. The temperature in your house should be between 18°C – 22°C and the humidity must be kept at around 50%.

These plants will not thrive if they are placed outside under direct sunlight during summer or winter. Watering must be done regularly to keep the soil moist.

Bougainvillea Bonsai are very helpful as indoor houseplants and as gifts. They never need much maintenance, as they are low on maintenance. Bougainvillea Bonsai also look beautiful on any surface beside your house, office desk or your home’s patio.

Do not allow the soil to dry out and make sure that water can always drain away easily from the pot. You should also avoid overwatering, as they like medium moisture levels.

How Do You Train A Bougainvillea Bonsai Tree?

There are various methods on how to train a Bougainvillea Bonsai tree. The following are a few basic steps on how to train your Bougainvillea Bonsai; the following are more advanced techniques that you can use;

• Insert a solid stake into the dirt next to the Bougainvillea Bonsai plant, or press the spike into the pot until it reaches the bottom and plant the bougainvillea next to it.
• Using soft fabric ties or old nylon stockings, bind the stem or stems to be taught to the stake as they begin to develop.
• After the stems are bound to the stake, begin wrapping soft fabric around the stem. Do not bind too tightly and never cut or wrap so tightly as to cut through the soft young stems. Tight binding can also lead to dieback of branches and loss of buds on your Bougainvillea Bonsai.
• After about a week, check for any signs of loose or binding ties. If needed, then you can add more ties or move them into a tighter position.
• After your Bougainvillea Bonsai has adjusted to the new spot and you have placed it in a position where it will be trained to grow for several more weeks, you may need to begin pruning back those stems that may be in the way of the flow of the pattern growing. Once all branches are bound, you may begin training your Bougainvillea Bonsai.
• Pruning should begin at the top of the tree. The first step is to trim away any unwanted branches.
• When the Bougainvillea Bonsai has grown from the main stem, it’s time to train the new growth. Trim away any side shoots or branches that are not in your desired pattern until only those that you wish are left.
• Fill in the gaps with fresh material by re-growing the branches or placing fresh cuttings until you reach the final design you wish.
• Once you reach your desired design and pattern, prune back again to any shoots that are only growing from a branch and not from a node.
• Bougainvillea Bonsai can be pruned at almost any time of year unless it is still in active growth or just finished flowering.
• Once Bougainvillea Bonsai has been grown and trained, look after it with equal care as a professional gardener would. The roots of Bougainvillea Bonsai are fine and need to be watered regularly.
• It is possible to have more than one Bougainvillea Bonsai planted together in the same pot, but they should not be in close proximity as they will compete with each other for moisture and nutrients in the soil.

How Often Should A Bougainvillea Be Watered?

The frequency of watering is dependent on the climate, the size of the plant, and the age of a bougainvillea. The following are some general guidelines on how often to water your bougainvillea plant; Water every 3–4 weeks when temperatures are hot and dry, such as during the dry season in the summer.

Water 1-2 times per week when temperatures are cool and humid, such as during the rainy season in the winter.  If you have a bougainvillea that is being grown indoors, then you need to be careful that it is not overwatered.

It likes heavy watering every three to four weeks over superficial watering often. Too much water can cause fungal infections and root rot in bougainvillea. Bougainvillea flowers are better in drier conditions. Excessive water will result in much green growth and fewer blooms.

Bougainvillea Bonsai is a tropical plant that can go weeks with very little water but will flower profusely and continuously if it is given proper care.