Bougainvillea are stunning tropical vines that add vibrant color to gardens. But when cold weather or drought strikes, the foliage can rapidly turn brown. This leaves you wondering – is my bougainvillea dead or just dormant?
Identifying whether your bougainvillea is deceased or simply distressed takes some investigation, But don’t give up on it too quickly! These plants are remarkably tough, Follow these tips to determine if your bougainvillea still shows signs of life before pulling it out
Examine the Stems and Canes
The stems and canes are the first places to look for signs of life. Branch tips can still grow new leaves even if all of them are brown and crispy.
Be careful when you bend a stem. Dead wood will break, but live stems will bend and flex. Also check the color inside – green indicates living tissue. Use your nail to scrape off the bark, and look for green just below the surface.
Cut the canes and branches in small pieces and check the insides. Cut through the dead wood until you reach wet green tissue, which shows that there are living cells.
Watch for new buds along the stems and branches, signaling regrowth. No signs of green or new buds likely mean the bougainvillea has died.
Inspect the Root System
Check the roots of bougainvilleas that are in pots for signs of life as well. Take the plant out slowly and look for healthy white feeder roots.
Live roots will be firm, plump and pale colored. Rotten, black, mushy roots indicate disease or death from overwatering. Just a few healthy white roots can potentially generate new top growth.
For in-ground plants, gently dig around the base to uncover the roots. Scrape away soil and look for healthy roots. Be careful not to break live roots that could revive the plant.
Wait and Watch for New Growth
Even if your bougainvillea shows no outward signs of life, don’t give up right away. Monitor it routinely for any new leaves or sprouts emerging over the next few weeks.
It can take over a month for new shoots to appear if the plant suffered cold damage. Mark branches with tape to note where you’ve checked for regrowth.
Look for Other Clues
On close inspection, you may find other evidence that your bougainvillea still has some life:
- Plump, green stems even if leaves are brown
- A faint green tinge to branches
- Moisture inside cut stems and branches
- Signs of buds forming
- Partially wilted, flexible branches rather than brittle, dried wood
- Damaged but not rotten roots on potted plants
Even one living stem provides hope for recovery. But if every single branch shows zero green and the roots are decayed, the bougainvillea is likely dead.
Common Causes of Death
Bougainvilleas are very resilient when given proper conditions. But certain stresses can kill them:
- Sustained freezing temperatures – repeated frosts below 30°F damage roots and vegetation
- Insufficient sunlight – lack of ample direct sun inhibits vigor and growth
- Underwatering – extreme drought and arid conditions desiccate the plant
- Overwatering – too much moisture promotes diseases like root rot
- Poor drainage – waterlogged soil suffocates roots
- Lack of nutrients due to depleted or compacted soil
- Severe pest damage from insects or nematodes
- Diseases like root or stem rot
- Old age – some natural stem death occurs after many years
Be aware of any factors that may have contributed to your bougainvillea’s decline. Addressing these can prevent future issues if attempting to revive or replace the plant.
Revive a Damaged Bougainvillea
If your inspection reveals some life remains, take these steps to revive a distressed bougainvillea:
- Prune away totally dead stems and foliage to stimulate regrowth
- Apply balanced fertilizer to provide missing nutrients
- Water deeply to nourish remaining roots while avoiding excess moisture
- Transplant rootbound potted plants into fresh, well-draining soil
- Prune extra growth once recovery begins to shape the plant
- Monitor for borers and other pests; treat as needed
- Move to a full sun location to maximize light exposure
- Shelter from extreme cold and wind until rejuvenated
- Be patient – regrowth can take weeks after a crisis
Focus care on strengthening the remaining healthy portions of the roots and stems. With diligence, even a severely distressed bougainvillea often makes a full recovery.
When to Replace a Dead Plant
Sometimes despite your best efforts, an injured bougainvillea can’t be revived and eventually dies. At that point, replacement is your only option if you wish to continue growing this plant.
Signs it’s time to pull out and replace a dead bougainvillea include:
- No new growth several months after a crisis, even with proper care
- Brittle, dried stems that snap instead of bending
- No green tissue inside branches
- Blackened, mushy roots indicating root rot
- Leaves remaining shriveled under improved conditions
- Discovery of irreparable disease infection
- Sections of the trunk collapsing, signaling stem death
Don’t waste too much time trying to revive a completely dead bougainvillea. Remove the remains and plant a sturdy, young replacement suited for your climate.
Choosing a New Bougainvillea
When replacing a dead bougainvillea, select a variety suited for your sunlight and climate. Consider these popular choices:
- Barbara Karst – cold-hardy magenta blooms, sun or partial shade
- Double Pink – prolific neon pink flowers on compact plant
- James Walker – bright fuchsia blooms that thrive in full sun
- Mathilde – silvery-rose bracts with some shade tolerance
- Mrs. Butt – brilliant red blooms ideal for partial shade
- Scarlet O’Hara – bold red flowers perfect for trellises
Choose a younger plant under 3 feet tall, rooted in a 3-5 gallon pot for the best start. Ensure it’s pest and disease free before purchasing.
Avoiding Bougainvillea Death
While quite carefree, pay attention to their basic needs to avoid repeats of dieback:
- Plant in well-draining soil amended with compost
- Allow soil to partially dry between waterings
- Fertilize 3-4 times per year with a balanced product
- Prune lightly after flowering to remove deadwood
- Train vines along supports for optimal sunlight and shape
- Shelter from hard freezes and frost when possible
- Quickly control pests like borers, mites and nematodes
- Propagate back-up plants in case the parent plant fails
Don’t wait until advanced signs of distress to take corrective care. At the first worrisome symptoms, troubleshoot and remedy the cause immediately to restore health.
Enjoy Vibrant, Healthy Bougainvilleas
Don’t let a few dry branches or mysterious wilting make you think your bougainvillea is doomed. In many cases, these tough plants survive and thrive again with proper maintenance. But if yours ultimately dies despite your best efforts, replace it with a variety suited for your climate and sunlight. With preventive care, you can continue enjoying season after season of colorful bougainvillea blooms.
Can Bougainvillea Come Back to Life?
You will have to check for your soil condition before taking any action, as discussed above. Once you have figured that your Bougainvillea is indeed dying, then you have to take some precautions to stop the issue. You can revive your plant by following some tips to keep up the green foliage growth.
Reviving potted bougainvillea plants will be easier than the ones planted in a garden. You can easily move potted bougainvillea plants to place with direct sunlight and keep monitoring that the drainage holes are working fine.
Bougainvillea is an easy plant to grow but the same needs cool climate and enough direct sun to grow and using fertilizer for Bougainvillea will enhance new growth of your Bougainvillea blooms.
A dying Bougainvillea plant has to be planted in well draining soil to ensure that the plant is not subjected to excess moisture, which can kill your precious flowers.
So you need not worry, just put a little care in watering your bougainvillea flowers and make sure to keep checking the plant’s growth during the cold and damp season.
How Can You Tell Bougainvillea is Dying?
If the area in which Bougainvillea plants seem dead following a cold snap, which can be responsible for causing other plants to die as well. First understand that if your Bougainvillea still has lush green stems and barks along with blossoming flowers then you don’t have to worry about anything at all.
Also, if the plant has simply wilted owing to excess water, it will recover easily by taking just precautions. But if you see that the stems of your plants are turning a deep brown color, that’s a bad sign. You might want to check to see if the plant is actually dead or just temporarily wilted.
Take the following mentioned few steps to figure if your plant has died:
Grab a stem of your plant from a corner and gently bend it and notice if it bends easily and softly, or breaks readily.
You have to notice the color of the stem from inside as well. If the stem is fine and healthy, then the color should be green. If it is dead, then the color will be brown.
Afterwards, you should move on to the Bougainvillea bark. Scratch the surface of the bark gently and locate the green tissue just underneath the surface. If the tissue color is green then that portion of your plant is alive. If you do not observe the green color then keep scratching deeper until you find the color. If you fail to find green utterly, then it confirms that your Bougainvillea might be dead.
You can check for your concern by cutting the rotten stems from a corner. Make small cuts and look for the green inside. Once you have cut bougainvillea stems deep enough but are still unable to find green area, then keep making small cuts until you reach green living tissue. Make each cut slightly angled and keep changing the positions of the cut.
Understand that you will need to plant new bougainvillea plants in the ground if your plant’s leaves turn brown, its stem breaks cleanly, and you can’t find green growth anywhere on the plant. We recommend that you try to follow the tips discussed in this article for the new growth of your new plants.
Dead or Alive? How to tell if a plant is dead or dormant: Gardening with George Weigel
FAQ
Will a dead bougainvillea come back?
Yes, bougainvillea is a perennial plant. This means that it grows back every year in hardy areas (USDA hardiness zones 9–11).
Do bougainvilleas go dormant?
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Dormancy in Cooler Climates:Bougainvilleas, while resilient, are not cold-hardy and will typically enter a dormant state in regions with temperatures below freezing.
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Leaf Shedding:During dormancy, bougainvilleas may lose most or all of their leaves, although they may retain some for a head start on spring growth.
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Reduced Growth and Activity:The plant will slow down its growth and may not produce new blooms or growth during this period.
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Watering Reduction:Watering should be significantly reduced during dormancy, typically once every 2-4 weeks.
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Pruning:Dormant bougainvilleas are ideal for pruning, which can encourage denser growth and more colorful bracts when they come out of dormancy.
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Overwintering:In cooler climates, bougainvilleas can be overwintered indoors in a cool, protected area like a garage or basement, or in a south-facing window where they can receive some sunlight.
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Returning to Growth:In spring, with increasing temperatures and sunlight, the bougainvillea will come out of dormancy and begin to grow and bloom again.
What is the lifespan of bougainvillea?
We have a 200-year-old bougainvillea in Bonsai form on display – something of a record even for these remarkable plants that have a lifespan of around 50 years.
How can you tell if a bougainvillea plant is dead?
To determine if a Bougainvillea plant is dead, observe the color of the tissue inside the stem. If it is green, then the plant is alive. However, if it is brown, that part is dead. When a Bougainvillea plant is dying, there are usually still some parts of it that are alive.
How do you know if a bougainvillea is mature?
When assessing the stems of a bougainvillea, it is important to consider the age of the plant. Young stems tend to be more pliable and flexible, while older stems are often more brittle and dry. For instance, a bougainvillea that is just beginning to bloom will have much softer stems than one that is fully mature.
Are bougainvillea stems dry and brittle?
In conclusion, the answer to the question “Are the stems of the bougainvillea dry and brittle?” depends on the age of the plant, the environment, and the care it receives. Generally, young stems are more pliable and flexible, while older stems can become dry and brittle.
Can bougainvillea be killed?
Bougainvillea is a strong plant that must resist the severe circumstances of its natural environment. Because of this, few things can readily kill it. Cold weather, lack of sunshine, and overwatering are a few factors that do. This is because none of these things are good for the environment where this plant grows well.
Why is my bougainvillea dying?
Another reason your Bougainvillea is dying is a lack of sunshine. This is because this plant comes from places that get a lot of sun. As a result, if your Bougainvillea does not receive enough direct sunshine, it may begin to die. Bougainvillea can sometimes lose its leaves and blossoms due to cold weather.
How to keep a Bougainvillea plant alive?
To keep a Bougainvillea plant alive, you can mix sand in its soil to make it fast draining. This will help prevent excess moisture that might lead to root rot. If your Bougainvillea is planted in the ground and you cannot replace the soil, introduce sand channels instead.