Bringing a new bougainvillea home is the easy part. What you do in the first few weeks makes the difference between a plant that thrives and one that struggles. Here's how to get it settled in right.
Check for Shipping Stress
Unbox your bougainvillea as soon as it arrives and inspect the foliage and bracts. Some leaf drop, bract drop, or wilting during transit is normal and usually resolves within a few days once the plant is unpacked and watered.
Hydrate Before Anything Else
Give the plant a thorough watering as soon as you unbox it. The soil in the shipping pot dries out quickly in transit, and rehydrating the root ball is the single most important thing you can do in the first hour.
Keep It in the Pot for Now
Resist the urge to plant right away. Let your bougainvillea rest in its nursery pot in a bright, sheltered spot for one to two weeks so it can recover from shipping stress before taking on the added stress of transplanting. Bougainvillea also dislikes root disturbance, so a settled root system makes the eventual move much smoother.
Acclimate to Sun Gradually
Bougainvillea loves full sun once established, but a plant fresh out of a box needs a gradual introduction. Start it in a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade, then increase direct sun exposure over one to two weeks.
When to Plant in the Ground
Once your bougainvillea has settled in, is showing healthy new growth, and has acclimated to full sun, it's ready to go in the ground. Our bougainvillea care guide walks through planting, watering, and pruning from there.
Planning to train it up a trellis or arbor, or keep it in a container long-term? Check our guide to bougainvillea for trellises, arbors, and containers. And if it stops blooming down the road, our guide to why bougainvillea won't bloom covers the most common causes and fixes.