My sick Bogenvillea

[BillMcEnaney]

Hi, Everyone,

I'm a new poster hoping to learn much from you experts.

My little Barbara Karst Bougenvillea grows in a terracota bonsai pot under T8 grow lights in my living room. The poor thinng's stem looks perfectly healthy. But old leaves yellow and drop. Since I thought the light could shine too brightly, I moved the plant to a windowsill. The MiracleGro soil supposedly prevents over and under- watering, and I gave the little guy some bonsai fertilizer. What's wrong with the plant? what should I do if the new, unfolding leaf dies.

Though I know the plant can't understand English, I said, "Keep fightin', buddy. We'll beat this together." It keeps growing. But I worry that each new leaf will die.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that I killed aphids with Neem Oil and watered the plant with Fertilome Tree and Shrub Drench. The Ferilome killed the bugs, which suggests that they didn't sicken "Bogie."

Thanks for helping me save my little friennd's life.

Bill

 

[cpp gardener]

Put it near whichever light source is the strongest. They normally grow in full sun and require very high light conditions. You could even move the lights and the Bougie to the brightest window to get the benefit of both.

 

[BillMcEnaney]

Put it near whichever light source is the strongest. They normally grow in full sun and require very high light conditions. You could even move the lights and the Bougie to the brightest window to get the benefit of both.

The plant drops leaves on a windowsill and under the grow lights so it's hard to know how light brightness could be sickening it. Two more yellowed leaves are about to fall off.But the new unfolding leaf looks healthy. Maybe growing the Bougainvillea indoors from seed was a mistake.

 

[cpp gardener]

It Needs More Light. Give it BOTH window light AND grow lights TOGETHER. It is lack of sufficient light that is causing the problem.

 

[BillMcEnaney]

It Needs More Light. Give it BOTH window light AND grow lights TOGETHER. It is lack of sufficient light that is causing the problem.

That advice surprised me because my sun-loving Venus Flytraps and the Boxwood bonsai tree thrive under the T8 bulbs.

 

[cpp gardener]

I know they thrive here in full sun and get thin in shady locations. Especially in more northerly latitudes, winter sun is pretty weak even in locations without shading. Post some pictures so we can see if there's anything else going on.

 

[Anniekay]

You are most likely over watering it. leaves coming in green, then yellowing and droppin can be from too much water. Be sure you let the soil dry before watering again.

Listen to cpp, Bouganvillia are really not houseplants. They thrive outside in a protected area in zone 9 ( taken in when temps get near 50 f, ) and outdoors in zones 10+. They take equitorial sunlight. You don't get that indoors even with a grow light.

 

[BillMcEnaney]

You are most likely over watering it. leaves coming in green, then yellowing and droppin can be from too much water. Be sure you let the soil dry before watering again.

Listen to cpp, Bouganvillia are really not houseplants. They thrive outside in a protected area in zone 9 ( taken in when temps get near 50 f, ) and outdoors in zones 10+. They take equitorial sunlight. You don't get that indoors even with a grow light.

The MiracleGro soil supposedly would prevent overwatering, So, maybe it would do that in a much larger pot.

Yes, Bougenvilla is an outdoor plant. But I hoped to dwarf mine into a bonsai tree that could live well outside in warm weather and stay one the plant stand during winter and fall. Since I'm in Zone 5, buying the seeds was a mistake. My learning curve seems much steeper than that was when I learned how to grow carnivorous plants. Either way, I feel sorry for the Bougainvillea because I make stupid, harmful mistakes.

 

[Anniekay]

The MiracleGro soil supposedly would prevent overwatering, So, maybe it would do that in a much larger pot.

Yes, Bougenvilla is an outdoor plant. But I hoped to dwarf mine into a bonsai tree that could live well outside in warm weather and stay one the plant stand during winter and fall. Since I'm in Zone 5, buying the seeds was a mistake. My learning curve seems much steeper than that was when I learned how to grow carnivorous plants. Either way, I feel sorry for the Bougainvillea because I make stupid, harmful mistakes.

You do NOT want miracle grow for bonsai, it will keep it always moist. You need a bonsai mix . It is not being grown in it's natural state. You are keeping it too wet.

 

[BillMcEnaney]

You do NOT want miracle grow for bonsai, it will keep it always moist. You need a bonsai mix . It is not being grown in it's natural state. You are keeping it too wet.

Thank you. Brussels Bonsai Nurseries potted my trees. That may explain partly why they thrive here about 250 miles north of Manhattan. My Harland Boxwood bonsai tree looks gorgeous under the T8 grow lights. But it'll go outdoors when the weather gets warm enough.

 

[MiTmite9]

The MiracleGro soil supposedly would prevent overwatering, So, maybe it would do that in a much larger pot.

Yes, Bougenvilla is an outdoor plant. But I hoped to dwarf mine into a bonsai tree that could live well outside in warm weather and stay one the plant stand during winter and fall. Since I'm in Zone 5, buying the seeds was a mistake. My learning curve seems much steeper than that was when I learned how to grow carnivorous plants. Either way, I feel sorry for the Bougainvillea because I make stupid, harmful mistakes.

Bougainvillea. Named after the French admiral and 18th century explorer Louis Antoine Bougainville. Bougainvillea (boo-gan-vill-ee-ah).

I have a giant one growing right next door to my property; overhanging my land. 15' tall. My first thought, reading your extensive care program was, "Holy Hell." Bougainvillea seems to thrive on neglect where I live (SoCal). Full sun. Only water it gets is rainwater.

Growing it indoors is problematic. They are not considered "good houseplants." 6-8 hours of bright sunlight is a must.

MiracleGro is crap fertilizer. Seedlingers liquid fertilizer is a better option. Do not use Osmocote. Osmocote contains microplastic beads.

Add some worm castings to the soil every few months. And allow the soil to dry out, between waterings. I agree with other commenters here ---- you're def overwatering.

 

[BillMcEnaney]

MiracleGro is lousy, but my seed-grown Coleus plants thrive in it under the grow lights. Those plants still flower. So, I pruned the flower stalks to grow more leaves. Since Hewitt's Garden Center suggested some house plant soil, I bought it to start some seeds that didn't germinate. And now a landscaper thinks that soil is wrong for them.

Growing the Bougainvillea indoors was a big mistake. Here in one five, I keep in indoors to protect it from our frigid winters, hoping it'll live well outdoors during the spring and summer. I'm angry with myself because the poor thing's stem is yellowing. The harder I try, the more the plant suffers. Maybe it's time to buy carnivorous plants because they grow well for me.

 

[Anniekay]

MiracleGro is lousy, but my seed-grown Coleus plants thrive in it under the grow lights. Those plants still flower. So, I pruned the flower stalks to grow more leaves. Since Hewitt's Garden Center suggested some house plant soil, I bought it to start some seeds that didn't germinate. And now a landscaper thinks that soil is wrong for them.

Growing the Bougainvillea indoors was a big mistake. Here in one five, I keep in indoors to protect it from our frigid winters, hoping it'll live well outdoors during the spring and summer. I'm angry with myself because the poor thing's stem is yellowing. The harder I try, the more the plant suffers. Maybe it's time to buy carnivorous plants because they grow well for me.

You asked for advice, no sense arguing with everyone giving it to you. Do. as. you. please.

 

[BillMcEnaney]

You asked for advice, no sense arguing with everyone giving it to you. Do. as. you. please.

What? I joined the forum, hoping experts would explain how to help the Bougenvilea, not to question what other posters would say. Computer science, philosophy, and theology are my fields. So, I must learn a lot from you and the other experts. Everyone here knows what I tried, and I want others to tell me what I did wrong. After all, I hope to save the plant's life. Please forgive me for leaving a wrong impression by mistake.