Did you know that the “flowers” we all love on a bougainvillea aren’t actually flowers at all? Those vibrant pops of color are actually modified leaves called bracts. The real flowers are those tiny, creamy-white tubes tucked inside. Because these bracts usually grow in clusters of three, you’ll often hear people call this beauty the “Paperflower” or “Trinity Flower.”
Natural Leaf Drop
Those colorful bracts are surprisingly delicate. A heavy summer rain, a bit of hail, or a gusty afternoon can knock them right off. That’s why picking a sheltered spot on your balcony is so important. But don’t panic if you see some dropping—just like any other bloom, they eventually wither and fall off naturally.
Bougainvilleas tend to bloom in cycles. You’ll see a flush of color, those bracts will eventually fade and drop, and then a new round will start. If your plant is just shedding old, papery bracts to make room for new ones, it’s perfectly healthy!
When Fresh Flowers Start Falling
It’s a different story if your bougainvillea starts dropping perfectly healthy, colorful bracts for no apparent reason. If the weather has been calm and the plant looks “off,” it’s time to do some detective work. Here are the usual suspects:
- Not enough nutrients
- Moving the plant (Location shock)
- Over-fertilizing
Nutrient Deficiency
Creating that massive explosion of color takes a ton of energy. Bougainvilleas are heavy feeders, and they’ll burn through the nutrients in their potting soil faster than you’d think. Since a potted bougainvillea can’t reach its roots out into the ground for more food, it’ll start dropping flowers if it’s “hungry.”
What to do:
- Give your plant a good dose of fertilizer right away.
- Stick to a regular feeding schedule throughout the entire blooming season.
Location Shock
If you just brought a new plant home from the nursery, don’t be surprised if it throws a bit of a tantrum. Greenhouse conditions are perfect—humid, warm, and consistent. Your balcony or patio is a big change! This stress often causes the plant to drop its bracts while it acclimates.
What to do:
- Keep up with good care routines to help it settle in.
- Be patient! Once it feels at home, the color will return.
Over-Fertilizing
Believe it or not, too much of a good thing can be a problem. If you overdo the fertilizer, mineral salts can build up in the soil and actually burn the roots. When the roots are damaged, they can’t take up water, and the flowers fall off as a result.
On the flip side, nursery-bought plants are often “pumped up” with professional-grade fertilizers. When you get them home and use standard garden store fertilizer, the plant might feel like it’s on a diet compared to what it’s used to.
What to do:
- If you think you over-fertilized: Stop feeding for a while and flush the soil with clear water.
- For new plants: Just maintain a normal fertilizing routine and give the plant time to adjust to its new “diet.”
