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Caring for BougainvilleaPrune your plant throughout the year, but especially in the late winter before the new growth cycle. For best bloom, trim all branches back to 20 feet or less. Bougainvillea blooms on new growth, so you can prune after each bloom cycle. Pinch off the ends of vines that are about to bloom. You'll get a denser display of bracts. If you're getting regular rain once the vine is established, you don't need to water. Bougainvillea likes it dry. It prefers a good, deep watering every three or four weeks to frequent shallow waterings. Give a bougainvillea too much water and it can get fungal diseases and root rot. Bougainvillea blooms better when kept on the dry side. Too much water will give you lots of green growth and fewer flowers. Keep it dry. Cold is a problem. These tropicals don't like to go below 30 degrees. They can withstand one or two nights of a light freeze but anything more and they'll die. Established vines can stand up to a periodic cold snap better than recently planted ones. Don't fertilize it. This tough plant doesn't need it. But do feed the soil around it with compost. A 3-inch layer of compost in the spring is plenty. If you must fertilize, use a palm and hibiscus food.