bougainvillea help

[tuma]

Hi all,

Can i cut off 90% the leafs to the tree because new shoots are coming out.

David

[Naimul]

it might be ok seeing as though youre in brisbane, but maybe some of the others can give you a more solid answer. i know for certain i still cant defoliate mine being in sydney

[kcpoole]

If you have new shoots coming out then you should be fine unless you get frosts, They well damage the new shoots regardless of wether they have leaves or not.
Many of mine go deciduous in Sydney over the next month and have certainly stopped growing now anyway so they could not care what happens to them.

Ken

[wattynine]

I have defoliated several of mine and new shoots are going crazy, having said that, so is our weather. Where is the winter?
I have new growth, new shoots and in some cases new flowers. If we do get a cold snap (and I am pretty sure it is yet to come) I hope this foliage has hardened off enough by then.
Still in double digits still as far as temperature up here.
If your leaves are looking yellowed and /or "tired" you should be able to take them off for the sake of the new shoots.
Good luck
Watty

[tuma]

[kcpoole]

Mine are just starting to flower now too

Ken