Bougie lost all its leaves

[Gareth]

Hi Guys,

I haver heard of bouganvillia being semi deciduous, and thought i would just run this past some people with some more experience than i as i have had this tree for quite a few years and is has too much potential to loose it.

This tree has progressively lost all its leaves, first turning black from the tips of the leaves back to the stem and then falling off. The cuttings i have growing have not lost any of their leaves in this fashion.

These plants were moved earlier this year (start of winter) from the mid north coast to Newcastle were i am liveing now, and i also repotted the large bougie that has lost of its leaves.

I am think that the combination of both of these things, being a massive change of climate and temperature and repotting has caused it to drop its leaves.

Does anyone else have bougs in the newcastle area thast do the same thing?

When cutting off the leaves, and today when i snipped a twig off the stems are still green, making me think its still very much alive.

I have seasoled a few days ago and today gave it a good soak with worm juice solution.

the toehr things i might mention is i have a been a bit lax with watering, new job and much busier lifestyle has been hard to adjust to with bonsai, but we have had a lot of rain as well, but it was sporadic.

Any help anyone can give me would be great.

gareth

[Tony Bebb]

Hi Gareth

Bougies often lose leaves now as the new buds develop. The older they are the more it happens. My avatar one loses its leaves every year about half way through winter.
The difference with yours would be the black leaves. Not usual to go black after dryness, normally brown and will be dry to crispy. If they are black and soft more likely too wet after the repot. If it is good and green under the bark it is a good sign. If you are worried treat with a fungiscide and/or let it get nice and dry between watering. If not too stressed after the repot it should shoot soon.

Tony

[Gareth]

it is interestingyou say it could be too wet tony, as this is the first time i have used zeolite in my potting mix.

It was only 1/3 of the mix overall, but with all the rain it may not have had a chance to dry out perhaps.

The leaves went black on the tips and then sort of melted, with the days heating up it should produce some postive results. I have put this tree through tougher times than this, i am sure it will pull through.

Gareth

[Magzy]

Hi Gareth, my bougie is dropping quite a few at the moment also and tony has helped with my answer,my leaves are not turning black thou. Hope you get it sorted before spring when they come into bloom.

[Handy Mick]

Where are the pic's

[kcpoole]

All my Bougies are losing leaves, but all have new shoots now

they are in My Diatomite / Zeolite mix and get watered every day still and no issues with any of them

The black leaves are a worry tho
Can you cut back the branches to see if they are still green and firm?

Ken

[Jarrod]

I have a bougy that spends all of winter outside in Melbourne and it doesn't drop leaves except for the odd older leaf. I do however use a mix that drys out very quickly so it is never able to stay wet for extended periods, even when we have a lot of rain.

I would say that the mix is staying too wet, what season did you repot? Down here I treat mine the same as a fig and repot when the night temps stay up. So basically when the tree is really growing. This means the roots fill the pot quickly and it then makes the mix dry out faster during the following winter. I currently repot mine every season as I am still developing the branches however I may start to do it every second year.

[Gareth]

hi guys,

no pics as all the leaves are gone anyway.

I had to do an emergency repot at the start of winter, the box was broken pretty badly and all the mix came away from the roots.

The stems are still green and firm, ill let it dry out over the next week and then give it a light fert to try and bring on some shooting.

[kcpoole]

hi guys,

no pics as all the leaves are gone anyway.

I had to do an emergency repot at the start of winter, the box was broken pretty badly and all the mix came away from the roots.

The stems are still green and firm, ill let it dry out over the next week and then give it a light fert to try and bring on some shooting.

I woud not fertilize but a dose of Seasol when you water would be good

Ken

[Gareth]

thanks ken will do.