Hello everyone!

I'm new to this and I wanted to first introduce myself. My name is Ruby and I live in Chicago, IL. The current temperature right now is 16 degrees fahrenheit and its snowing at the moment. I tell you the weather because I received a beautiful Bougainvillea Bonsai as a Christmas gift from my boyfriend and I'm afraid I do not know how I can care for it in such cold weather. I want to know if anyone can give me some type of advice, recommendations, tips, brands of fertilizer, heat lamps that you'd recommend, ANYTHING really that could help me keep my beautiful plant alive.

rherrera344 wrote: I received a beautiful Bougainvillea Bonsai as a Christmas gift from my boyfriend and I'm afraid I do not know how I can care for it in such cold weather. I want to know if anyone can give me some type of advice, recommendations, tips, brands of fertilizer, heat lamps that you'd recommend, ANYTHING really that could help me keep my beautiful plant alive.

That was very sweet of your friend and I am sure it is a beautiful plant, but sorry, it is not a bonsai.
You do not need specific bonsai guidelines, you probably will get better advice from a bougainvillea specialist.

You could try the Gardenweb forum where Bougies are often discussed.

Do note that Bougainvilleas are not typical houseplants and should not be grown indoors (but you may want a second opinion about that, like here:
www.thespruce.com/grow-bougainvillea-inside-1902743 )

I have 2 bougainvilles. They are kept moderately dry, with lots of sun in my living room and sofar they love it there. Come spring, they go outside in full sun.

Really! Thank you for replying! I would just like to know if I have to buy a heat lamp for now since it is pretty cold and my place tends to get colder during winter as well.

rherrera344 wrote: Really! Thank you for replying! I would just like to know if I have to buy a heat lamp for now since it is pretty cold and my place tends to get colder during winter as well.

I don't do Bougainvilleas and don't know much about keeping them indoors, so all I can do is Google it for you. You do not need a heat lamp, on the contrary. Lack of light in winter is a bigger problem. I do not think it will get too cold for it indoors, in winter.

laidbackgardener.blog/2017/09/24/comment...lier-pendant-lhiver/

rherrera344 wrote: Really! Thank you for replying! I would just like to know if I have to buy a heat lamp for now since it is pretty cold and my place tends to get colder during winter as well.

I do not have a heatlamp. During the day, the livng room typicallly at 15C.