bougainvillea

[lauriepurdy]

:?: my bougainvillea plants are not blooming. They are in hanging baskets and get full sun. Is it the dreary weather we've been having lately and possibly they just need a few days of sun?? Thanks

[Pam]

I have a bougainvillea which is also not blooming. The leaves are beautiful and I have it in sun most of the day but it also gets shade. Should it be in full sun. How much water do they take?

[lauriepurdy]

I read that they bloom best under stress -- less water and full sun, but I'm not having any luck either, so maybe what I read wasn't right.

[Connie Tassin]

My bougainvilleas bloom under certain conditions. Full sun, and I water them very rarely.

Here is a link that could be helpful:

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/publications/bougainvillea.html

[Leslie Finical Halleck]

lauriepurdy wrote: :?: my bougainvillea plants are not blooming. They are in hanging baskets and get full sun. Is it the dreary weather we've been having lately and possibly they just need a few days of sun?? Thanks

All the wet cloudy weather can keep them from blooming. The most common reason for bougainvillea not blooming is not getting enough light. Another reason is that in nature bougainvilleas bloom after the dry season. After it blooms, or if it hasn't bloomed for a long time, try allowing the plant to go almost to the point of wilt before you water it. Give the plant several weeks of this treatment, then begin feeding it at the full recommended rate and increase watering the plant to daily, but don't allow it to stand in water. It should set blooms. Once the bracts develop color, water on a normal schedule as described above to extend its bloom.