Bougainvillea Glabra (Sanderiana)

My neighbour has a bougainvillea in her front porch. It was bought last year whilst it was in flower and is in about a 10" pot. It looks very healthy and has been watered and fed as per instructions but this year it hasn't had a single flower, despite being very healthy looking. Any advise please.

 

Hello nobby and welcome to GC. Bouganvilleas are normally brought into flower in a greenhouse, which is why you usually buy them already in flower.

The "flower", ie, the bracts change colour, on new year's growth and they require full sun and warmth. They do not like overwatering nor over-fertilising, particulary one that contains nitrogen as this will produce luxuriant leaves but no colourful brachts.

Hope this helps.

[ 26. August 2006, 04:32 PM: Message edited by: Lady of Leisure ]

 

Not an expert but mine flowered well this year.
Not too big a pot helps the starvation, along with tomato fertiliser once the flowers appear, and as L of L says as much sun as possible.
It could still happen this year yet.

 

Can these beauties (Bouganvilleas) be put outside for a part of the year with our wonderful weather in the UK to battle against? I remember as a kid just a couple of years ago or so seeing the most incredible Bouganvilleas when holidaying in... I believe it was the then Yugoslavia. I'm sure most of us have been fortunate enough to have seen similar.
Kind regards
Roy

 

YES ROYSTER :D :D

 

We see them every day in our garden and never tire of their beauty. They're one of t'other half's favourites. We have seven different coloured ones plus the one bush variety. A couple haven't "bloomed" this year as they were just planted. :( It can take a couple of years for them to establish. It's the thorns I don't like :eek: and I'm the one who has to prune them! :eek:

 

Nice work Fancy and the Lady of Portuguese Leisure!

Kind regards
Roy