Question: Why won’t my bougainvillea flower? What does it need to do its best?

Answer: Unlike hibiscus, which flower all through the hot months, bougainvilleas are much more cyclical. They bloom best when they’re somewhat rootbound, and they seem to flower well coming out of dormancies brought on by cool winter greenhouse temperatures (55F to 60F minimum) and also after summer’s heat has broken. Use a diluted solution of a complete-and-balanced fertilizer analysis with each watering.