Bougainvillea only grows leaves and won't bloom? Master these few points to solve it easily
Bougainvillea has a long blooming period, vivid flower colors, and an especially rich variety of cultivars, so in recent years more and more flower lovers have come to love bougainvillea. Bougainvillea is a southern flower; in its native southern growing environment, bougainvillea can be covered in blooms with almost no management. But when it reaches the north, it suffers from all kinds of "acclimatization problems", so bougainvillea only growing leaves and not blooming has also become a topic that flower lovers often discuss. If your bougainvillea only grows leaves and won't bloom, it is basically related to the following aspects.
1. Uneven fertilization, with excessive nitrogen fertilizer.Among the three main elements nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, nitrogen fertilizer promotes leaves, phosphorus fertilizer promotes flowers, and potassium fertilizer can strengthen the plant's disease resistance while also promoting strong stems. If bougainvillea is given excessive nitrogen fertilizer and lacks phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, it will only grow leaves and not bloom. Because bougainvillea cultivars differ, their blooming periods also differ. It is generally recommended that during the branch and leaf growth period of bougainvillea, apply more fertilizer based mainly on nitrogen. When the flower bud differentiation period arrives, switch to fertilizer based mainly on phosphorus and potassium, the most commonly used being monopotassium phosphate, which can let bougainvillea gradually transition from vegetative growth to reproductive growth and promote flower bud differentiation.
2. Not enough light.Bougainvillea likes sufficient light. Whether in summer or other seasons, it should be given sufficient direct light. Do not worry that it will be sunburned; the more sun it gets, the more it blooms. Long-term shade is also a main reason bougainvillea does not bloom.
3. Too much water.Bougainvillea is different from other flowering plants. During the vigorous growth period of branches and leaves, it can be given a sufficient water supply. About a month and a half before blooming, it should be given appropriate water control management, so that bougainvillea feels a survival crisis and will quickly differentiate flower buds. Water control steps: under the premise of a temperature above 15°C, about 40 days before blooming, each time wait until the potting soil is completely dry and the plant's branches and leaves droop softly, then water a small amount, combined with spraying monopotassium phosphate solution, repeating this for about 20 days. Then carry out normal watering for 20 days, and flower bud differentiation can be clearly seen.
4. Not pruned in time.Bougainvillea blooms on new branches. Timely pruning can not only promote the sprouting of more new branches, but also help create a beautiful plant shape. After each blooming period, also promptly cut off the spent flowers and one third of the branches below the flowers, or according to the plant shape, remove the weak and keep the strong, concentrating nutrients to promote the sprouting of new branches.
5. Different cultivars.Some bougainvillea cultivars bloom frequently; as long as the temperature is suitable, they can bloom all year round. A few cultivars such as Green Leaf Big Red, Green Leaf Water Red, and Small Leaf Purple, these lazy-blooming cultivars, may bloom very easily in southern regions where both temperature and humidity are suitable. But in northern regions, due to limited conditions in various aspects, some bloom only 1~2 times a year, and some do not even bloom once a year. Therefore, when northern flower lovers buy bougainvillea, they should try to buy frequent-blooming cultivars such as Green Leaf Cherry Blossom, Green Leaf Palace Pink, Lipstick, Double-petaled White Yijin, Double-petaled Pink, Large-flowered Light Purple, Green Leaf Brick Red, and so on. As long as the temperature is suitable and cultivation and management are proper, these cultivars can basically bloom continuously.