Question
actually, i have 2:
1. My white and deep purple bougies are not flowering. why not?
2. Something is eating the leaves of my bougies. i think snails, but now sure. I've tried eggshells, but they don't seem to work. what else can i do?

Answer
Dear Natalie:

Question #1.  Re: Not flowering:  Bougainvillea need a well balanced slow-release fertilizer,
too much nitrogen in the fertilizer will cause excessive leaf growth, leading to delayed or aborted blooms. The most common reason for not blooming is the plant is not getting enough light.

Question #2.  Re: Leaf pests: The Bougainvillea Growers International advises that aphids are one of the most common pests of bougainvilleas and on their website provides some very informative information regarding them.  "Aphids also known also as greenfly, blackfly or plant lice, aphids are minute plant-feeding insects.  Important natural enemies include the predatory ladybugs/ladybirds/ladybeetles, and lacewings. Aphids are tiny, pear-shaped, sap-sucking pests, appearing in the spring to feast on your plants' tender new leaves.  They leave behind a secretion that attracts ants and promotes mold growth.  Not to fear; you don't have to resort to toxic chemicals to save your bougainvillea.  They offer the following method of natural organic control:"

Natural Control

  1. Examine your garden regularly for signs of aphids.  Look for clusters of the little bugs on new growth as well as on the curled and twisted leaves.
  2. While wearing gloves, remove the aphids by hand, or use a sharp stream of water to knock them off the plant.
  3. Cut away and dispose of infested foliage.
  4. Capture flying aphids by placing yellow sticky traps near infected plants.
  5. Make a nontoxic pesticide by mixing 1 cup vegetable oil with 1 tablespoon liquid dish-washing soap. Add 1?teaspoon solution per cup of warm water to a handheld spray bottle.
  6. Hit the aphids directly with above mixture and spray entire plant thoroughly.
  7. Introduce beneficial insects, such as ladybugs/ladybirds/ladybeetles, or green lacewings to your garden to feed on the aphids. Both can be bought from garden stores or online.
  8. Avoid planting bougainvillea near aphid-attracting plants, such as birch trees, and instead grow plants such as white sweet clover, spearmint, sweet fennel and Queen Anne's lace, which attract and house the lacewings, ladybugs and other insects that feed on aphids.
  9. Rid your garden of ants. Ants love to eat the sugary sap (honeydew) secreted by aphids, and will 揻arm?the aphids, protecting them on the plant they eat.

Regards,

Mack Jean
AllExperts
Master Gardener
Tennessee