Question
I have a bouganville bush that's about 3 years old. It bloomed once, we had to move it as it was crowding another plant. I've pruned it way back and it's grown back and is huge, but has one red flower on one branch. Can you tell me what is wrong? I'm about to get rid of it. Thanks

Answer
Mary, I would give it one more year. Keep in mind that soil conditions are extremely important for plants to bloom profusely. Bougainvillea do poorly in clay. Instead, they like a loamy soil high in phosphorus and potassium. You can alter your soil's composition by adding peat, aged manure, and compost. These materials will also help improve drainage. You can supplement your feeding by applying a water-soluable fertilizer once every 10 days. Just be sure to avoid fertilizers high in nitrogen, since these tend to promote lush foliage and very few blooms. A good nutrient ratio is 10-20-20. Finally, be sure to place the plants where they will get at least 8 hours of sunlight per day.

I hope this answered your question. Please write again if I can ever be of assistance.

Regards,

Mike