Bougainvillea Collapsed After Fertilizing: Water Shock, Not Fertilizer Burn

Caribbean bougainvillea beautiful, fertilized week ago (same granular as always), now dropping flowers, looks dying.

Diagnosis

Granular fertilizer + heavy watering-in = sudden saturation. Bougainvillea hates wet feet. Root stress → flower drop, decline.

Recovery

• Stop watering. Let dry to 3″ deep.
• No more fertilizer until recovered.
• Ensure drainage—no saucer, raised bed if clay.
• Full sun.

If granular was applied dry and rain came = same effect. Bougainvillea thrives on neglect. Dry = flowers.