Why a Bougainvillea Plant Is Not Blooming

Bougainvillea is known for its bright, papery blooms

The bougainvillea's bright blooms make it a favorite for growing indoors. However, the bougainvillea needs specific cultural needs in order to produce the lush blooms it is famous for.

Light

Bougainvilleas most often fail to bloom because they are receiving inadequate light. These plants need eight to ten hours of bright sunlight each day in order to produce colorful blooms. Move your bougainvillea to a sunnier spot, or supplement daylight with artificial light to encourage blooming.

Watering

Overwatering a bougainvillea will also prevent blooming. "Bougainvillea flower best in high light and slight stress," says Plant Palette's Jennifer Schultz Nelson, who recommends letting bougainvillea plants dry out between waterings to encourage blooming.

Fertilizing

It's possible to care for a bougainvillea so much that you actually prevent it from blooming, as is the case with overfertilization. Giving the bougainvillea too much fertilizer can promote stem and vine growth, but inhibit blooming. Fertilize only during active blooming, with a fertilizer labeled for use with bougainvillea.

References

• AskExtension.org: My bougainvillea is several years old. I fertilize it regularly, but the blooms are very sparse. What does it need?
• Plant Palette: Bougainvillea

Resources

• Bougainvillea