Why are these bouganvilleas too lush?

At work, they are in the sun, they are not being fertilized or over-watered, yet they are a vibrant green with lots of growth and no flowers. Also, to keep it within bounds and train it to go up the wall, my boss has been pruning the tips. I told him maybe he should take out some at the base, but was not sure how much to take out. Right now, it is a bush, about 3.5' tall and 4' wide. How much should we prune to train it away from the walk and how can we get it to flower?

Why are these bouganvilleas too lush?
The vibrant green and growth would be from lots of nitrogen in the soil, hence you do not need to add fertilizer. But the soil is probably lacking phosphorus, which is essential for the blooming process. You can buy a small bag of this mineral at a garden center.





Depending on how many feet there is between the plant and the sidewalk you may have "Wrong Plant, Wrong Place" landscaping. Training plants to grow a certain direction calls for using the right type of cut. A straight cut across a stem creates a branching out new growth, where angle cutting makes new growth in one direction. And then there is also plant tape (usually sold as tomato plant tape) that you use to tie back branches.
Reply:bouganvilleas bloom better during a dry spell
Reply:Near a walkway, you would not want to promote side growth by pinching and pruning, because of thorns. Stop pruning and let it grow up. Nearly neglected bougainvilleas seem to bloom most profusely if they have plenty of heat and sun. Benign neglect may be the most successful care regimen for this plant. It grows in well drained soil with potassium but no nitrogen fertilizer. The blossoms are small nearly invisible but the colorful leaves called bracts are show-stoppers.
Reply:More than likely, the constant pruning of the tips is the culprit. You might consider less frequent yet more severe pruning. You will get a less rangy looking bush and it will flower more profusely. I agree with the first answer about fertilizing and adding missing components from the soil.
Reply:The amount of pruning depends on the variety,but it needs to be pruned once a year.


When you cut the tips back you stop it flowering. Bouganvilleas flower on new growth only. You have been pruning the flowers away.
Reply:The tips are exactly where a bouganvillea sets its blooms. Bougainvilleas *can* be espaliered, but this requires some careful planning, a challenge much like pinching an old variety of fuchsia (which also bloom on the tips) would be. Bougainvilleas that fall victim to orderly gardeners who don't know how to properly espalier never bloom.





It is puzzling why you'd put something so thorny near a business walk. Even if you keep it away from the walk itself, somebody's bound to fall.



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