Expert: C.L. Fornari - 7/20/2010

Question
When is the right time to cut back and how much should you cut back my bogenvia. When we moved in they were beautiful and had flowers and now they are all gone. The sprinkler system was broken. Has been fixed and they are growing again but no flowers, is that typical? Now they are starting to turn brown in areas. They get watered for 15 mins a day 3 times by bubblers. What should

Answer
Bud,
Bougainvillas bloom best if they are a bit "stressed" and yet fertilized. I think you're watering too much. For most plants, a deep soaking less often is best and for these you want to water deeply but allow the soil to dry out on the surface in between watering. Also, for some varieties, bloom comes when the plants are watered after a period of drought.  Since flowers form on new growth, and you're seeing new growth, I'd give them a deep soaking and a light application of fertilizer now but ease off on the watering so frequently.

 In general, most varieties bloom best when the day and night lengths are similar - in other words, in the spring and fall.  Given the new growth you're seeing, an application of fertilizer mixed according to directions, and altered watering so that you provide a deep soaking followed by two or more days without watering, you should be on the way to new flowers soon.

I hope this helps,
C.L.