Bougainvillea’s- Blooming

Q: I purchased two one-gallon bougainvillea’s in late April in full bloom. I have kept them in their original containers in full sun. The initial blooms fell off within two weeks and they have not come back. Do you have any suggestions?

A: Although bougainvillea does well in a container, your gallon pot may not be quite big enough to keep the soil from drying excessively. Try moving both to larger pots, perhaps fourteen inches in diameter. Bougainvillea does best in full sun with soil that stays consistently slightly moist. Feed every two weeks with houseplant fertilizer at half-strength. Cut them back to a manageable size in September so you can bring them indoors for the winter.