Two years ago, I bought a bouganvillea on sale at the end of the season. I was able to keep it looking halfway decent through the winter—until last year. As I had all of the delicate plants in the garage, waiting for the greenhouse to be finished, I neglected it. Not only did it not get enough water, but it lacked adequate light and heat. By the time I moved it to the finished greenhouse, it was just a few leafless twigs.
Well, I am not one to easily give up on a plant. I continued to water it and early this spring, it started sprouting a few new leaves. It continued to rehabilitate itself until it was three times its sorry winter size. But, it refused to bloom.
Luckily, I visited a favorite shop, The Garden Trug,where I was admiring all the profusely blooming bougainvilleas. They shared with me their secret: a fast and long lasting fertilizer called NutriStar. This stuff is remarkable. I have used it all summer, probably once a month or so.
I would recommend this in a heartbeat and I am going to start fertilizing our passion vine as well.
