bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Bougainvillea feeding question

Mr. Mike,

The advice given is spot on for initiating blooming...If they are deprived of water they will throw flowers...

Now, about your original question...A few years ago I began to notice many of the landscape nurseries in this area started carrying fertilizers sold for specific species such as palms, crape myrtles, and bougainvilleas...The fertilizer composition for the bougies was disproportionately high in phosphate...I did began using this fertilizer on my bougies and found within the first season of use that they produced many more flowers for a much longer period of time...I was convinced...I now use a product from the ‘Green Light’ company called ‘Super Bloom’ a 12-55-6 fertilizer which I could not be happier with...I mix it at recommended strength and fertilize every 2 to 3 weeks throughout the active growing season, and monthly during our light winters...

There are of course times when the flowering is heavier on each of my bougies, but at any given time you will always see a few flowers on at least one or two of the four bougies in my garden...I do attribute this to the use of the high phosphate fertilizer...

Regards
Behr

13-Jul-2006	#7
grampz Behr Appleby Join Date: Aug-2003 Location: Kyle Tx Country: USA USDA Zone: 8 AHS Heat Zone: 10 Posts: 946	Mr. Mike, The advice given is spot on for initiating blooming...If they are deprived of water they will throw flowers... Now, about your original question...A few years ago I began to notice many of the landscape nurseries in this area started carrying fertilizers sold for specific species such as palms, crape myrtles, and bougainvilleas...The fertilizer composition for the bougies was disproportionately high in phosphate...I did began using this fertilizer on my bougies and found within the first season of use that they produced many more flowers for a much longer period of time...I was convinced...I now use a product from the ‘Green Light’ company called ‘Super Bloom’ a 12-55-6 fertilizer which I could not be happier with...I mix it at recommended strength and fertilize every 2 to 3 weeks throughout the active growing season, and monthly during our light winters... There are of course times when the flowering is heavier on each of my bougies, but at any given time you will always see a few flowers on at least one or two of the four bougies in my garden...I do attribute this to the use of the high phosphate fertilizer... Regards Behr __________________ As the Master departed the workshop, he could have sworn he heard some one saying rather loudly... *"I thought he would never leave"* San Antonio Bonsai Society, Inc.