Question
I live in auckland new zealand and have a very healthy looking bourgainvillea but it does not flower. I do not water it much and have not given it any fertilizer can you tell me what I should do? thanks

Answer
Hi Dell,
Thanx for your question.  I need to know what kind of weather conditions you are having.  Living here, north of the equator, it is summer down there for you yes?  I lived in Hawaii for two years and used to marvel at the bougainvillea used for landscaping at the sides of the freeways.  Bougainvillea gets by on moderate water and can even withstand some drought.  Don't use high nitrogen fertilizer on it or you'll just get green growth.  But, you say, you haven't used any fertilizer.  The bougainvillea needs lots of sunlight.  Too much shade will inhibit blooming.  If you've had an excessive amount of moisture this can cause a plant to stop blooming.  If you have really poor soil, you can fertilize once a year with a balanced fertilizer of 10-10-10 but no more than that.  Have you given the plant a a trim?  Sometimes that will stimulate blooming.  What's different this year than last year (or did the plant not bloom last year too?)?  I hope this helps.
Tom