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thank you for your answer.  i have been pruning azalas in the wrong month.  however my hibiscus and bougainvillea are all in the full sun and are still not boolming.  when do i prune thes?  how often should i water them.  how often should i fertilize them.  thank you

becki

Answer
Becki,
You should prune your bougainvillea AFTER they bloom. It's important to prune the plant because most of the blooms occur on NEW GROWTH. Also, make sure you don't use a fertilizer with too much nitrogen as this will make the plant grow like crazy, spending all its energy on producing lush foiliage, but no blooms. I have also heard that bougainvilleas in the ground sometimes don't bloom as well as those in containers because of too much root growth, which takes away energy to produce blooms. In short, don't fuss too much over the plant. Adequate water and little fertilization. There is another remote possibility - Have you ever seen a single bloom on this plant? It could be genetically sterile. As for the hibiscus, follow the same basic rules.
Sorry my reply took so long - we're having pre-season basketball tournaments.