Bougainvillea, and the trouble with flowering here

Bougainvillea is the most reliable flowering bonsai available in Singapore, and the most reliably disappointing, because the thing that makes it flower is the thing every new grower is afraid to do.

It flowers under stress

Bracts come after a genuine dry-back. Not neglect — a controlled cycle where the tree is allowed to reach the point of just-wilting before water goes back on. Do that for a few weeks with full sun and the colour follows.

Water it comfortably every day, as you would a juniper, and you will grow a healthy green shrub with no bracts at all. It will look fine. It will never do the one thing you bought it for.

Practical version

• Full sun. Not bright shade — sun.
• Let it approach wilt, then water thoroughly. Repeat.
• Prune hard after each flush; bracts come on new growth.
• Feed low nitrogen once colour starts, or you will get leaves instead.

Two flushes a year is normal here. Three is possible if you are ruthless about the dry cycle.