1) I have a bougainvillea and jasmine plant which both are growing well and have no discolored leaves. They're in very large pots with drainage, and I water them once a week. While they seem healthy, neither are blooming. This is confusing since I see plenty of the same plants blooming as I drive around LA. My Western Garden book says to back off on the watering the bougainvillea in midsummer - I'll plan to do that; should I do that for my jasmine as well? I did give both plants some Miracle Gro last week to see if that would help; no visible results yet.

2) I grew up in the Midwest and absolutely loved the Lily of the Valley plants that grew in our yard. Is there any way I can grow that plant in Southern California, in a container? And if so, where can I find some that are already growing (as opposed to bulbs)?

3) I bought a small (6") Lilac bush ordered from Park Seed. It looks like it's doing well, though I assume it's not mature enough to bloom. How long might it take before it blooms, and is there anything I can do to ensure that it does?

Thanks in advance,
Angie

1.) With bougies (and many other plants like bougies and jasmines that bloom on new growth), they go through a vegetative cycle that may last upwards of 6 or so weeks and will then form bloom buds, and finally may rest for a bit where there is no bloom or leaf growth (while the roots grow). So you may need to be patient. The ones that you see blooming all over are probably larger plants with different parts of the plant in various stages of leaf growth, resting, and bloom, so it would always appear to be "in bloom", even though in reality, only parts of the plants are in bloom.

2.) I have been growing LOVs in containers for some time but I have a feeling that they may have a chilling requirement, although supposedly newly purchased pips are often pre-chilled. You could give it a shot to see what happens. Don't plant deep but just under the surface (maybe no more than an inch or two as any deeper and they may not flower as I found out the hard way)!

3.) I have seen small lilacs (say < 18") blooming and it depends on the type. The older Syringa vulgaris varieties often took 7 or more years before mature enough to bloom but I expect with all the hybridizing, new varieties in that species might bloom younger. Certainly other Syringa species can bloom at a much younger age (both of mine - a Syringa patula and Syringa prestoniae did when they were around 18" tall with a couple blooms when purchased). Just take care of your baby and let it grow... Make sure you give it some higher-phosphorus ferts in late spring/early summer when it would normally form new bloom buds for the next season. I am about to give mine a boost now as I'm seeing the buds forming (they would probably form earlier where you are).

Hope this helps!