Help! I live in Houston and my bougainvea do not bloom. I realize that I should have left them in their pots and just cut off the bottom, but I wasn't aware of this when I got them ($1.50 each from Lowe's because they were a season old and they wanted rid of them!). In the Spring of this year I planted them both in the ground near my pergola, hoping to have beautiful color and vines. So far, they're growing like mad (leaves, some varigated it seems and thorns) but there hasn't been even a single bloom. They get sun all day (southern side of house). There are a lot of small pinkish/red growth on the ends but they never bloom. Now I quit watering them a month ago and it's only rained a few times - still no blooms. I'd really like some advice. My thumb is so far from green...should I dig them up and put them in pots? or in plastic pots, cut the bottom off and replant them? Will digging them up kill them?

Thanks in advance for any and all help!

(I also posted this in Tropical Plants)