Bougainvillea owners can't diagnose why plants produce flowers but fail to develop healthy foliage

Home gardeners invest in bougainvillea plants expecting vibrant blooms with lush leaves, but encounter a frustrating condition where flowers appear while leaf growth stalls or fails entirely. Current gardening advice is fragmented across forums and contradictory, leaving owners unable to identify whether the problem stems from watering schedules, nutrient deficiencies, light exposure, or pruning mistakes. This creates wasted time, money on the plant, and abandonment of the hobby.