eric, I think your answer is right on a money. I just went there and counted 18(!) new green stems growing from the base in addition to 14 'old wood' one. I guess it spent a lot of energy to support such rate of growth and decided to take a vacation on a blooming front. It has to be thinned next spring. Well, it's always the 'next season'. :0)

Thanks for your responses. Here are answers. Yes, I have a blower too and it works just fine...and it's needed so if you get the insert, get the blower too. Yes, my hot water is heated by oil as well. I have already turned it down and I will also insulate it before the cold weather comes. I'm also going to insulate my pipes this winter. I've been actually turning off my burner switch until an hour before I need hot water so I don't have to listen to it come on for no good reason. I don't know about the surface temperature. That is something I will check next time it's on. And lastly, I have already bought my wood and two cords are stacked. I have one more coming. It is a mix of hardwood. I think the wood I had last year, especially later in the season, was green... and that was my problem.

TLBean, congratulations on getting a good deal! It often is difficult to know the long-term behavior of a plant that is relatively new. If it is still doing this when it's been in your garden a couple of years, then it might be cause for concern, but at least initially you can't necessarily assume that the current behavior will continue. I also wouldn't fertilize it this year unless there is a tested need for it. Pulling any weeds or grass within the dripline and replacing with a mulch that goes near but not against the trunk are the two most valuable things you can do for a young tree. Also, I would not water once a week but instead water long and slow when needed, as shown when you stick a finger a couple of inches into the soil under the branches and find that it isn't damp. Depending on rainfall and the texture of your soil, weekly and for how long may be either too much or too little. The only way to determine what's appropriate is by checking the soil. I am envious that you can grow ornamental peaches. My zone is just too cold.

Thank you, zen-man! In the link you provided I found this: For a consistent production of flowers, don't transplant your dipladenia into a container that is too large. If you do, it won't hurt your plant, but it will spend more energy producing roots and top growth than flowers. You may see fewer flowers until the roots have hit the bottom of the pot. I now for sure this thing didn't reach the bottom of the pot - so I have a feeling this was the problem. The container was huge for the original plant size - as it came from the nursery; but I did it this way because I wanted it to grow very tall so I thought it would need serious root system to sustain such growth. Grow it did - but I had no flowers. I will do it differently next year. Thank you!