Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Pygmy Torch Amaranth bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Prince's Feather, Grain Amaranth, Red Amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus).

More about pygmy torch amaranth

About Pygmy Torch Amaranth

Amaranthus hypochondriacus · also called Prince's Feather, Grain Amaranth · flowering

Pygmy Torch Amaranth is a compact selection of grain amaranth with dense, upright, deep crimson flower plumes above dark bronzy-purple foliage. Excellent for contemporary borders, cutting gardens, and dried flower arrangements. The ASPCA lists Amaranthus as toxic to pets; the plants also accumulate nitrates and oxalates which are harmful if consumed.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Pale flower colour: Usually caused by poor light or high nitrogen fertiliser; move to full sun and reduce feeding.

The reasons pygmy torch amaranth isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming pygmy torch amaranth traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding pygmy torch amaranth a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get pygmy torch amaranth to flower

Maximise sun. Give pygmy torch amaranth the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for pygmy torch amaranth and get the feeding right with the pygmy torch amaranth fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Pygmy Torch Amaranth flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full pygmy torch amaranth care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Pygmy Torch Amaranth blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my pygmy torch amaranth flower?

Pygmy Torch Amaranth blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make pygmy torch amaranth bloom?

Give pygmy torch amaranth the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does pygmy torch amaranth normally bloom?