Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Angel's Fishing Rod bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Angel's fishing rod, Wand flower, Hairbell, African harebell (Dierama pulcherrimum).

More about angel's fishing rod

About Angel's Fishing Rod

Dierama pulcherrimum · also called Angel's fishing rod, Wand flower · flowering

Native to the montane grasslands and stream margins of South Africa and Zimbabwe, Dierama pulcherrimum is an evergreen cormous perennial producing tall, arching wiry stems from which pendulous bell-shaped flowers dangle like fishing lines. It thrives in full sun in moist but well-drained soil and strongly resents being transplanted once established. The most important care rule is never to cut back healthy green foliage — this severely shocks the plant and inhibits flowering. It is not known to be toxic to cats or dogs.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Transplant shock / failure to flower: Dierama strongly resents root disturbance; newly moved plants may sulk for one to three seasons before flowering resumes. Plant in a permanent position and leave undivided unless severely congested.

The reasons angel's fishing rod isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming angel's fishing rod 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 angel's fishing rod 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 angel's fishing rod to flower

Maximise sun. Give angel's fishing rod 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 angel's fishing rod and get the feeding right with the angel's fishing rod 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

Angel's Fishing Rod 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 angel's fishing rod care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Angel's Fishing Rod blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my angel's fishing rod flower?

Angel's Fishing Rod 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 angel's fishing rod bloom?

Give angel's fishing rod 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 angel's fishing rod normally bloom?