Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Ann Folkard Cranesbill bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Ann Folkard Cranesbill, Ann Folkard Geranium (Geranium 'Ann Folkard').

More about ann folkard cranesbill

About Ann Folkard Cranesbill

Geranium 'Ann Folkard' · also called Ann Folkard Cranesbill, Ann Folkard Geranium · flowering

Geranium 'Ann Folkard' is a hybrid of G. procurrens and G. psilostemon raised by Reverend O. G. Folkard, notable for its strikingly bright chartreuse-yellow young foliage that darkens to mid-green, and its exceptionally long season of large magenta-pink flowers with distinctive black veins and a black eye. The scrambling, trailing stems twine through neighbouring plants in a mixed border and spread up to 90–120 cm. The most important care fact is to give it enough space to scramble without smothering smaller neighbours. ASPCA's 'Geranium' toxic listing refers to Pelargonium; true cranesbills are not confirmed non-toxic by ASPCA, so treat with caution around pets.

Plant type: flowering

The reasons ann folkard cranesbill isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming ann folkard cranesbill 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 ann folkard cranesbill 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 ann folkard cranesbill to flower

Maximise sun. Give ann folkard cranesbill 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 ann folkard cranesbill and get the feeding right with the ann folkard cranesbill 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

Ann Folkard Cranesbill 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 ann folkard cranesbill care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Ann Folkard Cranesbill blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my ann folkard cranesbill flower?

Ann Folkard Cranesbill 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 ann folkard cranesbill bloom?

Give ann folkard cranesbill 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 ann folkard cranesbill normally bloom?