Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Anne Thomson Cranesbill bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Anne Thomson Cranesbill, Anne Thomson Geranium (Geranium 'Anne Thomson').
More about anne thomson cranesbill
About Anne Thomson Cranesbill
Geranium 'Anne Thomson' · also called Anne Thomson Cranesbill, Anne Thomson Geranium · flowering
Geranium 'Anne Thomson' is a hybrid of G. procurrens and G. psilostemon bred by Alan Bremner of Orkney, closely related to 'Ann Folkard' but selected for improved heat tolerance and a more compact, less-sprawling habit. The bright chartreuse young leaves mature to mid-green, and large magenta-pink flowers with a black eye and dark veins are produced abundantly all summer. The RHS awarded it AGM status in 2005. The most important care fact is to site it in sun with well-drained soil and allow space for the trailing stems. 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 anne thomson cranesbill isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming anne thomson 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 anne thomson 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 anne thomson cranesbill to flower
- Maximise sun. Give anne thomson 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 anne thomson cranesbill and get the feeding right with the anne thomson 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
Anne Thomson 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 anne thomson cranesbill care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Anne Thomson Cranesbill blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my anne thomson cranesbill flower?
Anne Thomson 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 anne thomson cranesbill bloom?
Give anne thomson 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 anne thomson cranesbill normally bloom?
Anne Thomson Cranesbill flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
What should I do with anne thomson cranesbill after it flowers?
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.
What is the single biggest mistake stopping anne thomson cranesbill flowering?
Feeding anne thomson cranesbill a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Anne Thomson Cranesbill care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Anne Thomson Cranesbill light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Anne Thomson Cranesbill fertilising — the right feed for buds, not just leaves
- Should I water my plant? The simple check
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry
- Underwatered plant — signs and rehydration
- Why won't my peace lily bloom?
- Why won't my jade plant bloom?
- Why won't my tomato bloom?
- All 4114 bloom guides in the Growli library