Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Arisaema griffithii bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Griffith's cobra lily, Himalayan arisaema (Arisaema griffithii).

More about arisaema griffithii

About Arisaema griffithii

Arisaema griffithii · also called Griffith's cobra lily, Himalayan arisaema · flowering

Arisaema griffithii is a dramatic Himalayan woodland tuber prized for its large, hooded green-and-purple spathe netted with paler veins and a long protruding tongue. It emerges in late spring, flowers, then dies back to a dormant tuber by autumn. Grow it in cool, humus-rich, well-drained shade; it resents summer heat and waterlogging.

Plant type: flowering

The reasons arisaema griffithii isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming arisaema griffithii 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 arisaema griffithii 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 arisaema griffithii to flower

Maximise sun. Give arisaema griffithii 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 arisaema griffithii and get the feeding right with the arisaema griffithii 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

Arisaema griffithii 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 arisaema griffithii care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Arisaema griffithii blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my arisaema griffithii flower?

Arisaema griffithii 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 arisaema griffithii bloom?

Give arisaema griffithii 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 arisaema griffithii normally bloom?