Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Arizona Cypress 'Blue Ice' bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Blue Ice Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica 'Blue Ice').

More about arizona cypress 'blue ice'

About Arizona Cypress 'Blue Ice'

Cupressus arizonica 'Blue Ice' · also called Blue Ice Arizona cypress · flowering

'Blue Ice' is a standout Arizona cypress selection with intensely silvery-blue, aromatic scale foliage and contrasting reddish stems, forming a narrow, upright conical tree. Like the species it loves full sun, lean well-drained soil and dry heat, and is drought-tolerant once established. A popular ornamental specimen, screen and living Christmas tree in warm regions.

Plant type: flowering

The reasons arizona cypress 'blue ice' isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming arizona cypress 'blue ice' 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 arizona cypress 'blue ice' 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 arizona cypress 'blue ice' to flower

Maximise sun. Give arizona cypress 'blue ice' 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 arizona cypress 'blue ice' and get the feeding right with the arizona cypress 'blue ice' 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

Arizona Cypress 'Blue Ice' 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 arizona cypress 'blue ice' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Arizona Cypress 'Blue Ice' blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my arizona cypress 'blue ice' flower?

Arizona Cypress 'Blue Ice' 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 arizona cypress 'blue ice' bloom?

Give arizona cypress 'blue ice' 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 arizona cypress 'blue ice' normally bloom?