Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'Lady in Red' bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Northern Lady Fern 'Lady in Red' (Athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'Lady in Red').
More about athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'lady in red'
About Athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'Lady in Red'
Athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'Lady in Red' · also called Northern Lady Fern 'Lady in Red' · flowering
Athyrium 'Lady in Red' is a deciduous northern lady fern selection prized for its striking burgundy-red stems that contrast with finely cut, soft green fronds. Vigorous, upright, and clump-forming, it brings vertical colour to moist, shaded borders and woodland gardens. Cold-hardy and easy in cool climates, it wants reliably moist, humus-rich soil and shelter from hot afternoon sun.
Plant type: flowering
The reasons athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'lady in red' isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'lady in red' 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 athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'lady in red' 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 athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'lady in red' to flower
- Maximise sun. Give athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'lady in red' 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 athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'lady in red' and get the feeding right with the athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'lady in red' 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
Athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'Lady in Red' 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 athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'lady in red' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'Lady in Red' blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'lady in red' flower?
Athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'Lady in Red' 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 athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'lady in red' bloom?
Give athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'lady in red' 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 athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'lady in red' normally bloom?
Athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'Lady in Red' 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 athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'lady in red' 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 athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'lady in red' flowering?
Feeding athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'lady in red' a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'Lady in Red' care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'Lady in Red' light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Athyrium angustum f. rubellum 'Lady in Red' 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 2023 bloom guides in the Growli library