Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Blue Star Water Lily bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Blue Star Water Lily, Star Lotus, Blue Water Lily, Dwarf Aquarium Lily (Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea).
More about blue star water lily
About Blue Star Water Lily
Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea · also called Blue Star Water Lily, Star Lotus · flowering
Native to South and Southeast Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh), Nymphaea stellata is a day-blooming tropical water lily that produces star-shaped flowers in shades of blue, violet, and white above floating pads. It requires full sun, warm water temperatures of 70–85 °F (21–29 °C), and nutrient-rich aquatic soil; moving rhizomes indoors before frost is the single most critical winter care step outside USDA Zone 10. The ASPCA lists Nymphaea odorata (same genus) as non-toxic, but the genus can cause mild gastrointestinal upset if consumed in quantity; classified as mildly-toxic as a precaution.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Aphids and water lily aphids: Water lily aphid (Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae) clusters on pads and flower buds; knock off with a strong water jet directed into the pond rather than using insecticides that harm fish.
The reasons blue star water lily isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming blue star water lily 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 blue star water lily 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 blue star water lily to flower
- Maximise sun. Give blue star water lily 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 blue star water lily and get the feeding right with the blue star water lily 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
Blue Star Water Lily 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 blue star water lily care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Blue Star Water Lily blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my blue star water lily flower?
Blue Star Water Lily 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 blue star water lily bloom?
Give blue star water lily 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 blue star water lily normally bloom?
Blue Star Water Lily 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 blue star water lily 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 blue star water lily flowering?
Feeding blue star water lily a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Blue Star Water Lily care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Blue Star Water Lily light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Blue Star Water Lily 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