Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Candelabra Lily bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Candelabra lily, Pink candelabra flower (Brunsvigia bosmaniae).
More about candelabra lily
About Candelabra Lily
Brunsvigia bosmaniae · also called Candelabra lily, Pink candelabra flower · flowering
Brunsvigia bosmaniae is a deciduous, bulbous perennial from the winter-rainfall Namaqualand and Western Cape region of South Africa, producing spectacular, rounded candelabra-like heads of bright pink flowers on bare stems in late summer — a phenomenon triggered by the first autumn rains. After flowering, broad, tongue-shaped leaves emerge and persist through winter before dying back in spring, and the plant then rests dry and leafless through summer. The key care point is to plant with the bulb neck protruding above soil level and to allow a completely dry summer rest. Brunsvigia contains toxic lycorine-type alkaloids and is toxic to cats and dogs.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Failure to flower: Brunsvigia bosmaniae needs many years to reach flowering size and responds poorly to root disturbance. Established bulbs may refuse to flower if watered during summer dormancy or if repotted unnecessarily; leave undisturbed and wait for the natural autumn rain trigger.
The reasons candelabra lily isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming candelabra 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 candelabra 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 candelabra lily to flower
- Maximise sun. Give candelabra 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 candelabra lily and get the feeding right with the candelabra 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
Candelabra 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 candelabra lily care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Candelabra Lily blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my candelabra lily flower?
Candelabra 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 candelabra lily bloom?
Give candelabra 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 candelabra lily normally bloom?
Candelabra 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 candelabra 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 candelabra lily flowering?
Feeding candelabra 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
- Candelabra Lily care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Candelabra Lily light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Candelabra 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