Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Chamaerops Humilis Cerifera bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called blue Mediterranean fan palm, silver fan palm, Moroccan fan palm (Chamaerops humilis var. cerifera).
More about chamaerops humilis cerifera
About Chamaerops Humilis Cerifera
Chamaerops humilis var. cerifera · also called blue Mediterranean fan palm, silver fan palm · flowering
Chamaerops humilis var. cerifera is the striking blue-silver form of the European fan palm, native to Morocco's Atlas Mountains, where a waxy bloom gives its stiff fan leaves a powdery silver-blue cast. Clump-forming, slow, sun-loving, drought-tolerant, and among the most cold-hardy palms, it suits Mediterranean-style gardens and big pots. ASPCA-listed non-toxic, though leaf stalks bear sharp spines.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Loss of blue colour: The silver-blue waxy bloom is strongest in full sun and on new growth; in shade or with handling the colour dulls and reverts toward green. Grow in maximum sun and avoid wiping the leaves.
The reasons chamaerops humilis cerifera isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming chamaerops humilis cerifera 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 chamaerops humilis cerifera 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 chamaerops humilis cerifera to flower
- Maximise sun. Give chamaerops humilis cerifera 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 chamaerops humilis cerifera and get the feeding right with the chamaerops humilis cerifera 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
Chamaerops Humilis Cerifera 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 chamaerops humilis cerifera care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Chamaerops Humilis Cerifera blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my chamaerops humilis cerifera flower?
Chamaerops Humilis Cerifera 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 chamaerops humilis cerifera bloom?
Give chamaerops humilis cerifera 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 chamaerops humilis cerifera normally bloom?
Chamaerops Humilis Cerifera 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 chamaerops humilis cerifera 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 chamaerops humilis cerifera flowering?
Feeding chamaerops humilis cerifera a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Chamaerops Humilis Cerifera care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Chamaerops Humilis Cerifera light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Chamaerops Humilis Cerifera 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 1410 bloom guides in the Growli library