Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Chrysanthemum 'Emperor of China' bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Emperor of China Chrysanthemum, Old Clove Pink Mum, Rubellum Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum 'Emperor of China').

More about chrysanthemum 'emperor of china'

About Chrysanthemum 'Emperor of China'

Chrysanthemum 'Emperor of China' · also called Emperor of China Chrysanthemum, Old Clove Pink Mum · flowering

Chrysanthemum 'Emperor of China' is an heirloom rubellum-type chrysanthemum with double, silvery-pink flowers borne on upright stems from late autumn into early winter. The foliage turns crimson-red in cold weather, adding seasonal interest. Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Aphids: Common on new growth in late summer; treat early with insecticidal soap to prevent spread to flower buds before they open.

The reasons chrysanthemum 'emperor of china' isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming chrysanthemum 'emperor of china' 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 chrysanthemum 'emperor of china' 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 chrysanthemum 'emperor of china' to flower

Maximise sun. Give chrysanthemum 'emperor of china' 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 chrysanthemum 'emperor of china' and get the feeding right with the chrysanthemum 'emperor of china' 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

Chrysanthemum 'Emperor of China' 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 chrysanthemum 'emperor of china' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Chrysanthemum 'Emperor of China' blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my chrysanthemum 'emperor of china' flower?

Chrysanthemum 'Emperor of China' 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 chrysanthemum 'emperor of china' bloom?

Give chrysanthemum 'emperor of china' 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 chrysanthemum 'emperor of china' normally bloom?