Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Cotoneaster microphyllus bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Littleleaf Cotoneaster, Small-leaved Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster microphyllus).

More about cotoneaster microphyllus

About Cotoneaster microphyllus

Cotoneaster microphyllus · also called Littleleaf Cotoneaster, Small-leaved Cotoneaster · flowering

Littleleaf cotoneaster (Cotoneaster microphyllus) is a low, spreading evergreen shrub valued as bonsai for its tiny dark glossy leaves, small white spring flowers and showy red berries. Tough, hardy and quick to ramify, it tolerates pruning and drier spells, performing best in full sun with sharp drainage.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Reduced berries in shade: Insufficient sun or hard summer pruning cuts flowering wood and lowers fruit set; grow in full sun and time pruning to preserve flower buds.

The reasons cotoneaster microphyllus isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming cotoneaster microphyllus 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 cotoneaster microphyllus 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 cotoneaster microphyllus to flower

Maximise sun. Give cotoneaster microphyllus 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 cotoneaster microphyllus and get the feeding right with the cotoneaster microphyllus 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

Cotoneaster microphyllus 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 cotoneaster microphyllus care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Cotoneaster microphyllus blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my cotoneaster microphyllus flower?

Cotoneaster microphyllus 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 cotoneaster microphyllus bloom?

Give cotoneaster microphyllus 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 cotoneaster microphyllus normally bloom?