Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Crested Gentian bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Crested Gentian, Summer Gentian (Gentiana septemfida).

More about crested gentian

About Crested Gentian

Gentiana septemfida · also called Crested Gentian, Summer Gentian · flowering

One of the most reliable and garden-worthy gentians, native to the Caucasus and Turkey. Bears clusters of up to eight brilliant blue, crested trumpet flowers from midsummer to early autumn on arching stems. Less demanding than most alpine gentians — tolerates neutral soil and is easier to establish and maintain.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Short flowering stems in shade: Insufficient light produces elongated, floppy stems that fall over before or during flowering. Ensure at least 6 hours of direct sun. Stake if necessary in partially shaded situations, or move to a sunnier position.

The reasons crested gentian isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming crested gentian 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 crested gentian 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 crested gentian to flower

Maximise sun. Give crested gentian 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 crested gentian and get the feeding right with the crested gentian 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

Crested Gentian 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 crested gentian care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Crested Gentian blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my crested gentian flower?

Crested Gentian 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 crested gentian bloom?

Give crested gentian 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 crested gentian normally bloom?