Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Dilys Cranesbill bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Dilys Cranesbill, Hardy Geranium 'Dilys' (Geranium 'Dilys').

More about dilys cranesbill

About Dilys Cranesbill

Geranium 'Dilys' · also called Dilys Cranesbill, Hardy Geranium 'Dilys' · flowering

Geranium 'Dilys' is a low-growing, spreading cranesbill hybrid (G. sanguineum × G. procurrens), introduced by Axle Tree Nursery, bearing single deep reddish-purple flowers with darker veins from midsummer through to autumn — one of the longest-blooming hardy geraniums available. It spreads as a weed-suppressing ground cover to about 50 cm and tolerates partial shade, poor drainage, and dry spells better than most cranesbills. The single most important care point is removing spent stems to keep the plant tidy and encourage continuous flowering. True cranesbill Geranium species are not listed as toxic by the ASPCA, which reserves that classification for Pelargonium, and are widely considered pet-safe.

Plant type: flowering

The reasons dilys cranesbill isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming dilys cranesbill 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 dilys cranesbill 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 dilys cranesbill to flower

Maximise sun. Give dilys cranesbill 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 dilys cranesbill and get the feeding right with the dilys cranesbill 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

Dilys Cranesbill 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 dilys cranesbill care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Dilys Cranesbill blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my dilys cranesbill flower?

Dilys Cranesbill 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 dilys cranesbill bloom?

Give dilys cranesbill 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 dilys cranesbill normally bloom?