Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Gomphrena haageana 'Strawberry Fields' bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Strawberry Fields Globe Amaranth, Red Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena haageana 'Strawberry Fields').
More about gomphrena haageana 'strawberry fields'
About Gomphrena haageana 'Strawberry Fields'
Gomphrena haageana 'Strawberry Fields' · also called Strawberry Fields Globe Amaranth, Red Globe Amaranth · flowering
'Strawberry Fields' is a globe amaranth grown for its vivid strawberry-red, papery flower heads on long stems. A heat- and drought-tolerant warm-season annual, it blooms prolifically from summer until frost, draws butterflies, and dries beautifully as an everlasting. It thrives in full sun and lean, free-draining soil and resents cold, wet conditions.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Legginess in low light: Too little sun stretches stems and weakens flowering; reserve the sunniest position for it.
The reasons gomphrena haageana 'strawberry fields' isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming gomphrena haageana 'strawberry fields' 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 gomphrena haageana 'strawberry fields' 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 gomphrena haageana 'strawberry fields' to flower
- Maximise sun. Give gomphrena haageana 'strawberry fields' 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 gomphrena haageana 'strawberry fields' and get the feeding right with the gomphrena haageana 'strawberry fields' 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
Gomphrena haageana 'Strawberry Fields' 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 gomphrena haageana 'strawberry fields' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Gomphrena haageana 'Strawberry Fields' blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my gomphrena haageana 'strawberry fields' flower?
Gomphrena haageana 'Strawberry Fields' 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 gomphrena haageana 'strawberry fields' bloom?
Give gomphrena haageana 'strawberry fields' 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 gomphrena haageana 'strawberry fields' normally bloom?
Gomphrena haageana 'Strawberry Fields' 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 gomphrena haageana 'strawberry fields' 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 gomphrena haageana 'strawberry fields' flowering?
Feeding gomphrena haageana 'strawberry fields' a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Gomphrena haageana 'Strawberry Fields' care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Gomphrena haageana 'Strawberry Fields' light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Gomphrena haageana 'Strawberry Fields' 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 2023 bloom guides in the Growli library