Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Hedera colchica bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Persian ivy, Colchis ivy, elephant's ears ivy (Hedera colchica).
More about hedera colchica
About Hedera colchica
Hedera colchica · also called Persian ivy, Colchis ivy · flowering
Hedera colchica, Persian ivy, bears the largest leaves of any ivy, big leathery heart-shaped blades to 25 cm, earning the name 'elephant's ears'. Native to the Caucasus and northern Iran, it is a robust, shade-tolerant evergreen climber. Mature growth produces clusters of small greenish flowers followed by black berries, mainly outdoors.
Plant type: flowering
The reasons hedera colchica isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming hedera colchica 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 hedera colchica 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 hedera colchica to flower
- Maximise sun. Give hedera colchica 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 hedera colchica and get the feeding right with the hedera colchica 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
Hedera colchica 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 hedera colchica care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Hedera colchica blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my hedera colchica flower?
Hedera colchica 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 hedera colchica bloom?
Give hedera colchica 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 hedera colchica normally bloom?
Hedera colchica 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 hedera colchica 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 hedera colchica flowering?
Feeding hedera colchica a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Hedera colchica care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Hedera colchica light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Hedera colchica 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 1410 bloom guides in the Growli library