Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Coral Bells 'Lime Rickey' bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Lime Rickey Coral Bells, Ruffled Coral Bells, Alumroot (Heuchera 'Lime Rickey').

More about coral bells 'lime rickey'

About Coral Bells 'Lime Rickey'

Heuchera 'Lime Rickey' · also called Lime Rickey Coral Bells, Ruffled Coral Bells · flowering

Heuchera 'Lime Rickey' is a ruffled-leaved coral bells cultivar displaying fresh, bright lime-green foliage that lightens to almost white in spots. Lacy white flowers bloom in late spring to early summer on slender stems. It brightens shaded spots and container arrangements effectively. Considered non-toxic to pets based on ASPCA Heuchera guidance.

Plant type: flowering

The reasons coral bells 'lime rickey' isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming coral bells 'lime rickey' 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 coral bells 'lime rickey' 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 coral bells 'lime rickey' to flower

Maximise sun. Give coral bells 'lime rickey' 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 coral bells 'lime rickey' and get the feeding right with the coral bells 'lime rickey' 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

Coral Bells 'Lime Rickey' 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 coral bells 'lime rickey' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Coral Bells 'Lime Rickey' blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my coral bells 'lime rickey' flower?

Coral Bells 'Lime Rickey' 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 coral bells 'lime rickey' bloom?

Give coral bells 'lime rickey' 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 coral bells 'lime rickey' normally bloom?