Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Lobster Flower bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Lobster Flower, Blue Coleus, Spur Flower (Plectranthus neochilus).

More about lobster flower

About Lobster Flower

Plectranthus neochilus · also called Lobster Flower, Blue Coleus · flowering

Plectranthus neochilus is a low-growing, mat-forming, semi-succulent perennial native to southern Africa, instantly recognisable by its lime-green, broad leaves with coppery-purple undersides and its strong, pungent aroma that is widely used as a natural cat and dog deterrent in gardens. It produces upright spikes of soft purple-blue tubular flowers through much of the growing season. The most important care fact is that it is remarkably drought tolerant due to its succulent stems, and overwatering is the primary cause of failure — water only when the soil is fully dry. Multiple sources classify the genus pattern as non-toxic to dogs and cats, and Mountain Crest Gardens specifically lists P. neochilus as pet-safe.

Plant type: flowering

The reasons lobster flower isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming lobster flower 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 lobster flower 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 lobster flower to flower

Maximise sun. Give lobster flower 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 lobster flower and get the feeding right with the lobster flower 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

Lobster Flower 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 lobster flower care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Lobster Flower blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my lobster flower flower?

Lobster Flower 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 lobster flower bloom?

Give lobster flower 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 lobster flower normally bloom?