Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Long-leaved Pelargonium bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Long-leaved Pelargonium, Long-leaf Geranium (Pelargonium longifolium).
More about long-leaved pelargonium
About Long-leaved Pelargonium
Pelargonium longifolium · also called Long-leaved Pelargonium, Long-leaf Geranium · flowering
Pelargonium longifolium is a tuberous geophyte native to the arid and semi-arid zones of South Africa's Western Cape, producing narrow, strap-shaped leaves and pale cream to yellowish flowers marked with dark purple veins. As a summer-dormant bulb-like plant it follows a Mediterranean rhythm — grow in autumn and winter, rest in summer — and demands excellent drainage and minimal water during dormancy. The single most important care fact is to withhold almost all water in summer when the plant is leafless, or the tuber will rot. Toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Failure to flower: Usually the result of insufficient light or keeping the plant in growth year-round without a proper dry summer rest, which is needed to trigger flower bud initiation.
The reasons long-leaved pelargonium isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming long-leaved pelargonium 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 long-leaved pelargonium 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 long-leaved pelargonium to flower
- Maximise sun. Give long-leaved pelargonium 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 long-leaved pelargonium and get the feeding right with the long-leaved pelargonium 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
Long-leaved Pelargonium 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 long-leaved pelargonium care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Long-leaved Pelargonium blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my long-leaved pelargonium flower?
Long-leaved Pelargonium 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 long-leaved pelargonium bloom?
Give long-leaved pelargonium 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 long-leaved pelargonium normally bloom?
Long-leaved Pelargonium 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 long-leaved pelargonium 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 long-leaved pelargonium flowering?
Feeding long-leaved pelargonium a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Long-leaved Pelargonium care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Long-leaved Pelargonium light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Long-leaved Pelargonium 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 4114 bloom guides in the Growli library