Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Long-stalked Spiderwort bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Long-stalked Spiderwort, Wild Crocus (Tradescantia longipes).
More about long-stalked spiderwort
About Long-stalked Spiderwort
Tradescantia longipes · also called Long-stalked Spiderwort, Wild Crocus · flowering
Tradescantia longipes is a low-growing, clump-forming native perennial endemic to the rocky, wooded slopes of the Ozark Mountains of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. It produces deep blue-violet three-petalled flowers with fringed yellow stamens on long, slender stalks in succession from April to June, then the foliage dies back significantly after bloom. The most important care point is that it needs partial to full shade and consistent moisture to replicate its Ozark woodland habitat. As with other Tradescantia species, treat as mildly toxic to pets given the ASPCA listing of T. fluminensis in the genus.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Summer dieback and disappearance: Foliage dies back significantly or completely after the spring bloom period; this is natural summer dormancy, not a disease. Mark plant positions to avoid accidentally digging up dormant clumps.
The reasons long-stalked spiderwort isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming long-stalked spiderwort 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-stalked spiderwort 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-stalked spiderwort to flower
- Maximise sun. Give long-stalked spiderwort 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-stalked spiderwort and get the feeding right with the long-stalked spiderwort 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-stalked Spiderwort 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-stalked spiderwort care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Long-stalked Spiderwort blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my long-stalked spiderwort flower?
Long-stalked Spiderwort 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-stalked spiderwort bloom?
Give long-stalked spiderwort 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-stalked spiderwort normally bloom?
Long-stalked Spiderwort 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-stalked spiderwort 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-stalked spiderwort flowering?
Feeding long-stalked spiderwort 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-stalked Spiderwort care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Long-stalked Spiderwort light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Long-stalked Spiderwort 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