Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Loxostigma griffithii bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Griffith's loxostigma, Himalayan gesneriad (Loxostigma griffithii).

More about loxostigma griffithii

About Loxostigma griffithii

Loxostigma griffithii · also called Griffith's loxostigma, Himalayan gesneriad · flowering

Loxostigma griffithii is a Himalayan and southwest-Chinese gesneriad, often epiphytic on mossy trees and rocks, grown for pendant pale-yellow tubular flowers streaked red-purple inside, over soft, slightly fleshy leaves. A cool, humid, shade-loving plant of montane forests, it suits a hanging basket or epiphyte mount in bright shade with steady moisture and excellent drainage.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Few flowers: Usually too dry, too dark, or too dry-aired. Provide steady moisture, bright shade, and high humidity through the growing season to encourage the pendant blooms.

The reasons loxostigma griffithii isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming loxostigma griffithii 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 loxostigma griffithii 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 loxostigma griffithii to flower

Maximise sun. Give loxostigma griffithii 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 loxostigma griffithii and get the feeding right with the loxostigma griffithii 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

Loxostigma griffithii 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 loxostigma griffithii care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Loxostigma griffithii blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my loxostigma griffithii flower?

Loxostigma griffithii 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 loxostigma griffithii bloom?

Give loxostigma griffithii 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 loxostigma griffithii normally bloom?