Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Lydian Stonecrop bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Lydian stonecrop, Mossy stonecrop, Least stonecrop (Sedum lydium).

More about lydian stonecrop

About Lydian Stonecrop

Sedum lydium · also called Lydian stonecrop, Mossy stonecrop · flowering

Sedum lydium is a mat-forming evergreen succulent native to the mountains of Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean, where it grows on rocky scree and cliff faces. It thrives in full sun with sharply drained, lean soil and demands very little water once established — overwatering is the most common cause of failure. Foliage is typically bright green but flushes a handsome red in autumn and winter drought stress. It is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Plant type: flowering

The reasons lydian stonecrop isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming lydian stonecrop 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 lydian stonecrop 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 lydian stonecrop to flower

Maximise sun. Give lydian stonecrop 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 lydian stonecrop and get the feeding right with the lydian stonecrop 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

Lydian Stonecrop 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 lydian stonecrop care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Lydian Stonecrop blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my lydian stonecrop flower?

Lydian Stonecrop 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 lydian stonecrop bloom?

Give lydian stonecrop 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 lydian stonecrop normally bloom?