Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Matthiola incana 'Giant Imperial Mix' bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Giant Imperial Stock, Mixed Gillyflower (Matthiola incana 'Giant Imperial Mix').
More about matthiola incana 'giant imperial mix'
About Matthiola incana 'Giant Imperial Mix'
Matthiola incana 'Giant Imperial Mix' · also called Giant Imperial Stock, Mixed Gillyflower · flowering
'Giant Imperial Mix' is a classic cool-season stock blend producing tall, densely packed spikes of clove-scented double and single flowers across white, pink, rose, lavender and purple shades. A reliable cut-flower and border annual, it flowers fast from spring or autumn sowings but stalls in summer heat, performing best in cool, bright, well-drained conditions.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Heat-induced bolting: Warm spells above ~18-21°C abruptly stop flowering; sow for spring and autumn bloom and skip summer plantings in hot regions.
The reasons matthiola incana 'giant imperial mix' isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming matthiola incana 'giant imperial mix' 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 matthiola incana 'giant imperial mix' 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 matthiola incana 'giant imperial mix' to flower
- Maximise sun. Give matthiola incana 'giant imperial mix' 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 matthiola incana 'giant imperial mix' and get the feeding right with the matthiola incana 'giant imperial mix' 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
Matthiola incana 'Giant Imperial Mix' 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 matthiola incana 'giant imperial mix' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Matthiola incana 'Giant Imperial Mix' blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my matthiola incana 'giant imperial mix' flower?
Matthiola incana 'Giant Imperial Mix' 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 matthiola incana 'giant imperial mix' bloom?
Give matthiola incana 'giant imperial mix' 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 matthiola incana 'giant imperial mix' normally bloom?
Matthiola incana 'Giant Imperial Mix' 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 matthiola incana 'giant imperial mix' 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 matthiola incana 'giant imperial mix' flowering?
Feeding matthiola incana 'giant imperial mix' a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Matthiola incana 'Giant Imperial Mix' care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Matthiola incana 'Giant Imperial Mix' light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Matthiola incana 'Giant Imperial Mix' 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 2023 bloom guides in the Growli library