Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Mignonette Peperomia bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Mignonette Peperomia, Flowering Peperomia, Fragrant Peperomia (Peperomia resedaeflora).
More about mignonette peperomia
About Mignonette Peperomia
Peperomia resedaeflora · also called Mignonette Peperomia, Flowering Peperomia · flowering
Peperomia resedaeflora is a upright, shrubby Peperomia native to the tropical forests of Colombia and, in some treatments, closely allied to Ecuadorian Peperomia fraseri. It is distinctive among Peperomia for producing reddish, branching flower stalks up to 60 cm tall bearing subtly fragrant white bottle-brush flower spikes, making it one of the few peperomias grown as much for its blooms as its foliage. Despite its showier flowers, care mirrors that of other compact peperomias — bright indirect light and careful watering to prevent root rot. The ASPCA considers the Peperomia genus non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Failure to flower: Insufficient light is the most common reason this peperomia does not produce its fragrant flower spikes; move closer to a bright east- or west-facing window and ensure the plant is not pot-bound, which also inhibits blooming.
The reasons mignonette peperomia isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming mignonette peperomia 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 mignonette peperomia 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 mignonette peperomia to flower
- Maximise sun. Give mignonette peperomia 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 mignonette peperomia and get the feeding right with the mignonette peperomia 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
Mignonette Peperomia 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 mignonette peperomia care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Mignonette Peperomia blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my mignonette peperomia flower?
Mignonette Peperomia 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 mignonette peperomia bloom?
Give mignonette peperomia 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 mignonette peperomia normally bloom?
Mignonette Peperomia 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 mignonette peperomia 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 mignonette peperomia flowering?
Feeding mignonette peperomia a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Mignonette Peperomia care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Mignonette Peperomia light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Mignonette Peperomia 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