Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Moor Witch Purple Moor Grass bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Moor witch purple moor grass, Moorhexe purple moor grass, Purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea 'Moorhexe').
More about moor witch purple moor grass
About Moor Witch Purple Moor Grass
Molinia caerulea 'Moorhexe' · also called Moor witch purple moor grass, Moorhexe purple moor grass · flowering
Molinia caerulea 'Moorhexe' (German: 'moor witch') is a compact, very upright cultivar of purple moor grass, native to the moorlands, bogs, and wet heathlands of Europe and western Asia. Unlike many ornamental grasses, it is a completely deciduous species that collapses and can be cleared away cleanly each winter, leaving no persistent dead thatch. It is prized for its stiffly erect, purple-tinted flowering stems that turn rich amber-yellow in autumn. The most important care point is to provide acid to neutral, reliably moist soil — it dislikes alkaline conditions. Molinia caerulea is not considered toxic to cats or dogs.
Plant type: flowering
The reasons moor witch purple moor grass isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming moor witch purple moor grass 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 moor witch purple moor grass 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 moor witch purple moor grass to flower
- Maximise sun. Give moor witch purple moor grass 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 moor witch purple moor grass and get the feeding right with the moor witch purple moor grass 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
Moor Witch Purple Moor Grass 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 moor witch purple moor grass care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Moor Witch Purple Moor Grass blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my moor witch purple moor grass flower?
Moor Witch Purple Moor Grass 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 moor witch purple moor grass bloom?
Give moor witch purple moor grass 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 moor witch purple moor grass normally bloom?
Moor Witch Purple Moor Grass 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 moor witch purple moor grass 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 moor witch purple moor grass flowering?
Feeding moor witch purple moor grass a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Moor Witch Purple Moor Grass care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Moor Witch Purple Moor Grass light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Moor Witch Purple Moor Grass 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