Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Flexuose Nerine bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Flexuose Nerine, Crinkled Nerine (Nerine flexuosa).

More about flexuose nerine

About Flexuose Nerine

Nerine flexuosa · also called Flexuose Nerine, Crinkled Nerine · flowering

Flexuose Nerine is a South African bulb producing striking umbels of rich pink to pale lilac-pink flowers with distinctly wavy, strap-shaped petals on bare stems in autumn. A larger and more vigorous grower than N. sarniensis, and moderately hardy in sheltered UK gardens. All Nerine species are toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Failure to flower: Most commonly caused by: burying the bulb too deep (neck must be at or above soil level), too much shade, or disturbing the roots. Leave established bulbs undisturbed for years.

The reasons flexuose nerine isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming flexuose nerine 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 flexuose nerine 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 flexuose nerine to flower

Maximise sun. Give flexuose nerine 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 flexuose nerine and get the feeding right with the flexuose nerine 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

Flexuose Nerine 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 flexuose nerine care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Flexuose Nerine blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my flexuose nerine flower?

Flexuose Nerine 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 flexuose nerine bloom?

Give flexuose nerine 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 flexuose nerine normally bloom?