Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Pelargonium-Flowered Stork's Bill bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Pelargonium-Flowered Stork's Bill, Pelargonium Stork's Bill (Erodium pelargoniiflorum).
More about pelargonium-flowered stork's bill
About Pelargonium-Flowered Stork's Bill
Erodium pelargoniiflorum · also called Pelargonium-Flowered Stork's Bill, Pelargonium Stork's Bill · flowering
Erodium pelargoniiflorum is a woody-based perennial native to Turkey, forming a low mound of long-stalked, apple-green, heart-shaped leaves. From early summer onwards it bears clusters of white flowers in which the two upper petals are conspicuously spotted with purple, giving the appearance of a small pelargonium bloom. It requires full sun and sharply-drained, preferably limey soil; it is notably drought-tolerant and long-lived when drainage is adequate. Not documented as toxic to cats or dogs; classified as mildly-toxic as ASPCA data for this precise species is absent.
Plant type: flowering
The reasons pelargonium-flowered stork's bill isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming pelargonium-flowered stork's bill 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 pelargonium-flowered stork's bill 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 pelargonium-flowered stork's bill to flower
- Maximise sun. Give pelargonium-flowered stork's bill 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 pelargonium-flowered stork's bill and get the feeding right with the pelargonium-flowered stork's bill 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
Pelargonium-Flowered Stork's Bill 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 pelargonium-flowered stork's bill care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Pelargonium-Flowered Stork's Bill blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my pelargonium-flowered stork's bill flower?
Pelargonium-Flowered Stork's Bill 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 pelargonium-flowered stork's bill bloom?
Give pelargonium-flowered stork's bill 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 pelargonium-flowered stork's bill normally bloom?
Pelargonium-Flowered Stork's Bill 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 pelargonium-flowered stork's bill 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 pelargonium-flowered stork's bill flowering?
Feeding pelargonium-flowered stork's bill a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Pelargonium-Flowered Stork's Bill care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Pelargonium-Flowered Stork's Bill light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Pelargonium-Flowered Stork's Bill 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