Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Pelargonium 'Occold Shield' bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Stellar pelargonium Occold Shield (Pelargonium 'Occold Shield').

More about pelargonium 'occold shield'

About Pelargonium 'Occold Shield'

Pelargonium 'Occold Shield' · also called Stellar pelargonium Occold Shield · flowering

A striking dwarf stellar zonal pelargonium prized for its golden-yellow leaves stamped with a bold chocolate-brown horseshoe zone, topped by clusters of semi-double orange-scarlet star flowers. The dramatic leaf-and-flower contrast makes it a favourite show and container plant. Tender and compact, it suits patio pots and sunny windowsills and is overwintered frost-free.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Botrytis (grey mould): Grey mould on spent flowers and dying leaves in damp conditions. Deadhead regularly, clear debris, and ventilate well.

The reasons pelargonium 'occold shield' isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming pelargonium 'occold shield' 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 'occold shield' 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 'occold shield' to flower

Maximise sun. Give pelargonium 'occold shield' 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 'occold shield' and get the feeding right with the pelargonium 'occold shield' 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 'Occold Shield' 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 'occold shield' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Pelargonium 'Occold Shield' blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my pelargonium 'occold shield' flower?

Pelargonium 'Occold Shield' 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 'occold shield' bloom?

Give pelargonium 'occold shield' 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 'occold shield' normally bloom?