Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Pelargonium peltatum 'Roi des Balcons Lilas' bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Balcony lilac geranium, Roi des Balcons ivy pelargonium (Pelargonium peltatum 'Roi des Balcons Lilas').
More about pelargonium peltatum 'roi des balcons lilas'
About Pelargonium peltatum 'Roi des Balcons Lilas'
Pelargonium peltatum 'Roi des Balcons Lilas' · also called Balcony lilac geranium, Roi des Balcons ivy pelargonium · flowering
'Roi des Balcons Lilas' is a classic Continental balcony pelargonium — a vigorous ivy-leaved trailer smothered in single lilac-pink flowers all summer. Long stems cascade dramatically from window boxes and railing planters. Heat- and drought-tolerant once established, it needs full sun, free-draining compost, generous feeding and frost-free overwintering.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Sparse flowering: Shade or excess nitrogen reduces blooms; provide full sun, feed with high potash and deadhead spent flowers regularly.
The reasons pelargonium peltatum 'roi des balcons lilas' isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming pelargonium peltatum 'roi des balcons lilas' 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 peltatum 'roi des balcons lilas' 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 peltatum 'roi des balcons lilas' to flower
- Maximise sun. Give pelargonium peltatum 'roi des balcons lilas' 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 peltatum 'roi des balcons lilas' and get the feeding right with the pelargonium peltatum 'roi des balcons lilas' 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 peltatum 'Roi des Balcons Lilas' 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 peltatum 'roi des balcons lilas' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Pelargonium peltatum 'Roi des Balcons Lilas' blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my pelargonium peltatum 'roi des balcons lilas' flower?
Pelargonium peltatum 'Roi des Balcons Lilas' 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 peltatum 'roi des balcons lilas' bloom?
Give pelargonium peltatum 'roi des balcons lilas' 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 peltatum 'roi des balcons lilas' normally bloom?
Pelargonium peltatum 'Roi des Balcons Lilas' 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 peltatum 'roi des balcons lilas' 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 peltatum 'roi des balcons lilas' flowering?
Feeding pelargonium peltatum 'roi des balcons lilas' 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 peltatum 'Roi des Balcons Lilas' care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Pelargonium peltatum 'Roi des Balcons Lilas' light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Pelargonium peltatum 'Roi des Balcons Lilas' 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 2023 bloom guides in the Growli library