Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Pelargonium 'Stellar Hannaford Star' bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Stellar pelargonium Hannaford Star (Pelargonium 'Hannaford Star').
More about pelargonium 'stellar hannaford star'
About Pelargonium 'Stellar Hannaford Star'
Pelargonium 'Hannaford Star' · also called Stellar pelargonium Hannaford Star · flowering
A stellar zonal pelargonium grown for its abundant star-shaped flowers in soft salmon-pink with white-flushed centres, carried in airy heads above neat zoned foliage. The narrow, pointed petals give a delicate butterfly look quite unlike rounded zonal types. Floriferous and compact, it is excellent in pots, bedding and windowboxes, and is overwintered frost-free.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Few flowers: Usually too little light or skipped deadheading. Move into full sun and remove spent flower heads promptly to keep new buds forming.
The reasons pelargonium 'stellar hannaford star' isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming pelargonium 'stellar hannaford star' 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 'stellar hannaford star' 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 'stellar hannaford star' to flower
- Maximise sun. Give pelargonium 'stellar hannaford star' 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 'stellar hannaford star' and get the feeding right with the pelargonium 'stellar hannaford star' 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 'Stellar Hannaford Star' 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 'stellar hannaford star' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Pelargonium 'Stellar Hannaford Star' blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my pelargonium 'stellar hannaford star' flower?
Pelargonium 'Stellar Hannaford Star' 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 'stellar hannaford star' bloom?
Give pelargonium 'stellar hannaford star' 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 'stellar hannaford star' normally bloom?
Pelargonium 'Stellar Hannaford Star' 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 'stellar hannaford star' 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 'stellar hannaford star' flowering?
Feeding pelargonium 'stellar hannaford star' 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 'Stellar Hannaford Star' care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Pelargonium 'Stellar Hannaford Star' light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Pelargonium 'Stellar Hannaford Star' 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