Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Pelargonium 'Vancouver Centennial' bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Stellar pelargonium Vancouver Centennial, Vancouver Centennial geranium (Pelargonium 'Vancouver Centennial').
More about pelargonium 'vancouver centennial'
About Pelargonium 'Vancouver Centennial'
Pelargonium 'Vancouver Centennial' · also called Stellar pelargonium Vancouver Centennial, Vancouver Centennial geranium · flowering
A compact stellar zonal pelargonium grown as much for its golden, bronze-blotched maple-shaped leaves as for its starry single scarlet flowers. The vivid foliage colour intensifies in strong light and the contrast between bronze centres and chartreuse margins makes it a star bedding and patio-pot subject. Tender; treated as a half-hardy perennial outdoors and overwintered frost-free.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Botrytis (grey mould): Grey furry mould on leaves and faded flowers in damp, crowded conditions. Improve airflow, remove dead foliage and spent blooms promptly, and avoid overhead watering.
The reasons pelargonium 'vancouver centennial' isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming pelargonium 'vancouver centennial' 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 'vancouver centennial' 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 'vancouver centennial' to flower
- Maximise sun. Give pelargonium 'vancouver centennial' 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 'vancouver centennial' and get the feeding right with the pelargonium 'vancouver centennial' 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 'Vancouver Centennial' 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 'vancouver centennial' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Pelargonium 'Vancouver Centennial' blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my pelargonium 'vancouver centennial' flower?
Pelargonium 'Vancouver Centennial' 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 'vancouver centennial' bloom?
Give pelargonium 'vancouver centennial' 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 'vancouver centennial' normally bloom?
Pelargonium 'Vancouver Centennial' 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 'vancouver centennial' 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 'vancouver centennial' flowering?
Feeding pelargonium 'vancouver centennial' 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 'Vancouver Centennial' care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Pelargonium 'Vancouver Centennial' light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Pelargonium 'Vancouver Centennial' 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