Getting it to bloom

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

Also called Wilhelm Langguth geranium, Silver-leaved pelargonium (Pelargonium 'Wilhelm Langguth').

More about pelargonium 'wilhelm langguth'

About Pelargonium 'Wilhelm Langguth'

Pelargonium 'Wilhelm Langguth' · also called Wilhelm Langguth geranium, Silver-leaved pelargonium · flowering

A silver-variegated zonal pelargonium with grey-green leaves boldly edged in creamy white, topped by clusters of cherry-red single flowers. Vigorous and old-fashioned, it earns its keep as a bedding and container plant for the brightness of its foliage. Tender, it needs full sun, sharp drainage and frost-free winter quarters to thrive.

Plant type: flowering

The reasons pelargonium 'wilhelm langguth' isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming pelargonium 'wilhelm langguth' 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 'wilhelm langguth' 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 'wilhelm langguth' to flower

Maximise sun. Give pelargonium 'wilhelm langguth' 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 'wilhelm langguth' and get the feeding right with the pelargonium 'wilhelm langguth' 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 'Wilhelm Langguth' 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 'wilhelm langguth' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Pelargonium 'Wilhelm Langguth' blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my pelargonium 'wilhelm langguth' flower?

Pelargonium 'Wilhelm Langguth' 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 'wilhelm langguth' bloom?

Give pelargonium 'wilhelm langguth' 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 'wilhelm langguth' normally bloom?