Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Pink Arisaema bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called pink cobra lily, white-spathed arisaema (Arisaema candidissimum).

More about pink arisaema

About Pink Arisaema

Arisaema candidissimum · also called pink cobra lily, white-spathed arisaema · flowering

Arisaema candidissimum is a charming Chinese woodland perennial with one of the prettiest, least sinister flowers in the genus — a softly pink-and-white striped, sweetly scented spathe. It emerges late, after which a single large three-parted leaf unfurls. Grown from a corm, it wants cool, moist, humus-rich shade and a dry winter rest.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Toxic red berries: Any pollinated flower forms a poisonous red berry cluster attractive to children and pets. Remove it in family or pet gardens, wearing gloves.

The reasons pink arisaema isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming pink arisaema 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 pink arisaema 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 pink arisaema to flower

Maximise sun. Give pink arisaema 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 pink arisaema and get the feeding right with the pink arisaema 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

Pink Arisaema 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 pink arisaema care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Pink Arisaema blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my pink arisaema flower?

Pink Arisaema 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 pink arisaema bloom?

Give pink arisaema 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 pink arisaema normally bloom?