Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Poker alumroot bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Poker alumroot, Roundleaf alumroot, Lava coral bells (Heuchera cylindrica).
More about poker alumroot
About Poker alumroot
Heuchera cylindrica · also called Poker alumroot, Roundleaf alumroot · flowering
Heuchera cylindrica is a western North American native alumroot found on rocky slopes and cliff faces from British Columbia to Nevada. It produces distinctive cylindrical flower spikes of creamy-white to greenish-pink blooms in late spring, held well above rounded, dark-green foliage. Exceptionally drought-tolerant and suited to rock gardens and xeriscape plantings.
Plant type: flowering
The reasons poker alumroot isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming poker alumroot 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 poker alumroot 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 poker alumroot to flower
- Maximise sun. Give poker alumroot 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 poker alumroot and get the feeding right with the poker alumroot 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
Poker alumroot 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 poker alumroot care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Poker alumroot blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my poker alumroot flower?
Poker alumroot 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 poker alumroot bloom?
Give poker alumroot 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 poker alumroot normally bloom?
Poker alumroot 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 poker alumroot 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 poker alumroot flowering?
Feeding poker alumroot a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Poker alumroot care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Poker alumroot light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Poker alumroot 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 2566 bloom guides in the Growli library