Getting it to bloom

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

Also called Pink Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata 'Pink Pons').

More about pontederia cordata 'pink pons'

About Pontederia cordata 'Pink Pons'

Pontederia cordata 'Pink Pons' · also called Pink Pickerelweed · flowering

A compact pink-flowered pickerelweed selection with soft rose spikes over glossy heart-shaped leaves through summer, ideal for smaller ponds and patio water features in full sun. It is a tidy marginal that spreads slowly by rhizomes and draws pollinators. Not individually ASPCA-listed, so treat with caution around pets despite the species' edible history.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Paler colour in shade: Insufficient sun mutes the pink and reduces flowering; site in full sun for the strongest colour.

The reasons pontederia cordata 'pink pons' isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming pontederia cordata 'pink pons' 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 pontederia cordata 'pink pons' 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 pontederia cordata 'pink pons' to flower

Maximise sun. Give pontederia cordata 'pink pons' 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 pontederia cordata 'pink pons' and get the feeding right with the pontederia cordata 'pink pons' 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

Pontederia cordata 'Pink Pons' 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 pontederia cordata 'pink pons' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Pontederia cordata 'Pink Pons' blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my pontederia cordata 'pink pons' flower?

Pontederia cordata 'Pink Pons' 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 pontederia cordata 'pink pons' bloom?

Give pontederia cordata 'pink pons' 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 pontederia cordata 'pink pons' normally bloom?