Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Portulaca grandiflora 'Sundial Mango' bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Sundial Mango Portulaca, Mango Moss Rose (Portulaca grandiflora 'Sundial Mango').
More about portulaca grandiflora 'sundial mango'
About Portulaca grandiflora 'Sundial Mango'
Portulaca grandiflora 'Sundial Mango' · also called Sundial Mango Portulaca, Mango Moss Rose · flowering
'Sundial Mango' is a moss rose bred from the Sundial series, with double, rose-like blooms in warm mango-orange over succulent, needle-like foliage. Exceptionally heat- and drought-tolerant, this low, spreading annual thrives in baking sun and poor, gritty soil. The Sundial selection opens its flowers earlier and in duller weather than older strains.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Flowers won't open: Blooms only open in bright sun. Cloudy weather or a shaded position keeps them shut; relocate to the sunniest available spot.
The reasons portulaca grandiflora 'sundial mango' isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming portulaca grandiflora 'sundial mango' 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 portulaca grandiflora 'sundial mango' 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 portulaca grandiflora 'sundial mango' to flower
- Maximise sun. Give portulaca grandiflora 'sundial mango' 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 portulaca grandiflora 'sundial mango' and get the feeding right with the portulaca grandiflora 'sundial mango' 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
Portulaca grandiflora 'Sundial Mango' 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 portulaca grandiflora 'sundial mango' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Portulaca grandiflora 'Sundial Mango' blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my portulaca grandiflora 'sundial mango' flower?
Portulaca grandiflora 'Sundial Mango' 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 portulaca grandiflora 'sundial mango' bloom?
Give portulaca grandiflora 'sundial mango' 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 portulaca grandiflora 'sundial mango' normally bloom?
Portulaca grandiflora 'Sundial Mango' 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 portulaca grandiflora 'sundial mango' 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 portulaca grandiflora 'sundial mango' flowering?
Feeding portulaca grandiflora 'sundial mango' a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Portulaca grandiflora 'Sundial Mango' care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Portulaca grandiflora 'Sundial Mango' light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Portulaca grandiflora 'Sundial Mango' 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