Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Roundleaf Pickerelweed bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Roundleaf Pickerelweed, Tropical Pickerelweed, Round-leaf Pickerel Rush (Pontederia rotundifolia).
More about roundleaf pickerelweed
About Roundleaf Pickerelweed
Pontederia rotundifolia · also called Roundleaf Pickerelweed, Tropical Pickerelweed · flowering
Pontederia rotundifolia is a tropical aquatic perennial native to Central and South America, growing in shallow freshwater marshes, pond margins, and slow streams. It produces spikes of small lavender to purple-blue flowers above distinctively rounded, heart-shaped leaves and is a warm-climate counterpart to the familiar temperate P. cordata. The most important care fact is that this species is frost-tender and must be overwintered above 10 °C (50 °F) — it cannot survive freezing conditions, unlike its hardy cousin. The genus Pontederia is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Invasive spread in warm climates: Classified as invasive in Florida and other warm states; grow in contained baskets in areas where it could escape into waterways, and deadhead flower spikes before seeds mature.
The reasons roundleaf pickerelweed isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming roundleaf pickerelweed 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 roundleaf pickerelweed 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 roundleaf pickerelweed to flower
- Maximise sun. Give roundleaf pickerelweed 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 roundleaf pickerelweed and get the feeding right with the roundleaf pickerelweed 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
Roundleaf Pickerelweed 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 roundleaf pickerelweed care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Roundleaf Pickerelweed blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my roundleaf pickerelweed flower?
Roundleaf Pickerelweed 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 roundleaf pickerelweed bloom?
Give roundleaf pickerelweed 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 roundleaf pickerelweed normally bloom?
Roundleaf Pickerelweed 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 roundleaf pickerelweed 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 roundleaf pickerelweed flowering?
Feeding roundleaf pickerelweed a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Roundleaf Pickerelweed care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Roundleaf Pickerelweed light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Roundleaf Pickerelweed 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 4114 bloom guides in the Growli library