Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Sardinian Glory of the Snow bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Sardinian glory of the snow, Lesser glory of the snow, Blue glory of the snow (Chionodoxa sardensis).
More about sardinian glory of the snow
About Sardinian Glory of the Snow
Chionodoxa sardensis · also called Sardinian glory of the snow, Lesser glory of the snow · flowering
Sardinian glory of the snow is a small bulbous perennial from the mountains of western Turkey (despite the common name suggesting Sardinia), valued for its clear, deep gentian-blue flowers that lack the prominent white eye of its close relative Chionodoxa forbesii. It blooms even earlier in late winter to early spring, making it one of the first splashes of colour to emerge alongside snowdrops and winter aconites. The most important care point is ensuring excellent summer drainage to prevent the dormant corms from rotting. Like other ornamental Asparagaceae bulbs, the corms may cause mild gastrointestinal upset if ingested by pets.
Plant type: flowering
The reasons sardinian glory of the snow isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming sardinian glory of the snow 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 sardinian glory of the snow 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 sardinian glory of the snow to flower
- Maximise sun. Give sardinian glory of the snow 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 sardinian glory of the snow and get the feeding right with the sardinian glory of the snow 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
Sardinian Glory of the Snow 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 sardinian glory of the snow care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Sardinian Glory of the Snow blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my sardinian glory of the snow flower?
Sardinian Glory of the Snow 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 sardinian glory of the snow bloom?
Give sardinian glory of the snow 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 sardinian glory of the snow normally bloom?
Sardinian Glory of the Snow 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 sardinian glory of the snow 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 sardinian glory of the snow flowering?
Feeding sardinian glory of the snow a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Sardinian Glory of the Snow care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Sardinian Glory of the Snow light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Sardinian Glory of the Snow 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