Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Siberian Carpet Cypress bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Siberian Carpet Cypress, Russian Arborvitae, Siberian Cypress (Microbiota decussata).

More about siberian carpet cypress

About Siberian Carpet Cypress

Microbiota decussata · also called Siberian Carpet Cypress, Russian Arborvitae · flowering

Microbiota decussata is a monotypic conifer native to the Sikhote-Alin mountain range in far-east Russia, discovered only in 1921. It forms a flat-spreading, feathery mat that turns an attractive bronze-purple in winter before returning to rich green in spring. The most important care fact is that it is one of the most shade-tolerant conifers available, performing well under tree canopies where most other conifers fail. Microbiota decussata is not listed as toxic to pets by the ASPCA.

Plant type: flowering

The reasons siberian carpet cypress isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming siberian carpet cypress 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 siberian carpet cypress 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 siberian carpet cypress to flower

Maximise sun. Give siberian carpet cypress 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 siberian carpet cypress and get the feeding right with the siberian carpet cypress 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

Siberian Carpet Cypress 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 siberian carpet cypress care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Siberian Carpet Cypress blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my siberian carpet cypress flower?

Siberian Carpet Cypress 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 siberian carpet cypress bloom?

Give siberian carpet cypress 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 siberian carpet cypress normally bloom?