Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Trailing Ice Plant bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Trailing ice plant, Shining mesembryanthemum, Ice plant (Lampranthus spectabilis).

More about trailing ice plant

About Trailing Ice Plant

Lampranthus spectabilis · also called Trailing ice plant, Shining mesembryanthemum · flowering

Lampranthus spectabilis is a trailing succulent perennial native to the Western Cape of South Africa, where it grows on dry, rocky hillsides in full sun. It needs sharply drained, lean soil and minimal water once established, producing a dazzling flush of daisy-like flowers in magenta, purple, or pink in late winter through spring. The single most important care fact is that overwatering is the principal cause of failure — the roots will rot in any soil that stays moist. According to the ASPCA, Lampranthus (ice plant) is non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Aphids: Clusters of aphids gather on new growth and flower buds, distorting stems; treat with a strong water jet or insecticidal soap, avoiding wetting the crown.

The reasons trailing ice plant isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming trailing ice plant 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 trailing ice plant 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 trailing ice plant to flower

Maximise sun. Give trailing ice plant 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 trailing ice plant and get the feeding right with the trailing ice plant 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

Trailing Ice Plant 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 trailing ice plant care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Trailing Ice Plant blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my trailing ice plant flower?

Trailing Ice Plant 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 trailing ice plant bloom?

Give trailing ice plant 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 trailing ice plant normally bloom?