Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Vallisneria-Leaved Butterwort bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Vallisneria-leaved butterwort, Vallisneria butterwort (Pinguicula vallisneriifolia).
More about vallisneria-leaved butterwort
About Vallisneria-Leaved Butterwort
Pinguicula vallisneriifolia · also called Vallisneria-leaved butterwort, Vallisneria butterwort · flowering
Pinguicula vallisneriifolia is a temperate European butterwort endemic to a narrow range of vertical limestone cliffs in the Cazorla and Segura mountain ranges of Andalusia, southern Spain, where it grows in water-seeping rock faces with high humidity and cool temperatures. Its unusually long, narrow, strap-like leaves (which give rise to the name, resembling aquatic Vallisneria grass) can reach 20 cm and are covered in sticky glands that trap small insects. Like other temperate Pinguicula it forms a tight hibernaculum in winter and needs a cool, dry rest period. The species is considered Vulnerable in its native habitat, making cultivated material important for conservation. Toxicity to pets is unconfirmed in ASPCA records; classified as mildly-toxic as a precaution.
Plant type: flowering
The reasons vallisneria-leaved butterwort isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming vallisneria-leaved butterwort 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 vallisneria-leaved butterwort 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 vallisneria-leaved butterwort to flower
- Maximise sun. Give vallisneria-leaved butterwort 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 vallisneria-leaved butterwort and get the feeding right with the vallisneria-leaved butterwort 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
Vallisneria-Leaved Butterwort 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 vallisneria-leaved butterwort care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Vallisneria-Leaved Butterwort blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my vallisneria-leaved butterwort flower?
Vallisneria-Leaved Butterwort 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 vallisneria-leaved butterwort bloom?
Give vallisneria-leaved butterwort 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 vallisneria-leaved butterwort normally bloom?
Vallisneria-Leaved Butterwort 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 vallisneria-leaved butterwort 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 vallisneria-leaved butterwort flowering?
Feeding vallisneria-leaved butterwort a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Vallisneria-Leaved Butterwort care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Vallisneria-Leaved Butterwort light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Vallisneria-Leaved Butterwort 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