Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Water Forget-me-not bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Water Forget-me-not, True Water Forget-me-not, Scorpion Grass (Myosotis scorpioides).

More about water forget-me-not

About Water Forget-me-not

Myosotis scorpioides · also called Water Forget-me-not, True Water Forget-me-not · flowering

Water Forget-me-not is a delightful native European perennial producing a long succession of tiny, sky-blue flowers with yellow eyes from May to September along stream banks, pond margins, and in boggy ground — one of the longest-flowering native marginal aquatics. Its creeping stems root at the nodes, forming a mat of soft, hairy, lance-shaped leaves that spread across the water surface. A magnet for bees and hoverflies and an excellent wildlife pond plant. Not listed as toxic to cats or dogs by the ASPCA.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Powdery mildew in late summer: The most common problem: white powdery coating on leaves appears in warm, humid, still conditions from August onwards. Cut plants back hard after the main flush of flowering in late summer; they typically regenerate a flush of clean new growth. Good air circulation reduces recurrence.

The reasons water forget-me-not isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming water forget-me-not traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Bulbs were not chilled long or cold enough (a problem in mild winters or with un-chilled forced bulbs).
The winter was too mild or the plant too sheltered to bank enough chill hours.
Foliage was cut down too early last year, so the bulb could not recharge for this year’s bloom.
Too little sun during the growing season to build the reserves the flower needs.
Excess nitrogen feed driving leaf at the expense of flower.

Skipping the cold period (or buying un-chilled bulbs in a mild climate). Without real vernalisation there are no flowers.

The fix — how to get water forget-me-not to flower

Let it get genuinely cold. Leave water forget-me-not outdoors (or in an unheated, cold spot) through winter — do not mulch heavily or shelter it from the cold it needs.
Chill the bulbs properly. Use pre-chilled bulbs, or give 12-16 weeks of cold (around 4-9 °C / 40-48 °F) before planting in mild climates.
Feed the foliage, then leave it. Let leaves grow and feed the plant after flowering; never cut foliage down until it yellows naturally.
Be patient after any move. Expect a settling year (or two to three for peony) with few or no flowers after planting or division — this is normal, not failure.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for water forget-me-not and get the feeding right with the water forget-me-not 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

Water Forget-me-not flowers in its season (typically spring for chilled bulbs) once the cold requirement is met, then dies back to recharge for next year.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Let the foliage die back fully before tidying — it is recharging the bulb. A light feed after flowering supports next year's display.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full water forget-me-not care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Water Forget-me-not blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my water forget-me-not flower?

Water Forget-me-not needs a real cold period (vernalisation) to flower — the winter chill is the signal that ripens the bud inside the bulb or crown. The most common reason it is not happening: Bulbs were not chilled long or cold enough (a problem in mild winters or with un-chilled forced bulbs).

How do I make water forget-me-not bloom?

Leave water forget-me-not outdoors (or in an unheated, cold spot) through winter — do not mulch heavily or shelter it from the cold it needs. Use pre-chilled bulbs, or give 12-16 weeks of cold (around 4-9 °C / 40-48 °F) before planting in mild climates.

When does water forget-me-not normally bloom?