Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Zygopetalum 'Artur Elle' bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Artur Elle Zygopetalum (Zygopetalum 'Artur Elle').

More about zygopetalum 'artur elle'

About Zygopetalum 'Artur Elle'

Zygopetalum 'Artur Elle' · also called Artur Elle Zygopetalum · flowering

Zygopetalum 'Artur Elle' is a vigorous, widely grown hybrid valued for tall spikes of large, intensely fragrant flowers in green and burgundy-brown with a striking violet-veined lip. An intermediate grower like its parents, it wants bright light, even moisture and a slight winter rest, and is one of the more forgiving, free-flowering Zygopetalums for the home.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Reluctant reflowering: Too little light or no seasonal cooling reduces spiking. Brighten the light and allow a modest winter temperature dip to set buds.

The reasons zygopetalum 'artur elle' isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming zygopetalum 'artur elle' 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 zygopetalum 'artur elle' 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 zygopetalum 'artur elle' to flower

Maximise sun. Give zygopetalum 'artur elle' 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 zygopetalum 'artur elle' and get the feeding right with the zygopetalum 'artur elle' 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

Zygopetalum 'Artur Elle' 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 zygopetalum 'artur elle' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Zygopetalum 'Artur Elle' blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my zygopetalum 'artur elle' flower?

Zygopetalum 'Artur Elle' 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 zygopetalum 'artur elle' bloom?

Give zygopetalum 'artur elle' 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 zygopetalum 'artur elle' normally bloom?