Hello, dedicated gardener. We sense your concern and wish to bloom for you. Our vibrant spires are a song of gratitude for your care, but sometimes, conditions are not quite right for our performance. From our perspective, here are the reasons we might be holding back our flowers and what you can do to help us sing.
Our roots need consistent moisture to uptake nutrients and fuel our growth. If the soil is too dry, we become stressed and must conserve all our energy simply to survive, leaving none for flowering. Conversely, if our roots are constantly waterlogged, they begin to rot, preventing them from absorbing anything at all. Furthermore, while we need nutrition, the wrong kind can be problematic. A fertilizer too high in nitrogen will tell our entire system to focus exclusively on growing lush, green leaves at the expense of flowers. It encourages vegetative growth over reproductive growth.
We are sun-worshippers at heart. Sunlight is our food, the energy we convert through photosynthesis. To produce our magnificent, complex flowers—which requires a tremendous amount of energy—we need a full serving of sun. If we are planted in too much shade, we simply cannot generate enough power. We will become leggy, stretching desperately towards any light source, and our resources will be too depleted to form proper flower buds. We require at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily to perform our best.
We are cool-weather performers. We thrive in the mild temperatures of spring and fall. When the summer heat becomes intense and relentless, we often go into a state of semi-dormancy. Our systems slow down to protect ourselves from the stress, and blooming ceases. A sudden, unexpected frost can also be devastating, damaging our tender new growth and any forming flower buds. Our ideal blooming range is between 55°F and 75°F (13°C and 24°C).
Our biological purpose is to flower, set seed, and ensure the next generation. Once a flower on our stalk fades and begins to form a seed pod, our mission for that flower is complete, and we divert energy into seed production. If you do not remove these spent blooms (a process you call deadheading), you are telling us our job is done. By snipping off the old flower stalk just below the spent bloom and above a set of leaves, you interrupt the seed-setting process. This tricks us into producing more flowers in an attempt to achieve our ultimate goal, leading to a much longer and more prolific display for you.
Sometimes, our energy is being stolen or our systems are under attack. Sap-sucking pests like aphids or spider mites drain our vital fluids, weakening us and deforming new growth, including budding flower stalks. Fungal diseases, such as rust or powdery mildew, can coat our leaves, blocking sunlight and hampering photosynthesis. When we are fighting for our health, flowering becomes a low priority as we direct all our resources toward survival.
