From my perspective, my very existence depends on converting sunlight into energy through photosynthesis. Flowering is an incredibly energy-intensive process. If I am planted in a spot that receives too much shade, my priority becomes survival, not reproduction. I will direct all my energy into stretching my limbs towards any available light, resulting in sparse, leggy growth. To produce the complex structures of my vibrant flower spikes, I require a full day of direct, unfiltered sunlight. Without this fundamental energy source, I simply cannot muster the resources to create blossoms.
My roots are highly sensitive to their underground environment. I am adapted to thrive in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. If I am sitting in heavy, waterlogged clay, my roots can suffocate and rot, causing me immense stress. A stressed plant does not flower. Furthermore, I have a particular dislike for phosphorus. Many common fertilizers are high in this element, which can be toxic to me, burning my roots and preventing me from absorbing other crucial nutrients. Even if I am healthy and green, an excess of phosphorus specifically blocks my ability to form flowers. I need a fertilizer formulated for native plants, which is low in phosphorus.
Your well-intentioned snips can drastically alter my flowering cycle. I flower on new growth that emerges after a pruning event. However, if you prune me at the wrong time, you are literally cutting off my potential flower buds before they even have a chance to form. If you prune me too late in the season, you will remove the fresh wood that was preparing to bear my next season's blooms. The best time to shape me is immediately after my main flowering flush has finished. This gives me ample time to produce a new set of branches that will mature and develop the flower buds for the following show.
While I am a resilient plant, prolonged periods of extreme stress will halt my reproductive efforts. A severe lack of water, especially during the hot, dry periods I am built for, will cause me to go into survival mode, dropping buds and flowers to conserve moisture. Conversely, a sudden, unusual period of heavy, waterlogged conditions can shock my system and cause bud drop. Additionally, a sharp drop in temperature, particularly a late frost, can damage the tender, developing flower buds, causing them to abort and turn brown before they ever open.
It is important to understand my natural rhythm. I may not flower simply because I am still a juvenile plant, dedicating all my energy to establishing a strong root system and foliage before I begin the taxing process of reproduction. Please be patient with me. Furthermore, different cultivars of Grevillea have different peak flowering times. Some of us bloom most prolifically in winter and spring, while others may flower sporadically throughout the year. A period of rest between blooms is normal for me.
