From my perspective, time is everything. If I am a young plant, grown from a division or a new seedling, my entire being is focused on establishing a strong root system and healthy foliage. Flowering is an immense energy expenditure, and I simply may not have the resources to do it yet. It can take two to three seasons for me to mature enough to produce the floral display you desire. Conversely, if I am a very old, established clump, I may have become overcrowded. My roots are competing fiercely for nutrients and water, leaving little energy for reproduction. My natural life cycle dictates that division and renewal are necessary for sustained blooming.
My preferences are specific. I thrive in partial to full shade, but "shade" does not mean deep, dark gloom. I need bright, dappled light or morning sun with afternoon shade to fuel my photosynthetic processes. If I am planted in deep, full shade, I may not receive enough light energy to produce flower buds. My stems will also become leggy as I stretch desperately towards any available light source. On the other extreme, if I am baking in hot, afternoon sun, I am under immense stress. The intense heat and light can scorch my delicate leaves and cause me to go dormant early to survive, abruptly halting any flowering plans I had.
My roots are sensitive and have specific requirements. I demand consistently moist, well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. If the soil is too sandy and dries out too quickly, I become dehydrated and cannot support blooms. If it is heavy clay and becomes waterlogged, my roots may rot, causing a decline in my overall health. Furthermore, while I appreciate nutrients, an imbalance can be detrimental. Too much high-nitrogen fertilizer will encourage you to have lush, beautiful leaves at the expense of flowers. Nitrogen promotes vegetative growth; it tells me to focus on leaves, not blooms. I need a more balanced or phosphorus-rich diet to encourage flowering.
Moisture is my lifeblood, especially in the spring when I am actively growing and preparing to flower. The term "consistently moist" is key. If I experience periods of drought or extreme fluctuations between wet and dry, I interpret this as environmental stress. My survival instinct kicks in, and I will conserve energy by aborting the flower production process. Ensuring I receive deep, regular watering throughout the growing season, particularly if rainfall is scarce, is crucial for me to feel secure enough to invest in blooming.
My above-ground growth is ephemeral. After flowering, my foliage naturally yellows and dies back as I retreat into dormancy for the summer. This is my natural cycle. If you cut back my fading foliage too early, before it has fully yellowed, you are robbing me of the ability to photosynthesize and store energy in my roots for next year's growth and flowers. That stored energy is the very resource I need to emerge and bloom the following spring. Premature pruning directly impacts my future flowering potential.
