From my perspective as a plant, light is my primary source of energy, the very currency I use to grow and create flowers. Flowering is an incredibly energy-intensive process. If I am placed in a location that is too shady, I simply cannot photosynthesize enough sugars to fund the development of my intricate, pendulous blooms. My survival instinct will force me to direct all my limited energy into producing leaves and stems to seek out more light, leaving nothing in reserve for flowering. I need bright, indirect light for the majority of the day to feel motivated to produce my beautiful flowers.
You might be feeding me, but are you feeding me the right diet? If you provide a fertilizer with too much nitrogen, you are essentially telling me to focus all my efforts on growing lush, green foliage. Nitrogen promotes vegetative growth. To initiate and sustain flowering, I require a different set of nutrients, primarily phosphorus and potassium (the "P" and "K" in fertilizer ratios). A fertilizer blend that is high in nitrogen but low in phosphorus keeps me in a perpetual state of leafy growth at the expense of my blossoms. I need a balanced, bloom-boosting fertilizer to support my reproductive cycle.
My roots are very sensitive to their environment. Both too much and too little water cause me immense stress, which directly inhibits flowering. If my soil is constantly waterlogged, my roots begin to suffocate and rot. A compromised root system cannot effectively uptake the water and nutrients needed to support flowers. Conversely, if I am allowed to wilt severely and repeatedly, I will go into survival mode. I will shed my buds and flowers first to conserve water and energy, as they are my most expendable parts. I need consistent moisture—soil that is damp but never soggy and never bone dry.
While I enjoy warmth, I am not a fan of extreme heat. High temperatures, especially hot nights, cause me physiological stress. When it is too hot, I respire (burn energy) much faster than I can photosynthesize (create energy). This energy deficit means I have no surplus to dedicate to flowering. Furthermore, intense heat can cause my existing flower buds to abort and drop before they ever get a chance to open. I thrive in the moderate, cool conditions of my native mountainous and coastal habitats, not in the blistering heat of a mid-summer afternoon.
If you do not remove my spent flowers (a process you call deadheading), I will receive a signal that my reproductive mission is complete. Once a flower is pollinated and begins to form a seed pod (a berry), my entire energy focus shifts to seed development, which halts the production of new flowers. By consistently pinching off the old, fading blooms, you are effectively tricking me into believing I have not yet successfully reproduced. This encourages me to continuously produce more buds in an effort to set seed, resulting in a much longer and more prolific flowering display for you to enjoy.
