From my roots' perspective, I might not have the energy to produce my beautiful blooms. Flowering is an energetically expensive process for me. If I'm planted in poor soil or haven't been fed the right kind of food, I will prioritize my survival—growing leaves and roots—over reproduction (blooming). A lack of phosphorus, a key nutrient for flower formation, is a common issue. However, too much nitrogen, often from lawn fertilizers, will encourage you to see an abundance of lush, green leaves at the expense of any flowers. I need a balanced, acidic fertilizer formulated just for plants like me.
If you trimmed my branches at the wrong time, you accidentally removed my flower buds. I set my buds for the next spring's bloom shortly after I finish flowering. This means those precious buds are carried on my branches all through the fall and winter. If you decide to give me a haircut in late summer, fall, or even early spring, you are very likely cutting off those dormant buds. Without them, I simply have nothing to open when spring arrives. The best time to prune me is right after my spring blooms fade, so I have the entire growing season to produce new wood and set new buds.
My delicate, fine roots are easily stressed by incorrect moisture levels. If the soil around me is too dry, especially in the late summer when I am forming my bloom buds, I will become stressed and may abort the bud-setting process to conserve water. Conversely, if my roots are sitting in constantly soggy, waterlogged soil, they will begin to rot. A root system that is rotting cannot effectively take up water or nutrients, leaving me weak and unable to support the massive effort of flowering. I need consistently moist, but never soggy, well-draining soil.
Where you planted me is crucial. While I am not a fan of the hot, afternoon sun which can scorch my leaves, I am not a full-shade plant either. If I am stuck in deep, dark shade, I will focus all my energy on stretching towards any available light and will not have enough energy reserves to produce buds. I need dappled sunlight or a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade. This provides me with just the right amount of photosynthetic energy to manufacture the sugars needed for spectacular blooms.
This is a fundamental need for me. I am an acid-loving plant, which means I require acidic soil to properly absorb nutrients from the earth. If my soil is too alkaline (a high pH), even if you fertilize me, I suffer from nutrient lock-up. My roots are unable to access key elements like iron, which leads to yellowing leaves and a general failure to thrive. Without the ability to feed properly, blooming is out of the question. My soil pH should ideally be between 4.5 and 6.0.
