Why aren't my plants blooming? 7 common causes and how to fix it

¿Tus plantas no florecen y no sabes por qué? Te contamos las 7 razones más comunes y cómo solucionarlo

You have taken care of them daily.

You are always aware that they do not lack water, that they have enough compost, you prune the branches and dry flowers ... you even sing to them from time to time. 

But try as you might, your plants never bloom.

Don't worry, because you are not alone. In fact, this is one of the problems that we are asked the most about in the nursery.

And the point is that there can be many reasons why your plants don’t bloom.

If this is your case, pay close attention to this post, because here we are going to tell you:

• The most common reasons why your plants do not bloom.

• How to solve them.

You will see how in the blink of an eye your garden looks like a postcard again. ;)

7 reasons why your plants don't bloom and what you can do 

First of all, keep the following in mind:

For your plants, blooming is a “luxury”.

And we say luxury in the sense that it is work that consumes a lot of energy, so they need to be strong.

If its basic vital needs are not covered, nor will it consider wasting its energy and nutrients in trying to reproduce (which is what flowers develop in the end).

If you think about it, it's quite logical, right?

The good thing is that this already gives us some clues about the reasons why a plant does not bloom and how we can solve it.

Let's see the most common.

1. Lack of light

A very common problem, which mainly affects indoor plants.

As you know, a plant feeds on exposure to the sun. This is what allows them to photosynthesize and "create their own food."

If your plants don't get enough light, they won't have the strength to flourish.

And of course that's the least of the problems. In the long run, the lack of sun exposure can cause the specimen to wilt.

If you notice that:

• The stems grow more than normal or unevenly.

• The plant leans towards the nearest window.

Here are some common symptoms that it is desperately asking for more sun, even if you don't see any wilted leaves at the moment.

Find out well about the sun needs of each plant and be sure to give it to them.

2. It needs more nutrients

Another very common problem.

Specifically, what most often causes this problem is the lack of phosphorus and potassium, the two minerals that a plant requires more to bloom.

If the compost you use has a lot of nitrogen, this can cause the plant to develop more shoots but not to flower.

To avoid this you can use a special fertilizer for flowering, which contains a higher amount of these minerals.

3. The pH of the soil is not adequate

Have you ever been to the doctor and he told you that you had a deficit in the absorption of any vitamin?

For example, that you lacked calcium, but not because you did not drink enough milk but because your body was not assimilating it well.

Well, something very similar happens to plants.

Sometimes the problem is not that they lack nutrients, but that they are unable to absorb them. And here the culprit is the pH of the soil.

For most plants the ideal range is between 6.5 and 7 (which is called neutral pH). A very acidic soil (below pH 6.5) or very alkaline (7 and above) will make the plant unable to assimilate the fertilizer you apply to it.

The only exception are acidophilic plants, which do prefer acidic soil, and certain species that prefer alkaline soils.

4. It is asking for more water

Sometimes the lack of flowers can be another sign that your plant is lacking water.

And as with light, insufficient watering can lead to serious problems and even kill the plant.

But be careful with passing you.

Overwatering is even more dangerous because it can end up rotting the roots and giving rise to fungi such as powdery mildew.

Each species has different water needs, and it is important that you inform yourself about it.

5. Incorrect pruning

Here the problem can come from two sides.

The first is that you prune too late, too close to winter. In this case, it can mean that your plant does not have time to recover in the face of spring. 

But of course, not pruning it at all is not the solution either.

At the very least, you should remove dead branches (which continue to rob the plant of energy but won't flower) and wilted flowers.

If you have questions about how or when to prune a certain species, it is important that you consult a professional.

6. It suffers from some plague or disease

Of course, if your plant is being attacked by some type of plague or fungus, it is very difficult for it to develop flowers.

In this case, the solution will vary depending on whether it is:

• Pests: aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, spider mites, snails ... in most cases it is enough to apply a universal insecticide.

• Fungi: if the culprits are some common suspects such as powdery mildew, it is best to act as soon as possible with a fungicide.

These undesirable guests will not only prevent your plant from flowering but can seriously endanger its life.

7. It is too young (or too old)

Some species take several years to grow, such as wisteria.

If that's the case, your plant may still have some time to reach maturity.

The opposite case occurs in old specimens that have already entered the final stage of their life and do not have the strength to flourish again.

Ready to get your plants back in bloom?

You already know some of the most common reasons why the plants in your garden do not flower.

And remember that, in some cases, that's not the biggest problem.

If your plants lack light, fertilizer, irrigation or if they are being attacked by a pest or disease, this could put their life at risk.

In case you have any questions, you can contact us and explain what happens to your plant.

We will be delighted to help you.