Plant questions

Real questions from home gardeners, the kind people post with a worried photo, answered by GrowPls: what's likely going on, what to do about it, and when to worry.

Showing questions tagged #no-flowers · show all

• 

  moth orchid (Phalaenopsis)

  Why hasn’t my orchid flowered again for a year?

  This moth orchid looks healthy enough but likely isn’t getting the right mix of bright light, feeding, and a slight temperature drop that triggers new flower spikes. Improve light, start regular orchid fertilizer, and give it a cooler, brighter spot for a few weeks to encourage blooming.

• 

  hydrangea

  Why is my five-colored hydrangea not blooming in a pot?

  This hydrangea looks healthy but is likely missing the right light or has had its flower buds pruned off. Give it bright morning sun, avoid heavy pruning, and use a bloom fertilizer lower in nitrogen to encourage flowers.

• 

  desert rose

  Why is my desert rose (Adenium) not flowering?

  This desert rose looks leafy and healthy but is probably getting too little strong sun and/or too much nitrogen-rich fertilizer, which makes leaves instead of blooms. Give it several hours of direct sun, let the soil dry more between waterings, and switch to a low‑nitrogen, higher phosphorus and potassium feed to encourage flowers.

• 

  plumeria (frangipani)

  Why didn’t my potted plumeria bloom and should I prune it?

  The plumeria in the photo looks leggy and likely isn’t getting enough strong sun or the right seasonal care to trigger blooms. Give it more direct light, a dry, coolish rest in winter, and then prune lightly to shape and encourage branching once it’s growing strongly.

Got a question about your own plant?

Snap a photo and ask GrowPls. It remembers each plant's history. Free on iPhone and Android.