Whether you prefer to enjoy the delicate shape, the color or the intense scent of the flowers - every honeysuckle owner eagerly awaits them. But if the flowering takes a long time, gloom and doubt arise. What causes can there be?
Why isn't my honeysuckle blooming?
If a honeysuckle does not bloom, the reasons may be an unsuitable location, incorrect care, disease or pest infestation. To promote flowering, site conditions, fertilization, irrigation and proper pruning should be checked.
Reason 1: Unsuitable location
The main reason some honeysuckles don't bloom is incorrect location. Especially if this climbing plant finds a place that is too shady, it tends to fail to bloom.
On the other hand, a location that is too sunny can result in no flowers appearing. Then the causes are heat and dryness. The honeysuckle particularly dislikes the blazing midday sun. Too much heat and dryness weakens this plant. The location should ideally have the following characteristics:
- half-shady location
- protected
- high humidity
- Direction east or west
- Soil with a moist environment
Reason 2: Incorrect care
Incorrect care can also lead to flower loss. These include a lack of fertilizer (in nutrient-poor substrates), over-fertilization with nitrogen, watering too infrequently and incorrect cutting. If you cut the honeysuckle too late, you will remove the flower buds. Therefore, this plant should be cut by March at the latest.
Reason No. 3: Disease and pest infestation
Illnesses can also be behind flower failure. Root rot, caused by a lack of drainage and too much moisture, causes the plant to die. Mildew can also cause individual parts of the plant to die and the flower buds to face their end.
Pests such as aphids and mealybugs in particular do not like to stop at honeysuckle. They suck the energy from the leaves, meaning that the honeysuckle no longer has the strength to form or open its flowers.
More reasons
Other reasons could be that the honeysuckle froze in winter. Stress caused by a transplanting campaign can also be behind it. On top of that, if you grew your honeysuckle from seed or your honeysuckle is a cutting, you will have to wait a while for flowers.
Tips & Tricks
If necessary, it can help to move the honeysuckle and improve the soil in the new location with compost (€12.00 on Amazon). If the flower failure was in the wrong location, the flowers will certainly appear soon.
