Its flowers are the main reason why many gardeners and lovers buy it. With their color, their luminosity and their delicate stamens, they cannot be overlooked. There's a lot of trouble when the flowers don't appear. What could be behind it?
Why isn't my callistemon blooming?
If the cylinder cleaner does not bloom, this may be due to incorrect pruning, a lack of dormancy in winter or factors such as frostbite, a location that is too dark, cool temperatures, lack of nutrients or water and pest infestation. Adapted care solves these problems.
Most common cause: incorrect pruning
The cylinder cleaner produces its flowers the previous year. This means that the flower buds are on the annual wood. If you cut the plant in autumn or spring, you automatically remove the flowers for the next year.
How to do it right
After flowering, the cylinder brush bush or tree is lightly trimmed in summer. To do this, use secateurs (€14.00 on Amazon) to start below the old inflorescences. Be careful not to cut into the old wood as much as possible. The cylinder cleaner doesn't like that. After this pruning, there is often another bloom in late summer.
Second most common cause: Overwintering went wrong
The second most common reason why the Callistemon does not bloom is that it has not been given a rest period. This tropical and evergreen plant needs a rest period of at least 3 months. In this country it is recommended to schedule this rest period during the winter.
The cylinder cleaner is brought in. It goes to a cool but bright place. The warm living room is not a suitable place for him to overwinter. It cannot gather new strength there because it is driven to grow by the heat.
Incorrect care in winter
In addition to the lack of a rest period, it may be due to incorrect care during the winter that the cylinder cleaner does not bloom in spring. It should not be fertilized during its resting phase. Watering is important because its evergreen foliage evaporates water.
Other reasons for flower failure
But there are a few other reasons why your cylinder cleaner appears to be lazy. Here is a selection:
- Frostbite (overwintered incorrectly?)
- location too dark (needs a lot of sun)
- temperatures too cool (put outside too early?)
- Nutrient deficiency (is a heavy eater)
- Lack of water (needs moist soil)
- Pest Infestation
Tip
With good care, the cylinder cleaner blooms several times a year, in spurts. It can bloom up to 3 times a year!
