You plant a bergenia because you want to admire its magical pink, red, white or lavender flowers. If the wait for them never ends, the frustration is great. This needs to be remedied quickly!
Why isn't my bergenia blooming?
If a bergenia does not bloom, the cause can be too much fertilizer, stagnant moisture, a location that is too shady, frostbite or pest infestation. Preventative measures such as regular dividing, watering or transplanting can help promote flowering.
Too much fertilizer as a cause
Although bergenias are considered to be easy to care for, they can resent incorrect care and result in flower failure. This is the case, for example, if too much fertilizer is used. The excessive fertilizer stimulates the bergenia to grow but prevents it from flowering.
Congested moisture as a cause
Similar is the case when the bergenia suffers from moisture. It tolerates dryness rather than coping with stagnant moisture. In contrast to wetness, dryness leads to short flowering at the right time.
More background information about flower failure
A location that is too shady can also be responsible for flower failure. The Bergenia prefers to be in partial shade. Frostbite in winter, damage by pests, too much heat and sun as well as incorrect pruning can also prevent the bergenia from blooming.
Preventing flower failure
It's best if you don't let it get that far, but rather plant your bergenia in a suitable location and optimize the care. And if nothing helps, a transplant campaign is often the answer.
The following measures are intended to prevent flower failure:
- share regularly
- Repot bergenias in pots every 1 to 2 years
- water regularly and ensure drainage
- do not cover with leaves in autumn (danger of rot)
- fertilize regularly but sparingly
- plant in light shade and nutritious soil
Beautiful to look at even without flowers
Bergenia is valuable - even without flowers. The reason: It is present all year round thanks to its evergreen foliage. Their heart-shaped leaves are ideal for cutting into bouquets of flowers, for example. In addition, the bergenia impresses with its ground-covering growth and its ability to grow where other plants have difficulty.
Tip
Don't worry: Freshly propagated bergenias usually don't bloom in the first year. It takes a while until they are properly rooted and integrated into the location.
