The witch hazel, which is considered easy to care for, is quite demanding when it comes to the choice of location and soil. It can easily happen that the flowering fails if the witch hazel doesn't really feel comfortable.
Why isn't my witch hazel blooming?
If a witch hazel does not bloom, it may be due to a lack of water, incorrect choice of location, hard water or a lack of nutrients. It should be sunny to partially shaded, evenly moist and well-drained, and fertilized in spring.
The flowering time for witch hazel is winter, usually from January onwards. However, in a mild winter the flowers can open as early as December. Frost doesn't harm them. Although the flowers then curl up, they do not freeze, in contrast to those of winter jasmine. Unlike the other varieties, the Virginian witch hazel blooms in autumn.
How do I get my witch hazel to bloom?
If the witch hazel doesn't get enough water in the summer, it probably won't bloom the following winter. The same applies if the witch hazel was freshly planted or even transplanted. Neither is particularly popular and it may not bloom for a few years. Therefore, if possible, avoid planting your witch hazel in another location.
Also make sure that the soil around the witch hazel is always slightly moist. In principle, the rain is enough to water the witch hazel. With a layer of bark mulch (€14.00 on Amazon) you can keep the moisture in the soil for longer.
You should only water your witch hazel a little if it doesn't rain for a long time. But don't give it too much water at once to avoid waterlogging. The witch hazel can also react very sensitively to this. It is best to use rainwater, as the witch hazel only tolerates water that is low in lime. A little organic fertilizer in spring is also useful for lush flowering.
The most important things in brief:
- wise choice of location: sunny to partially shaded
- evenly moist and well-drained soil
- water if dry conditions persist
- Use low-lime water or rainwater
- fertilize in spring
- do not transplant
Tip
Avoid transplanting your witch hazel and always ensure sufficient moisture and nutrients in the soil, then you will have done the best for lush flowering.
