Freesia

Why Won’t My Freesia Bloom?

You’ve done everything right. You planted your freesia corms in well-draining soil, in full sun in spring, and they didn’t experience any hard freezes. Now you’re asking, “Why won’t my freesia bloom?”

Freesias are native to South Africa and prefer warm and dry conditions. If you live in an area with a lot of spring rain, this can slow down or even stop sprout production. Freesias need conditions similar to their native region to produce the most flowers.

Cultural Causes

Freesia plants are a bit fussy about their site and care. Make sure they are in a sunny location with well-draining soil. If your soil doesn’t drain well, add some fine grit to improve drainage.

Once planted, freesias should be watered well, but not again until sprouts appear. Corms usually sprout in one to three months, depending on the variety and the site conditions.

In containers, use a bulb planting mixture that will have all the necessary nutrients for plant and flower formation.

Northern gardeners, especially, should start plants indoors or in a greenhouse where ambient temperatures are warm. Then, move the containers outside when it is consistently 60 degrees Fahrenheit (16 degrees Celsius).

Situational Causes

If you have foliage but no flowers, your freesia plants may simply need to be divided. Dig up the corms and separate them, discarding any discolored or diseased material. Plant corms 2 to 3 times their length deep. Planting too deeply can also prevent blooming.

Lack of nutrients is another common cause of freesias not flowering. Fertilize your plants annually with bone meal or a high potassium feed in spring, once foliage is evident. Feed plants every two months during the growing season, but stop fertilizing in fall.

Physical Causes

Freesias are not reliably hardy below USDA zone 8. They can be grown in zones down to 6, but will need to be lifted or planted in containers to protect them from winter temperatures.

Freesias are actually cool weather plants that need nighttime temperatures of 40 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit (4 to 13 degrees Celsius) and daytime temperatures of 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 21 degrees Celsius). The cooler temperatures help the plant form flowers.

In areas with extreme year-round heat, a freesia won’t bloom because it needs that cold experience to break dormancy.

What to Do if Your Freesia Is Not Blooming

If you’re still wondering how to get blooms on your freesia, here are some troubleshooting tips:

• Make sure your freesia is getting enough sunlight and is planted in well-draining soil.
• Check the soil pH to make sure it is between 6.0 and 6.5.
• Fertilize your freesia regularly during the growing season.
• Water your freesia deeply and regularly, but allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.
• Divide your freesia plants every few years to prevent overcrowding.

With a little care and attention, you can get your freesias blooming beautifully!