Why are my Chrysanthemum and Marigold not flowering?

[balaji27]

Hello Team,

My chrysanthemum and Marigold plants are not flowering, though it's growth looks good. Would you please advise me what's wrong with my plants and how to fix it? Please refer to the pics. The chrysanthemum plant got lots of buds, but turning black or charred like and not blossoming.

Thanks 

 

 

 

 

[JacobZ]

Hi @balaji27,

It seems like your plants are growing relatively well, so let’s narrow down what might be stopping them from flowering. I'll ask a few questions that should help us narrow things down a bit.

How old are your plants? 

How much direct sunlight are they getting each day?

How often are you watering, and does the soil drain freely?

Have you recently used any fertiliser?

Early in their growth, they might not produce as many blooms as they are directing their energy towards root establishment rather than blooms. If they are quite young, it might just be a case of waiting until they are ready and promoting good healthy growth.

Both marigolds and chrysanthemums need at least six hours of direct sunlight for them to bloom well, so if they aren't getting this, you may need to move them to another area that gets more sunlight.

Constant moisture or poor drainage can cause buds to rot or turn black, so nailing the watering schedule is essential. Make sure that when you water, you check the soil for moisture before doing so. If the top 5cm of soil is still damp, wait a couple of days. You should only water when the soil has dried up to ensure it is not getting overwatered. It looks like this could be a factor with your Chrysanthemums, so maybe reduce the amount of water for the time being and remove those dead blooms.

Too much nitrogen can lead to lush green growth but few flowers. If that’s the case, you can try an application of Manutec Bloom Boost For Roses And Flowers, which is high in potassium, to promote blooming.

It’s also worth checking for insects or fungal issues. Look closely at the buds and undersides of leaves for small pests or dark mould spots. If you spot anything, can you take a photo and upload it so we can have a look?

Let me know what you think. When you can answer these questions, we can look further and come up with a plan.

Jacob

[balaji27]

Hello @JacobZ - Thanks for your guidance and apologies for my late response.

Please see my responses below to your questions:

How old are your plants? - I bought two small pots of Chrysanthemum from Bunnings somewhere in July (the plants were not looking great and it was a discounted sale) and repotted it to two bigger ones. It started growing good and producing some flowers since September, but these black buds I have never seen before.

How much direct sunlight are they getting each day? - I kept them in the direct sunlight at first, but the leaves getting dried up, so I moved them to a shaded area (75%) but it is a bright place with less direct sunlight.

How often are you watering, and does the soil drain freely? - I usually water once in 2-3 days, not sure the soil drains freely underneath. I check the top soil before watering.

Have you recently used any fertiliser? - I use this fertiliser https://www.bunnings.com.au/richgro-1l-black-marvel-rose-flower-food-liquid-fertiliser-concentrate_p... for my plants and add once in 2 weeks (not keeping exact calendar, but once in 10-15 days).

The marigold plants are grown from the seeds purchased from Bunnings. I planted them on the ground in the side passage next to car port at the front (getting good sunlight, may not be direct) and other one at the backyard side passage (75% shaded like Chrysanthemum). The one in the front produces more flowers than the backyard plants. As pointed out by you, the issue could be, not getting enough direct sunlight.

I will check the plant closely for any fungal issues and share the pictures.

Have a great day.

Thanks,

Balaji.