Why don’t my plants flower?
19.01.2024 - 23:46
/ backyardgardener.com
/ Frederick Leeth
Why don’t my plants flower? Probably this plaintive question is raised oftener than any other that has to do with gardening. As likely as not, too, the complaining gardener will go on to say that he gives considerable attention to fertilization, to watering, and to cultivation, but still, his plants do not flower as well as those in his neighbor’s garden. Why? he asks, and if his morale is low enough he will probably repeat, with emphasis, Why?
Well, to answer our unhappy questioner with anything like the accurate information we would have to actually see what his conditions are with respect to a type of soil, kind of fertilizer, drainage, and light and shade factors. Even then we might not be able to solve his problem entirely because the kinds of plants grown also play a part in the overall picture. So, briefly, let’s start at the beginning.
Before plants can flower they must make satisfactory leaf growth. This is because the leaves are the manufacturing agents. They absorb oxygen and carbon dioxide from the air; then, in the presence of adequate sunlight and the green coloring matter in the leaves, they convert these materials; when combined with water from the soil, into such foods as sugars and starches. These are translocated to other parts of the plant and, when combined with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, etc., they produce compounds which are responsible for cell division and’ growth.
To be able to produce such growth, most plants have to be grown in a well aerated, properly drained soil, with adequate supplies of moisture and fertilizers at specific times of the year. These facts, of course, are generalities and do not answer the particular question, “Why don’t my plants flower?” But they do give us some leads.
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