Delphinium not flowering

[pboo]

I bought a small delphinium several weeks ago which had half a dozen or so leaves on it. Now it has masses of leaves, some very big but no sign of any flowers and I get the feeling it's not going to flower now.

Any ideas why ?

[rainbowgardener]

Why do you say it isn't going to flower? Delphinium bloom season is mid-summer to fall. If you just put yours in the ground a few weeks ago, it is still getting established, so it seems like it might well bloom yet. You may just need a little patience.

That said, masses of big leaves growing quickly sounds like it is getting a lot of nitrogen. Have you been fertilizing it? You don't want to feed any flowering plant a high nitrogen fertilizer, which tends to result in lots of big leafy growth at the expense of flowering. Look for something like Tomato Tone (tomatoes are also flowering plants! ) which is higher in the PK end of NPK.

Even if it doesn't bloom real well this year, getting started, it is a perennial, so it should come back next year bigger and stronger and bloom a bit sooner.

[pboo]

Hi,
Thanks for quick reply. Yes I did use a bit of bonemeal as per the instructions that came with the pot. Is this the reason I'm seeing lots of foliage ?

Anyway, I'll just leave it and see if it flowers this year. I've never had any luck with delphs, and never had one come back the following year.

[rainbowgardener]

No the bone meal is a good thing. It is high in phosphorous and calcium and has hardly any nitrogen.

[southjersey]

I congratulate you on at least having healthy green leaves. I live in zone 7 in South Jersey and whenever I have planted delphiniums they turn brown and die back never to be seen again the next year due to the heat, I think. I think they prefer the cooler weather. Anyone had any success in warmer climates with them? What about the advertised delphiniums that have claims to be heat tolerant?