- Dogwoods only bloom after several years of standing
- An unsuitable location or incorrect care is often the cause
Although the dogwood or horn bush (Cornus) is considered to be very robust and easy to care for, it can sometimes cause problems - especially if it does not feel comfortable in one location or is not cared for properly. The plant often shows its discomfort by not flowering. Sometimes, however, the cause is not to be found in you, because the dogwood only blooms after a few years.
Young dogwoods often do not flower
Dogwoods only bloom after several years of standing
If you bought a rather small specimen or even grew the dogwood yourself from a cutting or seed, you actually have to be patient for a few years until the first blossom. The dogwood does not flower until it is five years old at the earliest, and it is usually even older. Even older, but freshly planted specimens have to overcome their planting shock before they can even flower. The reason for this lies in the rather slow growth of younger dogwoods.
An unsuitable location or incorrect care is often the cause
However, patience is not always enough, because sometimes the lack of willingness to flower is due to external causes. This can be an inappropriate location, but also wrong or lack of care. For example, dogwood should be watered in very hot and/or dry months in particular, because severe drought stresses the plant and causes it to stop flowering.
Pay attention to the right floor
If the dogwood does not want to bloom, it may be in the wrong soil. It is often read that Cornus needs slightly acidic soil and should therefore be planted in bog soil. Basically, this information is correct - for some dogwood species. Of the approximately 55 different species, some actually need acidic soil, but others prefer a calcareous substrate. Therefore, before planting, you should check exactly which type and variety you have acquired / want to acquire and in which soil it feels comfortable.
Not too little, but not too much sun either
The same principle applies to sun intensity, with most dogwood species preferring a light location. So light is generally positive, but few dogwoods tolerate full sun. Some are even better off in the light penumbra, so the same applies here: First, take a close look at the variety plate.
tips
You also need patience with many flower dogwoods, because they often only bloom in very warm and sunny years. If it is too cold or too dark for them, the flower may well fail.