Question
I would like know how to care for my gloxinia that has big, beautiful leaves (no flowers) and has been alive and well since Easter.
How do I get it to get buds and bloom???

Would appreciate your help.

Thanks--Ruth

Answer
Ruth,

I assume that your plant was blooming at Easter when you got it and it bloomed for some time after Easter. Gloxinias are a bulb plant and as such only bloom for a portion of the year just like tulips and daffodils.

Care of the gloxinia is similar to that of the African violet, a close relative. Its large trumpet-shaped flowers rise above large, velvety leaves. Vivid colors include pink, red, white, blue and purple in solid colors as well as spotted or bordered with white. Gloxinias are most popular during the late winter and spring holidays.

Plants need warm nighttime temperatures (65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit) along with fairly high humidity and good ventilation. Daytime temperatures should be about 10 degrees warmer. Placing plants on a tray of moist gravel or misting over new plants helps adjust them to home conditions.

Gloxinias need more light than African violets, so place them in a bright window just beyond the reach of direct sunlight. In late spring, direct sunlight may burning the foliage and reduce the life of the flowers. If stems begin to stretch, light is inadequate.

Keep soil uniformly moist. Plants can be damaged seriously if allowed to wilt. Small flower buds sometimes abort after plants are brought into the home. Either poor light, low humidity or excessive soil drying may lead to collapse of the young flower buds. Plants should be fertilized monthly with a water soluable fertilizer for blooming plant such as Miracle Grow or one of it's equivalents.

Plants produce a fleshy tuber, which with proper care, may be rebloomed. After the plant has stopped flowering, gradually taper off watering until the leaves yellow and die. Place pot and tuber in a cool, dark location and stop watering. Give the tuber a rest period of eight to 10 weeks. As new growth appears, move the pot to a bright location and begin watering gradually. Tubers may be repotted at this time if necessary.

For spring bloom, do not water the tubers until after Christmas. Then remove the tuber from the old soil and plant shallowly into a new potting mixture. Place the top of the tuber above the soil line. Use only one tuber per pot. For starting plants, pots 4 or 5 inches in diameter are adequate. As shoots enlarge and leaves fully expand, begin normal watering and light fertilization. Plants should begin flowering in about four months.

Young plants may also be started from leaf or shoot cuttings. Techniques for starting plants from leaves are the same as for African violets.

Your plant definitely needs the fertilizer for blooming plants and it may need a rest period in order to produce another round of large healthy blooms. If you have more questions feel free to write again. Good luck.

Darlene