Non-flowering Montbrecia

Hope is something that many people have, but never do anything about.
Consequently, they have to actually trust to luck.
Of course, you can do the same, and hope that next year they will flower, and maybe they will, and maybe they will not.
There again, there will have been a reason, after all, the natural byproduct of NOT flowering to a plant, is death, so in desperation, they will do everything they can to flower, in order to set seed and live on for ever.
Yours did not, simply because it did not have the energy to do so.
Maybe you moved them, ripping their roots, or you planted them in slow setting concrete.
You can try remembering, so as not to make the same mistake again, but if you cannot be bothered, or simply have lost your marbles, then I suggest you give them a good well rotted horse manure feed in the late autumn, when all the foliage has died down. Over winter, this will rot into the soil and provide an early feed for them next spring.
Once they have started to show their leaves next year, give them a double dose of weekly tomato liquid fertilizer, together with a March and June granular fertilizer feed.
The results will be magnificent, providing you water them in dry spells.

Thank you. I did not move them from previous year, but then again I fed them nothing but the water from heaven! They are most unusual in Boston.

M

Mary, you are a very naughty gal (wink). Do you think that you will flower if fed on water only?
No, of course not. Treat your plants like you would treat yourself. Occasional pampering goes a long way, as you will know.

I'm afraid I disagree with you, Burgundy. If this is the common montbretia I don't think it needs pampering at all - it certainly doesn't get fed where it grows so wonderfully naturalised all over the UK. It does revel in full sun but will tolerate a little shade, needs well-drained soil so perhaps your conditions are wrong?

Sorry Wagger - common Montbretia does not grow to 4 feet tall, but your point is certainly valid for the more common variety.

I've seen Crocosmia (Montbretia) and it was at least 4' tall.
That was the most common form too.

oh well, there you go. A difference of opinion was had by all. Never mind.

Thanks for the backup, Louise.

And I had masses of this in my last garden - never expected otherwise and never gave it a second glance! Let alone FEED it! Doubt whether this plant, originally from S. Africa, would even welcome such tender care!

I agree, David. There are so many cultivars of Crocosmia now, some being a little temperamental, but the common 'Montbretia' does grow to 4', I have it in my garden. It certainly does not need feeding. Nor do the others, even while they are getting established, I just checked this in my RHS book, to be sure.

I think that - Mary, just be patient, and maybe splitting the plants if they are congested might help - not until the spring, though.

I started with two and they blossomed, last year four and they blossomed, now six with no blossom. Yes they are all crowded together.

I have nothing to lose by splitting them next spring. Perhaps move two of them.

Thanks everyone.

Dig the whole clump up, then split them and spread them out a bit - good luck!