Heliconia Lobster Claw Flowering

[mgmccabe]

Does anyone have advice on how to get a Heliconia Lobster claw to flower? I picked this one up from a nursery in June. It was in a cluster of plants that was already flowering and lush with lobster claw flowers so I figured it would flower too. 

Any tips would be appreciated! 

[Jeff_Cabinda]

Hi. You heliconia seems to be young to flower. I would tolerate a few months to enable her to develop roots 1st. As far as mine is concerned the more humidity and heat the best. I noticed however that mine feels better in half shade. Hope this helps. Jf

[Jeff_Cabinda]

I do not know if mine is a lobster claw. However flowers are never located below 4 feet above the ground and the stem must be strong enough to support these heavy flowers. Give it 6 more month I would say

[mgmccabe]

Thank you for the advice yall! I will be patient! 

[annafl]

Remember that heliconias flower on second year growth.  The stems that come this year won't flower until next year.  You are right to be patient.  In Miami, that will turn into a beautiful, large clump with a lot of flowers/bracts by next year!

[swayland]

Agree that it just needs some time. Mine looked the same for the first year or so. After that it took off. Before the hurricane it was 8' tall with numerous blooms. Now it's a tattered mess but seems to be recovering well. I was amazed at how fast new leaves shot out of the stems that I cut off.

[mgmccabe]

I am very impressed with how it's improved since Irma. It took a lot of damage but that thing shoots up like crazy! 

[Jeff_Cabinda]

You should try Etlingera elatior. Same kind of care. Easy growing. I combine both.

[Jeff_Cabinda]

  On 9/30/2017 at 5:07 PM, Jeff_Cabinda said:

You should try Etlingera elatior. Same kind of care. Easy growing. I combine both.

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[Orly]

Good info on this thread.  I just planted a Heliconia lobster claw cutting a few months ago.  After a brief waiting period of nothing it started to take off.  A fallen fence from Irma damaged some of the stems but it's recovering quickly with new outgrowth coming from the roots all the time.  It's smaller than the OPs but it seems to be a fast grower.  I expect flowers sometime next year barring anymore hurricanes.

As far as what fertilizer to use, especially to promote blooms, I'm not sure.  I just gave it its first feeding of fert with a little Palm Gain since that's what I have on hand.

Edited October 17, 2017 by Orly

[Jeff Searle]

Like others stated, your plant is too young or small to flower. Most likely next year and during summer. June and July are peak months.

[Missi]

  On 9/29/2017 at 4:17 PM, Jeff_Cabinda said:

I do not know if mine is a lobster claw. However flowers are never located below 4 feet above the ground and the stem must be strong enough to support these heavy flowers. Give it 6 more month I would say

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I love how your plant's flowers have more green on them than usual. I wonder if this is just plain ole' H. rostrata, or a slightly different cultivar.

  On 10/7/2017 at 12:43 PM, Jeff_Cabinda said:

 

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My Etlingera elatior was in-ground for maybe 3 years and never pushed up flowers. Any idea why? Also, it seemed sensitive to sun. I wonder if I wasn't feeding it enough.

[Jeff Searle]

  On 9/29/2017 at 4:17 PM, Jeff_Cabinda said:

I do not know if mine is a lobster claw. However flowers are never located below 4 feet above the ground and the stem must be strong enough to support these heavy flowers. Give it 6 more month I would say

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This is not Lobster Claw. LC has a red and yellow flower and is pendant. This plant looks like the cultivar, "Halloween".

[Missi]

  On 10/19/2017 at 12:18 AM, Jeff Searle said:

This is not Lobster Claw. LC has a red and yellow flower and is pendant. This plant looks like the cultivar, "Halloween".

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Ah thank you! And how seasonally appropriate! Adding H. 'Halloween' to the wishlist.

[mgmccabe]

I have a feeling my lobster claw is about to flower. What do you think? This is almost a year in the making so I’m excited!

[mgmccabe]

One flower in!

[Jesse]

Beautiful! Congratulations! I'm working on getting some Heliconia to bloom here in SoCal however I have low expectations.

[edbrown_III]

I get Strelitzia reginae and S.  nicolai to bloom with adding bone meal --or triple phosphate --- similar plants maybe this will work to trigger a bloom ---- 

 

[mgmccabe]

It has really bloomed over the past month. I have one long set of flowers and three more that are sprouting now! 

[Cindy Adair]

A beauty! congratulations! 

[BS Man about Palms]

I have a random Heliconia that popped up in my yard some time back. I had some others in a different spot and I've been waiting for the second to flower. It recently has started and I'm hoping it is different... If not... time to remove it.