How Long Does It Take For Flowers To Bloom?

How long does it take for flowers to grow

The most difficult part of planting a garden is waiting. Ask any gardener and they will tell you how hard it is for them to wait for their flowers to bloom.

Figuring out how long does it take for a flower bud to bloom totally depend on many factors. Firstly, the most important thing is the type of flower and the time of year you plant your flower.

How Long Does It Take For Flowers To Grow?

We have researched many kinds of flower to know how long does it take for flowers to bloom.

Some flowers are rapid bloomers like marigold, cosmos etc, while there are other flowers that take time to germinate.

On an average it takes 95 days for flowers to complete their growth cycle, while fast-growing flowers can bloom within 50 days.

Most of the flowers start sprouting within a week or five days.

Let us take a look at some of the popular flowers that are fast bloomers.

1. Marigold

Marigold or tagetes spp. germinate within two weeks and bloom in around 50 days. Once the flower has formed, pinch off the tops of the plant to encourage them to become bushier.

Always make sure to water at the base of the plant. Deadheading marigolds will encourage them to continue blooming. Avoid fertilizing marigolds during growth.

Marigold varieties also attract pollinators like butterflies and bees so it is a good idea to mix marigolds with other flowers.

Related: Best fertilizer for marigolds

2. Zinnias

Zinnia or zinnia elegans are the easiest flowers to grow. They grow quickly and their growth is also bushier. Zinnias are annual flowers so they will grow for only one season to produce seeds and flowers.

These flowers come in a number of shapes including cactus, buttons and beehive. Zinnias generally take 60 to70 days to bloom.

These flowers need moisture in soil and light fertilizer to get their maximum growth. While planting, space them 4 to 24 inches apart. It is recommended to grow zinnias from seed as they do not like being transplanted.

Zinnias are good for mixed border gardens or in an annual. Smaller varieties are suitable for window boxes, containers and edging.

3. Rose

If given ample amount of sunlight, water and care, bare root roses can grow within 8 to 12 weeks. These flowers need extra care or else they will be dead in no time. The best time to plant rose is spring. Six hours of direct sunlight can speed up the growth of rose plant. Regular watering, fertilization and pruning can also aid this process.

4. Sunflower

Sunflowers or helianthus spp are fast growing flowers. Again, how long does it take for flowers to grow depends on the variety. Some varieties of sunflower take more time to reach maturity. On an average, a sunflower takes 85 days to bloom.

A bud forms after 30 days and slowly, the bud begins to unfold. It begins flowering in 60 days and continues to reach maturity till the plant develops.

There are many varieties of sunflower that bloom quickly. For such fast-growers, it is better to stick with single-stem varieties like Mammoth, California grey stripe, ProCut white nite and so on.

5. Dahlia

Dahlias are perennial flowers that can bloom in a variety of climates, but they grow the best in warm climates. They do not do well in colder places. They can be grown indoors and then transplanted outdoors once the frost has passed.

These flowers are easy to grow at any time of the year. A well-drained sandy soil is perfect for them. They need a lot of room to grow and spread. They take 90 to 120 days to bloom.

6. Hydrangea

Hydrangeas are fast growing perennial shrubs that take 2 to 4 years to reach maturity. They come in all shapes and sizes so you can have constant flowers throughout summers. It is very simple to grow them and they can thrive in any climate.

Planting hydrangea in partial shade and rich, well-draining soil works the best for them. With proper care, they bloom for several seasons.

7. Petunia

Petunias are annuals that come in an array of colors. They have very small seeds and require lot of sunlight to germinate. Although they are perennials, they are treated as annuals.

In warm climates, they sometimes bloom all throughout the winter. By storing them indoors during winter, petunias can be grown back. Initially, they should be grown in a pot indoors for 6 to 8 weeks and then later on take them outside after 10 to 12 weeks.

For the first few weeks after planting, these flowers require moist soil. Once they become healthy, watering them once every 7 to 10 days will be enough. It is easier to grow these flowers from transplants.

You might also like to have these indoor water plants in your home.

8. Lavender

One of the most sought after fragrances – lavender is a slow growing plant. It takes 2 to 5 years for lavender flowers to reach maturity. Lavender enjoys well-aerated sandy soil. Keep your plant moist, but don’t overwater it.

It needs 8 hours of direct sunlight. Although it is the most versatile plant that can be grown both indoors and outdoors. Repotting lavender every year and pruning them will ensure their faster growth.

9. Gladiolus

Commonly known as glads or sword lilies, gladiolus come in a multitude of colors and varieties. Glads grow the best in full sun. It takes 60 to 90 days for the flower to bloom. Water your plants regularly in summers or water them moderately to keep them moist.

Make sure to remove the dead flowers for continuous bloom. Once the flowers are gone, cut the stalk off to 2 to 3 inches above the soil. Leave the plant intact so that in the next season it can start flowering.

10. Lilly

Lilies come in a variety of colors and shapes. As for how long does it take for flowers to grow depends on the care and maintenance it receives. Each variety of lilies bloom during a specific period of time.

Asiatic lilies bloom from 30 to 90 days. Oriental lilies bloom from 40 to 90 days. American tiger lilies are late bloomers as they bloom from 100 to 120 days. Cold weather and cold soil delays the growth of lilies. They need lot of sun and well-drained acidic soil.

11. Tulip

Tulips or Tulipa are perennial plants. Growing tulips are tedious and time taking task. In ideal conditions, tulips take 2 to 3 months itself to germinate. Ideally, it takes anywhere between 8 to 12 months for tulip plant to grow. It can take 1 to 2 years for tulips to reach maturity. Sometimes it also takes 6 years.

12. Peonies

Peonies are ornamental plants popular in cooler places. These flowers are slow growers. Usually it takes 2 to 4 years for peonies to bloom. Herbaceous peonies take 2 to 3 years to bloom, while tree peonies take up to 4 years to bloom.

13. Orchid

Orchids are the most popular houseplants. These are perennial flowers that bloom year after year. Some varieties even bloom multiple times a year if given the right conditions. Orchid seeds are one of the most difficult to germinate.

Growing orchids is a work of patience. They take 9 months to 2 years to germinate. Once an orchid seeds germinate, it take 2 years of care for the flower to bloom. After blooming, they remain dormant for a period of time. Check out these orchid fertilizers for your plant.

14. Calendula

In ancient times, pot marigold or calendula has been used as a medicinal herb for treating headaches, fever, red eye and toothache. They are also used in cooking in place of saffron for color and flavor. Calendula grows quickly. The plant goes from seed to flower within 6 to 8 weeks.

Growing calendula is easy. It doesn’t require much care. It doesn’t require much water and fertilizer. These flowers are a short lived perennial plant that grow in tropical or sub-tropical countries. They can be grown as annual flowering plants during winters. Calendula requires direct sunlight of 4 to 6 hours.

15. Wildflower

Wildflowers are such species of flowers that are hardy and self-reproducing. They need little attention. Gardens of these flowers are considered low-cost gardens. Generally wildflowers take 14 to 21 days to germinate and once they are germinated, they bloom within 45 to 60 days.

The best time to plant wildflower is the spring season. Under the right conditions, these flowers regrow every year by reseeding. They need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight and ample moisture to grow well.

Initially, the areas where these flowers are planted should be soaked in water and moisture should be maintained for 4 to 6 weeks. Then gradually watering can be reduced. They can also be grown outside in a pot.

How To Help Flowers To Bloom and Grow Faster?

To help flowers to grow faster, you need to give them good care, fertilize and aerate the roots. Let us take a detailed look at ways to grow flowers faster and know how long does it take for flowers to bloom in a healthy manner.

1. Fertilizing

Fertilizing is the most important and easiest solution to encourage plants to grow. Fertilizers are good for the health of soil and also to promote fast and healthy growth.

When selecting a good fertilizer for long term, the best option is a slow release fertilizer. This will ensure that the flowers are not oversaturated. Soluble fertilizers or granular plant food is a good option if you want to make your plants grow faster.

2. Be aware of frost

Frost kill your seeds. Plant your flowers outdoors after the frost has passed. During the presence of frost, plant your seeds indoors in a potted plant.

3. Provide good care

For the plants to grow quickly, they must been taken care of. Plants require adequate sunlight, water and nutrients. If the health of your plant is not good, it will not spend its energy on producing flowers.

If they are attacked by pest or if they lack sunlight, water or nutrients or if they are damaged due to any reason, they will spend all their energy on fixing the problem before blooming.

Proper trimming of the flowers also helps the plant grow faster. In case there are many buds to bloom on a plant, then it will take time for every flower to bloom. In that case, cut off the weaker blooms to promote faster and bushier growth.

4. Adequate sunlight

Different flowering plants require different amount of sunlight. There are many forms of sunlight that a plant needs. Some plants need full sun i.e. six or more hours of sunlight, some require part sun i.e. between three and six hours of sunlight, others require full shade (less than three hours of sunlight) or part shade (between three and six hours of sun).

Most of the flowering plants require full sun. Hence, plant your flowers at a spot where they will get eight hours of direct sunlight.

If you are growing in a limited condition, perhaps a full spectrum LED grow light is what you need.

5. Aerating the roots

Roots need air. Aerating roots once a month helps promote healthy growth of plant and root development ensuing faster growth.

Aeration is a process of poking holes in the ground to let your plants breathe. This will help them to get the required oxygen.

The easiest way to aerate roots is to poke a hole through the soil. In the process, you might break a root, but fret not, roots grow back themselves.

If you don’t wish to aerate your roots manually, then go for grow bags. If you are planting your flowers in grow bags, you don’t have to poke holes in the soil to encourage growth as they are easiest source of aeration.

How Long Does It Take For Flowers To Grow From Seeds?

Most of the annual flowers need about 95 days to turn from seed to flower, provided that you give them the right conditions to grow and flourish.

3 Stages Of Flower Growth

Knowing the important stages of flower growth can help you determine their nutrients requirement in each stage and in turn will help you understand how to take care of your flowers.

Let’s take a look at how long does it take for flowers to bloom in different stages of flower growth.

1. Seed germination

Plant life begins with seeds. All seeds contain embryo in it. There is a hard coat outside the seed that protects the embryo. The seed coat melts with moisture and allows the process of germination to continue into the seedling stage. When seed is panted in the right conditions for its germination, it starts germinating.

For a seed to start its germination, it needs sunlight, water and heat. Too much of these things can hinder the germination process. The germination of seed takes 1 or 2 weeks. Always plant a seed 2-3 inches deep as it will help the root system from being choked and dried out.

2. Growth

The growth of plant starts when root system can support growth. It usually takes 3-16 weeks.

3. Reproduction

This is an exciting stage of a plant growth. The bud of a flower contains a tiny flower. The sepals protect the bud before opening. Over time, the bud blossoms into a beautiful flower and the sepals look like little green leaves at the bottom of the plant.

How Long Does It Take For A Flower Bud To Bloom – FAQs

Q 1. How do I make my flower buds bloom?

A. There is not much you could do about it as it is a natural process and buds bloom at their own pace. However, to fasten the process you should provide the plant with right growing conditions and a proper feed.

Q2. Why are my buds not blooming?

A. There are few factors that prevent buds from opening. If flowers have faced a harsh winter, or had very less exposure to sunlight and heat, then they might fail to bloom. Improper care might also be one of the reasons. Adding too much fertilizer or pruning the plant at the wrong time can also stop your bud from blooming.

Q2. What is the fastest growing flower?

A. Marigold is the fastest growing flower.

Q3. How long does it take for flowers to die?

A. Cut flowers may begin to die between two and four days after they have been cut. Some flowers varieties if placed in a vase with water can last longer. Though it all depends on a lot of factors like the kind of flower, location of vase and what has been added to the water.

As for flowers growing on the plants, different plants have different lifespans and they die after completing their natural course. Some flowers like orchids live for weeks and others like morning glory bloom for a day.

Hope this guide helped you understand how long does it take for flowers to grow and you will now be able to patiently wait for the blooms till the time is right.