Recalcitrant cotoneasters

[MelaQuin]

I have 4 cotoneasters, a microphylla and 3 horizontalis. The microphylla has produced profuse flowers and berries every year.
The cotoneaster h purchased in July is carrying 2 flowers which is fine as it was cut back hard and I'm pleased with that.
The other 2 cotoneaster h's have been with me 1-2 years, were both in profuse berry when I bought the stock plants, and have adamantly refused to flower since.
They have been regularly fertilised with a flower encouraging fertiliser and I have deliberately minimised pruning for the past several months so I didn't eliminate anything that might feel like flowering.

So how does one kickstart these two reprobates into producing flowers??

Also a pyracantha, heavy trunked collected tree about 10 years old that allegedly did produce but when purchased from a batch collected at the same time and the same growing field did not have any berries. All 5 did not have any berries although it was berry season. So I bought it knowing that it might not come good berry-wise. But how does one push it to flower?? Again, it has been given flower encouraging fertiliser from January to May.

All the trees are robustly healthy, in good soil and get plenty of sun and water. What more can I do?

[bodhidharma]

Cant help a lot as i cant get my orange berry Pyrocantha to flower but the cotoneasters thrive on neglect

[Billy]

Hi, do any of the new or old shoots have the Thorns? I grew cotoneasters for a while and as I'm sure you are aware they flower on New shoots , from the point on a branch where the thorn is. I used to get berries alot and i just used to look after the thorn position on the branches, and let new spring shoots do thier own thing only trimming back after flowering/fruiting .I feel alot of ferts shouldn't matter too much, gd luck.

[Reece]

I was one told if you you want a tree to flower you could try and stress it. Flowering is like a a last ditch effort to reproduce because it thinks it dying. The key is not to stress it too much. Maybe just water it a bit less than usual. I'm I'm certainly no expert though. Try this with caution!

If this sounds like the worst idea ever. Let me me know so I don't do it in the future....

[Isitangus]

I was one told if you you want a tree to flower you could try and stress it. Flowering is like a a last ditch effort to reproduce because it thinks it dying. The key is not to stress it too much. Maybe just water it a bit less than usual. I'm I'm certainly no expert though. Try this with caution!

If this sounds like the worst idea ever. Let me me know so I don't do it in the future....

This is certainly the case with jacarandas, they tend to flower profusely after long periods of heat and dry in an attempt to 'reproduce'

[MelaQuin]

I must admit they live the life of Riley in my backyard but luxury doesn't affect the way the semi cascade flowers. However, each is different so I will cut down the water tho it is a bit late now for revelations.... I can only hope for next spring. Thanks for the input.

And Cotoneaster's don't have thorns... pyracantha's do.

[shibui]

I assume, with your experience, you have been using a 'flowering' (high K) fert from late summer Mel? Makes a big difference to my flowering species down here.