Delphiniums most certainly don't like hot climates. They do very poorly here in the mountains of WV. But they are generally gorgeous in upstate NY.

J ... fert is rarely a solution for a plant that is having a problem ....

from years of prior posts ... it is my recollection.. that except for a few hardcore specialists... most of us.. have given up on Ds long ago ... as too foo foo ... and too demanding ...

i dont know why i ask ... but was your compost.. fully finished off ... ?

ken

Jared what is your zone and approx. location. I grow Delphiniums very successfully in my garden. As stated, if you are in a warm climate they will sulk in the heat. They were happy enough to bloom but now it looks like the heat is getting to them. It is so early in the season for blooms, even emerging foliage (as per Campanula).

I remove spent flowers to just below the last bloom on the stalk. Then smaller side branches start to bloom. When they are done I remove the entire stalk to the ground. They will continue to send up new growth throughout the season here. I have had Delphinium blooming still in Oct. They love cool weather!

Your D. to the right in the last pic is Delphinium grandiflorum. It may rebloom but this species is short lived and produces seed very quickly. I usually let one portion of the plant go to seed and scatter those. Deadhead the rest of the blooms since producing seed expends the plants energy.

I am inclined to agree with Ken (fainting) here that delphs are just too heartbreaking in a world of beautiful, reliable plants. Course, Ken and I both have crappy sand and for sure delphs like the good living and deep rich soil which someone else but not me has - although I have the rampant molluscs which feast on them - another shock as I had thought the ranunculaceae family were snail proof. I decamped to aconitum years ago...and as for the miffy d.grandiflorum!?!. So, to be honest Jared, I would cut my losses and shrug it off, mate. Also, as if not tricksy enough, growing them in containers is challenging for anyone (I for sure wouldn't attempt it).

I have seen these in Californian gardens but I suspect they are more or less treated as summer bedding.

THANKS to everyone that responded. I have some more questions for everyone. I am in the south, in fort worth I believe zone 8. I purchased these two (the two big ones) from a local nursery. they were about to bloom when I got them and started blooming shortly after. I assuming the reason they were out so early is because someone was growing these in a green house and the nursery got the plants from them. I don't actually know when they are supposed to bloom...is it now? or later in the year? how hot of a temperature can they really stand? I ask because in the past few weeks it has only got to 75 degrees maximum. or do they just bloom an extremely short time? if the temperature is right, how long do they bloom for, a few weeks or all summer long? maybe mine are just done for the year. they are currently not planted in anything special, just regular garden soil purchased from the store, if I try this again should I plant in a different soil, or some sort of specific mixture? as for the small delphinium, the grandiflorum, I saw a video online from the LSU agcenter on them that said they can bloom all summer, but that doesn't seem to be the experience I am having. would most of you agree to that statement that the grandiflorum can bloom all summer, or would you say it is short lived? if short lived, how short, just a few weeks? if so, then this delphinium I have may simply be done for the year too. also, I have a few more of the grandiflorum planted somewhere else in my yard, they are still making a few flowers, but the flowers are a light blue, they are not getting to that deep blue they were when I first purchased them. any thoughts on why the color is not quite right? I appreciate any and all additional help I can get. I know I have a lot of questions above for everyone, but I am just really interested and eager to learn more about different flowers. as was mentioned above by ken, I seem to have the experience of ken of these flowers being too "foo foo" for me, but I don't want to give up yet, until I have tried 2 or 3 more times. if I understand the flower better next time just maybe just maybe ill have a little better luck with it. thanks again for any extra help anyone can give me!!

I grow lots of delphiniums because I wouldn't be without those spires of heavenly blue all summer. I can't tell you why I find them easy when most people struggle.

If you want to grow them as a pot plant they will almost certainly be an annual. And they need to be in a big pot because they don't like being rootbound and they don't like being disturbed.

Up here we have hot days but cool nights and our humidity is very low which seems to agree with them.

Delphiniums are REALLY not a plant for zone 8, Texas, especially with heat reflecting off a brick wall!

What happens in a UK zone8 is: right now, there will be the first signs of growth from the base. The foliage will build in bulk until a flower stalk appears in May. The flowering spike grows out very quickly - blooming usually starts around June (about the same time as roses - together, they are a cottage garden meme and enjoy the same deep rich and moist soil) Flowering only lasts for around 3 weeks but a timely removal of the flower stalk (and a bump of fertilser) allows for a later, secondary bloom - often several, shorter stalks - in late August/September.

So no, they are not long blooming...but admirers of this genus cite the fleeting beauty as part of their charm - a special treat to look forward to.

If you want that flash of blue - you could easily grow the cheerful annual larkspur (from direct-sown seeds...and there are some interesting US natives which will be far more appropriate for the Texan heat.