How do you get a Chinese Quince to bloom?

I have a field grown chinese Quince, Psudocydonia sinensis, 10-15 years old, and have been growing it for three years in a pot. This specimen was raised for bonsai material. It has not bloomed for me and I would like to know 1) when they bloom ... is it before or after leafing out?, and 2) what are ways to induce blooming?
I fed it well each of the years that I had it; most of the growing season with balanced fertilizer, and ;ate Summer through Fall with low nitrogen fertilizer
Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

Page down to Chaenomeles (<-- click the link and then page down).

BTW, are you sure you have a quince?

Hi Osoyoung,
I'm sure it is a Chinese Quince, Psuedocydonia sinensis. It is the same species as Bill Valavanis' tree; see his tree at the bottom of page one at:

https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t13244-2013-mid-atlantic-spring-festival-exhibit

Todd,, I bought a quince in tennesse this year in january.. a small one about 2 inch trunk base... it bloomed late febuary,march ..it bloomed leaveless but had larger flowers than bill,s has.. i do not understand why yours hasn,t with all that care ???? Jim Lewis has some that bloomed really well,,nice trees .. i hope he sees your post he will probley know why... good luck take care john

I have a few quince and they bloom on 2nd growth usually in the early spring around march. If they are cut back hard it may take two seasons for them to begin blooming again. I also have two of the Double Take varieties (chaenomeles speciosa) and those seem to bloom continuously through the spring and summer, although they bloom the most in the spring.

Todd

Todd Ellis wrote:Hi Osoyoung,
I'm sure it is a Chinese Quince, Psuedocydonia sinensis. It is the same species as Bill Valavanis' tree; see his tree at the bottom of page one at:

https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t13244-2013-mid-atlantic-spring-festival-exhibit

I wasn't referring you to pictures or advertising for a favorite nursery. There are words at the link that I think answer your question, but DeadlyKGB provided another rendition of them, so not to worry.

I'm curious about what you've been doing that has kept your quince from blooming.

I wonder too. I have left old and new wood on them. I might let the tree grow without pruning it this year.

I can't imagine why yours has not bloomed. Try not fertilizing so much. I only fertilize 2-3 times in the summer and mine bloom profusely in the winter and well into the spring while leaves are coming out.

Hi Todd,

A member of my bonsai study group sent me this message today about the quince-to-bloom thread:

" Norma, I was reading this on the IBC, but not a member so I can't respond."

"I've read that a Chinese quince will not bloom until it is about 17 years old, If grown from a cutting, it could be earlier, depending on, if the parent tree was old enough to bloom. Mine did not bloom the first five years I had it. It only started blooming recently, as it must finally be old enough."

Best regards,
Norma

Thank you Norma ... I will wait a few more years I think this tree was probably grown from seed. I will find out though...

I don't have any experience with this particular species. But other members of the rose family (roses, pears, crabapples, Japanese quince) bloom best when fed with low nitrogen fertilizer. I give my more developed crabs and quinces a base feed of granular 0-10-10, and feed monthly April, May, June and September with fish emulsion (5-1-0, I think).

It also helps if they're slightly rootbound. If the roots have room to run, they're more interested in putting on vegetative growth.