Cloncaw's Journal

Last Post 489 days 6 hours ago

Not much time in the garden today.

30 August 2009 21:47:36

Hydrangea that won't bloom.

Weather here was pretty miserable for most of the day, other than taking some photos during one of the respites there was nothing done except the odd weed removed and deadheading a couple of roses in the beds along the terrace.

Short time spent in the kitchen garden, pulled my first 2 leeks which are now in veg soup, also picked french beans and peas, peas went to the freezer and french beans for dinner. Great to have such fresh veg as it's needed. The other job I tackled was to thin out the carrots and Chillipepper had suggested planting the thinnings up so I'm giving it a try hope they will takemore to do tomorrow if weather is reasonable.

The wild weather has left a few blank areas in the beds and I'm now going to see what can be planted into the gaps need to go shopping for bulbs. I also want to find an evergreen shrub that can be planted on the gable of the house in place of one of the mallows , this corner gets full blast of the wind from the north, east and south so it needs to tolerate wind and if possible have flowers at some stage. Any suggestions would be welcome.

One disappointment is that the two pink hydrangeas planted in the pots have not produced even one flower yet, last year when I bought them they were a mass of pink blooms what have I done wrong. Any tips on growing hydrangeas and also if ther is anything I can do to get wisteria to flower next year would be much appreciated.

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jocko121 30 August 2009 22:00:31

Cloncaw did you plant in the right compost ( Ericaceous ) as the like acid soil. Unless it was our lack of sunshine this year !!!!!!!

hope this is of some help

Jocko

Mairin 30 August 2009 23:02:52

I found that with my hydrangea. The first year I bougth it, it was fabulous. The second year, no flowers; the third year, about 3 flowers and from there, it took off. I thought it might have been forced in order to make the sale and then it had taken too much out of it . Not sure but I would say, keep it for another year and see what happens. If you want them to flower with blue flowers, use ericaceous compost; pink flowers - ordinary compost.

Cloncaw 31 August 2009 00:04:06

Thanks for the info Jocko. The pots are on the south side of the house and in my plant guide it says any soil or compost, feel it maybe as Marion says that they were forced last year just have to keep hoping they will produce flowers next year as they do look healthy. They will probably get planted out as I definitely want pots with colour as my 2nd daughters wedding next June.

Gismo1981 31 August 2009 10:23:32

My mam can only get them to grow in pots at our home place, as soon as they go into the soil they die. She is trying to pawn a few off on me now, hope I dont kill them. I like to leave a few plants in pots and put them in the flower beds to fill the gaps and stop Benji weaving a path :O)

Lìga 31 August 2009 11:04:02

Did you cut them back last jear or this spring?Is some(old) tipe,who flowering on second year steams.

Cloncaw 31 August 2009 11:54:10

Thanks Liga, maybe I made the mistake of cutting back last year but if so learnt from my mistake. I have since read that in my plant book to cut back in spring.

Periwinkle 31 August 2009 22:17:35

Not to worry Cloncaw, the Hydrangeas were probably forced into bloom when you got them so are having a rest this year. give them some feed and keep well watered, especially if they are in a pot and they will reward you next year!

Lìga 31 August 2009 22:47:33

You're welcome:)I said bit wrong,almost all varietys of it flowering on second year steams,is some new,whit flowering on first year.So,next year your hydrangeas be ok.Then you have just cut them steams with had in flowers,and it flowering year after year:)

How old is your wisteria?

Cloncaw 31 August 2009 23:16:55

Wisteria is now in it's 3rd summer on the house and I bought them in summer 2005, they were in containers from then until spring 2007 , they were quite tall when I bought them so they have to be about 8 years old.

kilmoon 01 September 2009 20:29:25

Seems like you have had a full whammy of learned help.. Most of the comments are correct. Blue hydrangeas are the result of acid soil, pink on alkaline. Lack of flowers is probably due to pruning - don't prune, just dead head in Spring. Container grown is never as good as in the ground. I have masses of both, they love shade and damp and all the things the heavens throw at us here!