Shrubs

(August 2012)

I have two large 15' camellias on the east side of my house. They were planted in 1968 and haven't been watered or fertilized for at least 6 years. They bloom profusely without fail. My question is for the first time I've seen some seed pods forming. I'm curious as to why the pods are forming on such an old shrub. Why now? Is it a portent of doom for the mother plant?

Camellias have the potential to set seeds every year.  I think part of the reason we are seeing more this year, is that they bloomed so early, met with no late freezes and had ample time to set seeds before the heat hit.  We often think of camellias as water needy plants, but I have found that they can be pretty resilient, once they are well established and in the right spot.  Flower buds are set for next year’s blooms now.

(July 2012)

Recently, I asked you about my dwarf gardenias not keeping their blooms very long. I have been introduced to Epsom Salt this year and have been doing some experimenting with different plants and having wonderful results.  The gardenias also received a dose of ES and are now blooming again.  Not many, but a very few blooms and very little, if any, fragrance.  We are curious if the salt has produced the extra blooms.  We do not recall them blooming after spring last year.

Epsom salts are magnesium sulfate, and many home gardeners swear by it for magnolias, tomatoes and roses.  If your soil is low in magnesium, this is an easy way to raise the level.  Many of our old acidic soils may lack in magnesium. Having you soil tested will determine where your levels are.  Gardenia varieties vary tremendously by how long they bloom and whether or not they can re-bloom.  Weather conditions can also alter the bloomability.  This year, many plants bloomed very early and if they have been watered, I have seen a large number of the plants setting new flower buds.  I even have some new buds on my single blooming Daisy gardenia, which has never re-bloomed before.  Enjoy the new blooms, but don’t depend solely on Epsom salts as your fertilizer regime, and I wouldn’t use it much later in the season on gardenias.

(May 2012)

I have a gardenia bush on the east side of my house.  A few years ago I cut it back and ever since it does not bloom.  Can you please tell me how to get it to bloom again?

Proper pruning should encourage flowering, but even if you butchered the plant, improper pruning should not impact flowering for more than one year.  Has the plant grown back?  Did you water last summer?  Gardenias bloom normally in late May and June, but this year they are already blooming.  I had one with blooms in late April.  Gardenias set flower buds for the following year in late summer to early fall.  They do need sunlight to set flowers.  If they are in deep shade, they won’t bloom.  If they were overly stressed and didn’t put on new growth, they wouldn’t bloom well.  In cold winters, damage can occur which can impact blooms, but that sure wasn’t the case this year.  Check the sunlight and water when dry.  Fertilize now with an azalea fertilizer and see what happens.

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