Author Topic: acid-lovers in pots (Read 2843 times)

moonbells · « **on:** April 18, 2005, 08:27:47 »

Here's my formal double camellia (Camellia Japonica 'Roger Hall')and my pieris (unknown but prob Forest Flame) - both grown in pots in ericaceous compost as I am on chalk.

moonbells

Roy Bham UK · « **Reply #1 on:** April 18, 2005, 08:30:12 »

;D Gorgeous :) I can smell em from here ;D

Lily · « **Reply #2 on:** April 18, 2005, 08:42:52 »

I have a pieris and have often wondered why it isn't doing so well, now I know. I'll replant it in some ericaceous compost.

Roy Bham UK · « **Reply #3 on:** April 18, 2005, 08:54:33 »

Another acid luvva in a pot, D icksonia antarctica, Tasmanian Tree Fern.

adam04 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 18, 2005, 18:24:54 »

nice cameilia. perfect flowers.

Marianne · « **Reply #5 on:** April 18, 2005, 19:20:03 »

What beautiful plants everyone !
:D

GREENWIZARD · « **Reply #6 on:** April 19, 2005, 07:07:31 »

lovely pics. my pieris has never flowered but it's too big to move.could i sprinkle some lime at it's base to help it along?

moonbells · « **Reply #7 on:** April 19, 2005, 11:56:12 »

Quote from: GREENWIZARD on April 19, 2005, 07:07:31

lovely pics. my pieris has never flowered but it's too big to move.could i sprinkle some lime at it's base to help it along?

Only if you want to kill it :(

Pieris are acid lovers, so need to avoid lime like the plague. Mine gets fed with ericaceous fertiliser liquid in summer. For a couple of years after I rescued it out of the garden (clueless previous houseowners) it just grew red leaves, no flowers. Then suddenly it flowered. I transplanted it out of a small pot into a bigger one, gave it as much new compost as I could and fed it regularly and it has flowered every season since.

The larger of my two camellias is suffering from lack of water last summer. ie I forgot to water it regularly with rainwater and it has no flowers this year (last year it was covered). Serves me right. Those leaves don't let rain get to pots very easily. The smaller one hasn't as much leaf cover so has grown more leaves but relatively few flowers. But still beautiful. This year they are going to get watered a lot more... and hopefully won't be as badly nibbled by vine weevil.

moonbells

GREENWIZARD · « **Reply #8 on:** April 19, 2005, 14:30:04 »

thanks moonbell i was getting my acids & alkalies mixed up :-[ i shall buy some ericaceous compost & try it round the base-do you think that'll work?

moonbells · « **Reply #9 on:** April 19, 2005, 14:52:15 »

Quote from: GREENWIZARD on April 19, 2005, 14:30:04

thanks moonbell i was getting my acids & alkalies mixed up :-[ i shall buy some ericaceous compost & try it round the base-do you think that'll work?

What kind of soil do you have? It might be worthwhile you getting one of those 1 quid testers, and just sampling soil around your pieris. It's always as well knowing what pH your soil is. If it's acid to neutral, then you are probably fine. If alkaline, then you can do several things, watering with sequestered iron treatment, burying rusty nails around the plant, feeding with ericaceous food, mulching heavily with manure or composted bracken.

If it's quite large and doesn't have yellow leaves, perhaps all it needs is a boost this summer. I'd feed with ericaceous feed and then mulch it well with FYM. Can't hurt!

moonbells

GREENWIZARD · « **Reply #10 on:** April 20, 2005, 06:55:27 »

i'll get back to you mb as soon as i've tested some soil. :)

GREENWIZARD · « **Reply #11 on:** April 20, 2005, 20:38:55 »

soil test~acid-neutral.i'll do as you've suggested.thanks mb :)

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