Allotments 4 All

Hi,

I know you guys are all 'experts' so....

Question 1:
I have several containers that have some bulbs (daffs, tulips, crocus) and pelagoriums. When is a good time of year to change the compost? I want to remove the tulip and crocus since they didn't do well last year but I would like to leave the daffs and pelagoriums in the pots. Would it hurt to (carefully) remove everything from the pots now and replant? Only the pelagoriums seem to be growing at the moment - I am in Plymouth so it is still pretty warm here- but I know the daffs will start soon.

Question 2:
I have another standard size terracotta container (about 12 inches across the top - the most popular size in shops) in which I planted 3 cyclamen plants last year. The stopped producing flowers all summer but retained their leaves. The pot seems really full; the whole top is covered with loads of leaves and some flowers. My question is - can the pot be too full? And will the cyclamen stay healthy with last year's compost, or should I change the compost?

Thank you all for all your advice!

Hi unshamrock, no expert, but they all seem to be in shower at min.. ::) ::) ::). Pelagoniums, won't they need to be moved inside soon anyway? Nothing to loose I feel, If they were mine, I'd do want you intend and see what happens. As for question 2, sounds like congestion, so may be worth while taking out of pot and dividing, but, remember, experts in shower and I would wait for their advice!! I'm a tad impulsive!! Good luck! Lottie

Hi umshamrock,
Q 1. - Instead of removing the bulbs and thereby disturbing their roots, just take away what compost you can from the top and replace with  mixture of fresh compost with dried blood and bonemeal for example!!

Q 2. - Cyclamen are a VERY assorted breed, theres about 23 different species which can be in flower for 10 months of the year!! The "HOT" months of the year are the quiet periods (July, Aug) so i would give them a little longer especially as they sound so healthy!! Patience is the key word here i "think"
Good luck KevB

i use John Innes 3 in all my pots and NEVER change the compost - just a little top up every spring. I find all multi-purpose stuff to be rubbish. J I is more expensive but worth it, I think and the plants do really well.

Thanks Campanula, half of my containers have John Innes no. 2 in them so I think I'll leave it and top up next spring.  It's not the expense of J I that I mind, but I don't drive and trying to get a bag home on the bus almost killed me...no.2 (as I'm sure you'll know) has added grit to stop containers toppling over.  I blame Mr Titchmarsh, he told me to buy it and I'll do anything he says  :D

I agree about multipurpose compost though, it's like saying all plants require the same care   ??? ???

M.

Hi,

Thanks for all your advice.

Undercarriage - I think here in Plymouth pelagoniums survive the winter if kept a bit sheltered (like in my below ground courtyard garden).  Maybe I will split up one pot of cyclamen and leave the other...they look healthy and have beautiful flowers but might as well spread the love!

KevB - thanks...I didn't realize there are so many kinds of cyclamen, mine are the cheapy garden center ones that I bought last year around this time. Is there anything I could use instead of blood fish and bonemeal (I am a vegetarian) to top up compost? Do chicken pellets do the same thing?

Campanula and Maddy - I have just started buying JI instead of multipurpose too. Multipurpose gets dry too quickly or stays soggy too long. Glad to hear you guys feel the same.

Thanks!

Have you got more than one cyclamen in the pot? They grow from tubers which gradually grow bigger; they don't split like bulbs. Propagation is by seeds.

Quote from: umshamrock on September 28, 2005, 10:08:15
Is there anything I could use instead of blood fish and bonemeal (I am a vegetarian) to top up compost

Don't eat it, put it on the plants

QuoteQuote from: umshamrock on September 28, 2005, 10:07:53
Is there anything I could use instead of blood fish and bonemeal (I am a vegetarian) to top up compost

Don't eat it, put it on the plants

LOL that is a good one sorry LOL Had to laugh at that one.
:D

The_Snail

weehhheee......made me laugh too  ;)

but know what you mean umshamrock  :)

Hi Umshamrock,

I've re-potted Tulip, Crocus, Daffodil and Iris bulbs at this time of year for the past couple of years and it doesn't seem to have done them any harm. I've also moved Daffs and Crocuses 'in the green' and despite disturbing them both ways, they have continued to flower. I always make sure that I re-plant them at the same depth especially if moving them when they are just coming into growth (ie, leaves showing above ground).

Before you give up on the Tulips and Crocuses, please bear in mind that bulbous plants tend to fair poorly if over crowded and as they produce bulblets (baby bulbs growing from the main bulb) every year, they can very quickly become congested. So removing the compost and thinning out the bulbs and replanting the bigger ones, should get you more flowers. And you could grow the bulblets on in pots if you wanted to increase your stock.

I'm sorry Umshamrock. I did not realise that you were new on the board. i see 6 posts. I was being too sarcastic. My humblest apologies. I am sorry if I hurt your feelings. I should not have said something like that to a new member of A4A. It's a lovely board, very friendly, very helpful. I hope you are not hurt or upset at my "joke".

regards,
Ciaran

Sorry shamrock was not laughing at you but it did sound funny the way it was put. Not the best welcome. It was all meant in the best possible manner.

Welcome to the forum Umshanrock

The_Snail

With regard to the food, Umshamrock, Vitax Q8 should do instead - I think that would be OK from the vegetarian point of view, although I'm not certain. Chicken pellets would probably have to be re-applied a couple of times, but should be fine.

Hi Umshamrock and welcome!
Tulips are not so reliable year on year as daffs and crocus - so would recommend replacing them.
Perlagoniums - I've overwintered them in tubs here in Cardiff without any protection at all last winter, and they carried on flowering till January. Don't think it would work this year if we get the predicted cold winter. Also they gat a bit woody and leggy - probably best to root some cuttings if you can.
I don't replace compost unless completely replanting - just replace top couple of inches and feed well in Spring like others have said.
No idea re cyclamens - would wait and see like others have said