Sickly Sarcocca

I planted one a few months ago and i can see that the foliage is chlorotic.

Neither the RHS or Hessayon mention anything about the plant needing acid soil but clearly it does

I'm pretty miffed about this

Has anyone else experienced it ?

Both references advise 'any good garden soil'

I've not decided what to do yet but might remove it in due course because anything acid-loving/ needing can't be used in this garden (alkaline) and i'm hopeless with container gardening because i can never maintain the vigilant watering (in an already dry garden).

Ooh i'm cross

 

Hi Louise,

It definetly prefers alkaline to acid soils, so it should be safe enough in your garden yet. They definetly require shade to thrive. If exposed to sunlight they can commonly become chlorotic.
Poor fast draining soils can also cause chlorosis. A nice shady spot with a clayey soil and lots of organic matter would be the best site.
They can sometimes suffer from red-spider mite as well. This damage can manifest itself as a speckling of the leaves. When viewed normally, this often looks like chlorosis.

Hope this helps.


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Sickly Sarcococca

It'll be the soil then, it's in an enriched planting hole but the surrounding soil is thin and poor.
It gets late afternoon sun, only.

:gaagh:

:gaagh:​

:gaagh:

 

Hi Louise

I had one growing luxuriantly in my very chalky soil for years (eventually it had to make way for some building work ). I think, therefore, that success must be a question of giving it a rich, damp soil and a bit of shade. Mine was in a shady spot and I had incorporated a lot of horse muck!

 

The key words which keep appearing are 'rich' and 'damp' :(

I'll have to replace it with something else, i can see

 

I've have one in a pot, sent to my by a GC member a few years ago.

Its probably starved, but I've noticed it looks up a bit if given a dose of sequestrene. So I was also under the impression it liked soil on the acid side, or at least one that contains a fair amount of iron.

Not actually worked out why people grow it, the flowers are, well insignificant, the berrys are not that interesting and the leaves keep going yellow.:D

Maybe it just me.:D

Just spotted this, it says needs acidic soil.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/11807.shtml

 

I find they do well in most soils, in full sun or part shade. However, if your soil PH is over 7.5 then the plant will need help. Either feed with Sequestrene, or replant but mixing Ericaceous compost or sedge peat into the soil.

 

Hello Pete

Not a showstopper, I grant you, but a nice neat little evergreen plant which makes a good foil for showier things. To me, its main attraction is its scent. As you say, the flowers are otherwise insignificant. I never had problems with the leaves of my plant going yellow, even though I have chalky soil and do have problems with lime haters; my Magnolia grandiflora requires liberal doses of sequestrine to prevent it from looking jaundiced.

 

Its just me Clare, if it dont look amazing, or strange for at least a week or two during the year its not for me. :o

Not to say it might be a good plant though.

Just thought I'd chip in as I have one in a pot that looks awful.:WINK1:

 

Very funny Shiney.:D

Should I mention that I thought the scent was very similar to box (Buxus) flowers.


IE. Cats Pee.:D

 

I'm amazed you think that, Pete, most people think the smell is absolutely beautiful - sweet and floral.

 

My nose is full of sawdust most of the time, so most things smell of cats pee.:D

 

Your wife doesn't buy you aftershave for xmas then :WINK1: