Hi @Hanyhair ... Norfolk? Well there’s Norfolk soil that’s like rich peaty fenland ... and there’s Norfolk soil that’s like fine sandy gravel ... guess which one we’ve got 🤣 Water runs straight through it.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
@Daffydilly tell me about it I moved to London from norfolk and everything I grew in norfolk was easy to grow the soil is just like compost although I think that was more to do with my old house being on old burial ground lol! And the temperature when hot was hot but still had the sea breeze coming in so I think my plants were less fried by the heat if that makes sense! Everything in a pot that I have tried to grow here especially when the climate is hot is more challenging! There is no air/breeze in london when it's hot it just stays well, hot! I think my plants not growing this year seems like more of a big deal because my neighbours seem to be buying the same plants as me then rubbing it in my face that theres are flourishing better!! Its slightly annoying me now lol! I know how petty that sounds!
Not at all, Hanyhair
Having lived in Suffolk where the soil was wonderful to South Africa where we had sand (Near the beach) challenging to say the least We are now living near farmland and it is wonderful London was a challenge when summer came along but I know my roses flourished! I grew nasturtiums instead of lobelia and geraniums and daisies were brilliant. I think it is better to grow plants that love the heat and die down in winter. Petunias are pretty resistant and the trailing ones are spectacular.
Lift the pot a little and if it feels light it needs a drink.
@Dovefromabove oh no that's bloody sods law isnt it! When I was in norfolk I couldn't even have a washing line up in my garden as the bloomin thing kept collapsing the ground was unreal! Although my flowers liked it 😁! @Daffydilly wow south Africa by the beach what on earth made you want to come back to England!? Its funny because my petunias usually go a bit mental and everywhere but this year as you saw in the pics there wilting and crunchy! In norfolk I had big pots of petunias all in my front garden they looked lovely it's such a shame! I think I'll get some more and give them another go! It's funny you say about Rose's because I've got 2 bushes and one has gone mental overflowing from my flower bed and the other is just rotting I think its black rot! I cant seem to win this year it's either all or nothing🤔😭😁
If the pot's light when you lift it, it's probably dry. That, and foliage drooping are the main signs. If a plant is dried out and water runs straight through, immerse the whole thing in a bucket of water until no air bubbles keep appearing. Alternatively, stand on a saucer, and water - let the pot stand until it's absorbed the water from the saucer. Try not to let that happen. Poke a finger in and if the compost is dry further down than around an inch it's best to give a drink. It's entirely dependent on the type of plant too. In excessive heat, even sun lovers can get dehydrated, and may need watering more than once a day. You can certainly move all of them into a slightly shadier site if that's the case. It stops them getting too stressed. Later sun [afternoon and evening] is usually less damaging than morning and mid day sun too. Wind is also extremely drying and damaging for plants, unless accompanied by rain. That's a different ball game altogether
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Daffydilly that's exactly what im going to do, try and enjoy what I've got lol and also plant some more! 😊I hear lancs is lovely! @Fairygirl ok so that makes perfect sense I think I might do a bit of shifting around in my garden and hopefully get it right! @Bijdezee yes I did wonder about the once a week feeding whether that was too much so was trying to spread it out to say 9 or 10 days my flower bed loves it just not my pots so much and I think someone earlier on in the thread was saying about I dont have enough compost in my pots so I think I might have to fill' em up a bit more! Lol! 🙂
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Water runs straight through it.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
@Daffydilly wow south Africa by the beach what on earth made you want to come back to England!? Its funny because my petunias usually go a bit mental and everywhere but this year as you saw in the pics there wilting and crunchy! In norfolk I had big pots of petunias all in my front garden they looked lovely it's such a shame! I think I'll get some more and give them another go! It's funny you say about Rose's because I've got 2 bushes and one has gone mental overflowing from my flower bed and the other is just rotting I think its black rot! I cant seem to win this year it's either all or nothing🤔😭😁
Dig up the sad rose. Plant one near the spot, not in same place. For now just sit near your rose and enjoy!
It does take a while to acclimatise to new area so do not despair
Try not to let that happen. Poke a finger in and if the compost is dry further down than around an inch it's best to give a drink.
It's entirely dependent on the type of plant too. In excessive heat, even sun lovers can get dehydrated, and may need watering more than once a day. You can certainly move all of them into a slightly shadier site if that's the case. It stops them getting too stressed.
Later sun [afternoon and evening] is usually less damaging than morning and mid day sun too. Wind is also extremely drying and damaging for plants, unless accompanied by rain. That's a different ball game altogether
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Fairygirl ok so that makes perfect sense I think I might do a bit of shifting around in my garden and hopefully get it right! @Bijdezee yes I did wonder about the once a week feeding whether that was too much so was trying to spread it out to say 9 or 10 days my flower bed loves it just not my pots so much and I think someone earlier on in the thread was saying about I dont have enough compost in my pots so I think I might have to fill' em up a bit more! Lol! 🙂