Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Ceanothus not looking good!

akeehanakeehan Posts: 9
in Problem solving
Hi everyone, 
My standard ceanothus is not looking good at all. Its leaves are turning yellow and it never flowered this year. I got it last year, planted it in a pot and it flowered brilliantly! 
It gets morning light but is in shade for the afternoon. 
Does it need more light? Or is it something else? 
Thanks in advance 


Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I'm wondering if it might be due to some kind of nutrient deficiency, but not sure. 
    Have you ever given it any kind of feed ?

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    They need good drainage and a fair bit of sun. Lack of sun, they will not really flower much. Yellow leaves are a sign the plant is unhappy and shedding its leaves. Are you sure your pot has enough drainage? It is very easy for the base to get blocked. What type of soil have you put in there? They need a loam-based soil like John Innes No 3 with added grit to help with the drainage.

    Container growing is quite challenging, especially shrubs that are that size. A few days missed with watering, or a few hot days can make them upset suddenly. 

    You may even need to go up one more pot size. It is quite large already. 
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Needs a bigger pot, more sun and probably food and water.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • akeehanakeehan Posts: 9
    AnniD said:
    I'm wondering if it might be due to some kind of nutrient deficiency, but not sure. 
    Have you ever given it any kind of feed ?

    Hi anniD, yes I fed it once or twice with a tomato feed when I was doing the other pots, hoping that it would help it to flower. However, afterwards I read that they like neglect so I was worried then that I had over fed it! So I’m a bit stumped at what to do! 
    Do you think it needs a more specific feed?
  • akeehanakeehan Posts: 9
    Borderline said:
    They need good drainage and a fair bit of sun. Lack of sun, they will not really flower much. Yellow leaves are a sign the plant is unhappy and shedding its leaves. Are you sure your pot has enough drainage? It is very easy for the base to get blocked. What type of soil have you put in there? They need a loam-based soil like John Innes No 3 with added grit to help with the drainage.

    Container growing is quite challenging, especially shrubs that are that size. A few days missed with watering, or a few hot days can make them upset suddenly. 

    You may even need to go up one more pot size. It is quite large already. 
    Thank you, I will check the drainage, and change the soil n pot or maybe put it into the ground altogether. I just had it in a general compost. It was very small when potted so it has developed quickly! 
    I will move it too, our back garden has full sun all day so it might be better for it. 
    Thanks for your advice. 
  • akeehanakeehan Posts: 9
    punkdoc said:
    Needs a bigger pot, more sun and probably food and water.
    Thank you, yes I think you’re right. I’ll move it and change its pot. It has grown so quickly! 

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    akeehan said:
    AnniD said:
    I'm wondering if it might be due to some kind of nutrient deficiency, but not sure. 
    Have you ever given it any kind of feed ?

    Hi anniD, yes I fed it once or twice with a tomato feed when I was doing the other pots, hoping that it would help it to flower. However, afterwards I read that they like neglect so I was worried then that I had over fed it! So I’m a bit stumped at what to do! 
    Do you think it needs a more specific feed?
    No it's fine. I was just hazarding a guess, the advice from the others is the way to go  :)
Sign In or Register to comment.