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Campsis not growing well

NewbieGardenerSW17NewbieGardenerSW17 Posts: 10
in Problem solving
We planted a campsis last summer in a large pot next to our north-west facing wall. It has only just started to show a little new growth. It is regularly watered & has been fed twice with seaweed fertiliser. Am I just being impatient? When should I expect full growth, or have I picked the wrong spot for it? 
To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.

Posts

  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Although it should be hardy in your area Campsis do need as much sun as possible, so it may not be in the ideal location for optimum growth. Seaweed is not a feed as such, more a general tonic with micro elements, not the main NPK macro nutrients plants need. Normally they wouldn’t need any extra fertiliser, but in a pot they probably do. A granular, balanced slow-release fertiliser (e.g. miracle grow or similar) would help, then some high potassium liquid feed every other week when the flowers start to set (e.g. tomato feed).
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited May 2022
    When I had one I found Campsis to be later into growth than almost any other plant in my garden. 

    Despite it being in a huge pot, and being repotted with fresh John Innes No 3 loambased compost every year (a huge feat requiring two of us and causing OH to strain his back) fed with fish, blood and bone, seaweed and tomato feed, and watered copiously … I virtually sang to it, read bedtime stories to it and pleaded with it … but it was never happy and only ever produced a few flowers. 

    I gave it to a friend who planted it in deep loamy soil in a sunny corner by a wall that holds the heat and she virtually ignored it  … it’s romped away and flowers all summer. I’m green with envy. 

    I hope yours will be happy in its big pot and bloom beautifully for you … I’ll cross my fingers🤞 but I won’t hold my breath. 😉 

    Good luck 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • RoddersUKRoddersUK Posts: 537
    edited May 2022
    I've been struggling with my campsis, was feeding it etc, but was told not to feed it!
    This year I shall see, just going to ignore it. Seemed to work for Doves friend
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I planted one of these in full sun in my last garden in Belgium but the soil was clearly too rich and damp and the winters too cold and it did not thrive.

    Round here they seem to grow best in hot, sunny, dry conditions.   We have one planted in a teeny bed round a stone built well at the front of the house - kind of like a roundabout between gate and garage.   It gets very little rain in summer and bakes in hot sun.  It doesn't flower prolifically as I have to keep it pruned to stop it doing a triffid all over our drive.

    I see others planted against stone walls and trained up and over them and gate arches or pergolas, again in full sun and poor soil but with the ability to get their roots down as deep as they need to find moisture and nutrients to support vigorous growth.

    If you can't get yours in the ground in a sunny spot I suggest you find it a new home or settle for just enjoying the foliage and making sure it gets some liquid tomato fertiliser feeds when watering and a slow release feed for roses or tomatoes every spring to encourage flowers.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    RHS says it can be grown in a large pot but I did have my doubts and @Dovefromabove’s experience bears that out. A south-facing, sunny sheltered wall would definitely be your best bet if you have one. My winters are actually too cold for it and many Mediterranean shrubs and climbers like bougainvillea and oleander to survive, despite having said south-facing, sunny sheltered stone wall and living in Spain. They grow like weeds on the coast, but up in my mountains, not a chance!
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • NewbieGardenerSW17NewbieGardenerSW17 Posts: 10
    If I had a sunny south facing wall, that's where it would be. Our south wall is shared with next door as it's internal (i.e. we are terraced!) so not an option but thank you anyway. 


    Nollie said:
    RHS says it can be grown in a large pot but I did have my doubts and @Dovefromabove’s experience bears that out. A south-facing, sunny sheltered wall would definitely be your best bet if you have one. My winters are actually too cold for it and many Mediterranean shrubs and climbers like bougainvillea and oleander to survive, despite having said south-facing, sunny sheltered stone wall and living in Spain. They grow like weeds on the coast, but up in my mountains, not a chance!

    To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Then go for a west facing wall if you have one!
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • NewbieGardenerSW17NewbieGardenerSW17 Posts: 10
    We live in a terrace oriented Sw/NE. SE (front elevation) gets morning sun, rear NW facing elevation gets sun in summer, May- Sept fr late am until abt 7pm. Best I can do! If anyone has suggestions for something more suitable to grow up a 3 storey house in that position, fire away!
    To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.
  • NewbieGardenerSW17NewbieGardenerSW17 Posts: 10
    Did you replace it DfrA  and if so, what with and did that do OK?

    PS if it does well, I will try* not to gloat! *fail- there will be pictures!


    Dovefromabove said:
    When I had one I found Campsis to be later into growth than almost any other plant in my garden. 

    Despite it being in a huge pot, and being repotted with fresh John Innes No 3 loambased compost every year (a huge feat requiring two of us and causing OH to strain his back) fed with fish, blood and bone, seaweed and tomato feed, and watered copiously … I virtually sang to it, read bedtime stories to it and pleaded with it … but it was never happy and only ever produced a few flowers. 

    I gave it to a friend who planted it in deep loamy soil in a sunny corner by a wall that holds the heat and she virtually ignored it  … it’s romped away and flowers all summer. I’m green with envy. 

    I hope yours will be happy in its big pot and bloom beautifully for you … I’ll cross my fingers🤞 but I won’t hold my breath. 😉 

    Good luck 😊 

    To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.
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