On 2013-06-19 17:10:03 +0100, Charlie Pridham said:

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
We've had a letter from a frequent visitor to the nursery who lives in
Wisbech. She says that some years ago they bought a Holboellia and that
it's a vigorous and healthy plant. She couldn't remember the name but
thought it was a jasmine and wrote to us asking for the ID. As a PS,
she said that it forms buds beautifully but then they fall off. She
thinks it's because of the cold but as it forms buds and the plant
itself is unscathed, we suspect it's because it's too dry. But we
wondered if anyone else in that area has experience of this problem
with a Holboellia?

I suppose it could be a late frost that's hitting it but again, the
leaves appear not to be touched at all. We've suggested that she gives
it a good drink in dry spells and particularly if it's in the rain
shadow of the house. If anyone else living 'up there' has any
experience of this, we'd love to hear about it.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

If frosted the buds turn black before dropping off, its usually very
drought tolerant so I would be surprised if it was that, cold damage
sounds more likely, its better when we have very cold winters as it
holds flowering back, mild years like this year it flowers early and I
lost a lot of flower buds in March frosts, happily this year the plants
have tried again and I have a lot of flower at the moment.

PS I normally find the female flowers are weeks later than the males,
which has always struck me as odd

She sent us a few leaves and some buds and neither was black at all.
She's going to make sure it's not drying out and will probably cover it
with fleece in the winter. But if they usually turn black, it isn't
frost, though it could be cold.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk