Hi all,

For the third year running, my 2 Philadelphus shrubs have almost no flowers on them. They are the 'Virginal' variety. One is in full sun and the other is slightly shaded. The one in full sun is around 7-8ft high and the other is about 5ft. We have clay soil and is rather moist most of the time. I haven't given them any feed in the past so I wonder if I should and what type should I give them? I took a cutting last year which is now about 18inches high and I put this in the ground in April in a slightly drier place but it doesn't have any flowers either, surprise, surprise.

I grew this plant in another house and I had masses of flowers. Never gave it any feed.

What can the problem be and solution please?

On 9 June, 08:48, Lintama wrote:
Hi all,

For the third year running, my 2 Philadelphus shrubs have almost no
flowers on them. They are the 'Virginal' variety. One is in full sun
and the other is slightly shaded. The one in full sun is around 7-8ft
high and the other is about 5ft. We have clay soil and is rather moist
most of the time. I haven't given them any feed in the past so I wonder
if I should and what type should I give them? *I took a cutting last
year which is now about 18inches high and I put this in the ground in
April in a slightly drier place but it doesn't have any flowers either,
surprise, surprise. *

I grew this plant in another house and I had masses of flowers. Never
gave it any feed.

What can the problem be and solution please?

--
Lintama

I wonder if it's due to Bull finches taking the buds off?
I havw this problem with a few spring flowering shrubs that they
decimate every year.
David Hill

On Tue, 9 Jun 2009 04:58:51 -0700 (PDT), Dave Hill
wrote:

On 9 June, 08:48, Lintama wrote:
Hi all,

For the third year running, my 2 Philadelphus shrubs have almost no
flowers on them. They are the 'Virginal' variety. One is in full sun
and the other is slightly shaded. The one in full sun is around 7-8ft
high and the other is about 5ft. We have clay soil and is rather moist
most of the time. I haven't given them any feed in the past so I wonder
if I should and what type should I give them? *I took a cutting last
year which is now about 18inches high and I put this in the ground in
April in a slightly drier place but it doesn't have any flowers either,
surprise, surprise. *

I grew this plant in another house and I had masses of flowers. Never
gave it any feed.

What can the problem be and solution please?

--
Lintama

I wonder if it's due to Bull finches taking the buds off?
I havw this problem with a few spring flowering shrubs that they
decimate every year.
David Hill

Have you pruned it? I pruned mine a bit late a few years ago, and had
no flowers the following year.

Pam in Bristol

"Lintama" wrote in message
...

Hi all,

For the third year running, my 2 Philadelphus shrubs have almost no
flowers on them. They are the 'Virginal' variety. One is in full sun
and the other is slightly shaded. The one in full sun is around 7-8ft
high and the other is about 5ft. We have clay soil and is rather moist
most of the time. I haven't given them any feed in the past so I wonder
if I should and what type should I give them? I took a cutting last
year which is now about 18inches high and I put this in the ground in
April in a slightly drier place but it doesn't have any flowers either,
surprise, surprise.

I grew this plant in another house and I had masses of flowers. Never
gave it any feed.

What can the problem be and solution please?

Philadelpus flowers on old wood. If you pruned it each year for the last 3,
that's the problem.
Your new one will need to get established.

Hi and thank you both for your suggestions.

Yes, I pruned the old wood back as per instructions in my RHS book and that was done in the Spring.

As for bull finches. I do have a bird feeder very near the shrubs which has nuts in and I do get a lot of finches but sorry to say I don't know what a bull finch looks like. We have all the other type of finches though. I didn't know they would go for ther buds of the P. shrub. Will try moving the feeder.

On Tue, 9 Jun 2009 23:57:38 +0100, Lintama
wrote:


Hi and thank you both for your suggestions.

Yes, I pruned the old wood back as per instructions in my RHS book and
that was done in the Spring.

As for bull finches. I do have a bird feeder very near the shrubs which
has nuts in and I do get a lot of finches but sorry to say I don't know
what a bull finch looks like. We have all the other type of finches
though. I didn't know they would go for ther buds of the P. shrub. Will
try moving the feeder.

If you pruned it in Spring, that is the problem. Did the RHS tell you
to do it then? Prune after flowering.


Pam in Bristol

In article ,
says...
On Tue, 9 Jun 2009 23:57:38 +0100, Lintama
wrote:


Hi and thank you both for your suggestions.

Yes, I pruned the old wood back as per instructions in my RHS book and
that was done in the Spring.

As for bull finches. I do have a bird feeder very near the shrubs which
has nuts in and I do get a lot of finches but sorry to say I don't know
what a bull finch looks like. We have all the other type of finches
though. I didn't know they would go for ther buds of the P. shrub. Will
try moving the feeder.

If you pruned it in Spring, that is the problem. Did the RHS tell you
to do it then? Prune after flowering.


Pam in Bristol

Pam's right the worst time to prune a philadelphus is the spring, end of
July is the best time as soon as its finished flowering
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea

Yes, this is probably the reason why there are so few flowers. I can only see one branch with flower buds on. I knew to cut back the old growth but I may have taken a few of the new branches as well.
Will cut back at the end of July as suggested. After that I will leave the shrubs to get on with it.

Thank you all for your help