A customer came in yesterday who said that, no matter what she bought,
or where, scented plants seem always to lose their scent once she gets
them into her garden. Even her Daphne bholura 'Jacqueline Postill' is
poorly scented. She says friends have said the same of their gardens
and have been told it's because of the time of soil they have. Warmth
makes no difference, apparently. Has anyone else experience of this,
or heard of soil making a difference to scent?
--

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

In article ,
Sacha wrote:

A customer came in yesterday who said that, no matter what she bought,
or where, scented plants seem always to lose their scent once she gets
them into her garden. Even her Daphne bholura 'Jacqueline Postill' is
poorly scented. She says friends have said the same of their gardens
and have been told it's because of the time of soil they have. Warmth
makes no difference, apparently. Has anyone else experience of this,
or heard of soil making a difference to scent?

Yes. Whether it is soil, or what, I don't know. Many plants do that
with me, but not all.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On 23/01/15 09:53, Sacha wrote:
A customer came in yesterday who said that, no matter what she bought,
or where, scented plants seem always to lose their scent once she gets
them into her garden. Even her Daphne bholura 'Jacqueline Postill' is
poorly scented. She says friends have said the same of their gardens
and have been told it's because of the time of soil they have. Warmth
makes no difference, apparently. Has anyone else experience of this,
or heard of soil making a difference to scent?

I can't say I've found many plants that are not scented in my garden,
but are scented elsewhere. I do wonder if multiple vegetative
propagation might weaken some plants in certain ways, which might
include scent, but that would not be a garden-specific change.

I do find it hard to believe that in one particular garden normally
scented plants are not scented. Plant scents are so varied in their
nature and chemical makeup that it is just not feasible for something
like soil type to affect them all. I cannot see any scientific
explanation for soil type to affect just scent anyway.

--

Jeff

In article ,
Jeff Layman wrote:
On 23/01/15 09:53, Sacha wrote:
A customer came in yesterday who said that, no matter what she bought,
or where, scented plants seem always to lose their scent once she gets
them into her garden. Even her Daphne bholura 'Jacqueline Postill' is
poorly scented. She says friends have said the same of their gardens
and have been told it's because of the time of soil they have. Warmth
makes no difference, apparently. Has anyone else experience of this,
or heard of soil making a difference to scent?

I can't say I've found many plants that are not scented in my garden,
but are scented elsewhere. I do wonder if multiple vegetative
propagation might weaken some plants in certain ways, which might
include scent, but that would not be a garden-specific change.

Well, that can happen, due to virus load if nothing else. But, as
I said, my garden is also one of the poor scenting ones.

Typically only to the scent of flowers, and then only to most (i.e.
not all). It's odd.

I do find it hard to believe that in one particular garden normally
scented plants are not scented. Plant scents are so varied in their
nature and chemical makeup that it is just not feasible for something
like soil type to affect them all. I cannot see any scientific
explanation for soil type to affect just scent anyway.

They aren't unscented, so much as with very little scent. And there
are a LOT of possible scientific explanations, some of which would
have soil involvement. There's little point in speculating on why.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

In article , lid
says...

On 23/01/15 09:53, Sacha wrote:
A customer came in yesterday who said that, no matter what she bought,
or where, scented plants seem always to lose their scent once she gets
them into her garden. Even her Daphne bholura 'Jacqueline Postill' is
poorly scented. She says friends have said the same of their gardens
and have been told it's because of the time of soil they have. Warmth
makes no difference, apparently. Has anyone else experience of this,
or heard of soil making a difference to scent?

I can't say I've found many plants that are not scented in my garden,
but are scented elsewhere. I do wonder if multiple vegetative
propagation might weaken some plants in certain ways, which might
include scent, but that would not be a garden-specific change.

I do find it hard to believe that in one particular garden normally
scented plants are not scented.

OTOH many people seem to have little awareness of how much location,
aspect exposure and density of planting affect plant performance. In a
sunny sheltered garden, where the air is still, scents will be more
noticeable. In an exposed windy garden they may be barely perceptible
until you cut flowers and take them indoors.

I've often noticed in nurseries that where there are masses of one
plant all in full flower, sheer volume of flowers makes the scent almost
overwhelming and attracts customers from yards around, a great selling
point but far more concentrated than one small purchase will produce in
its new home.

Janet.

On 23/01/15 15:17, Janet wrote:
In article , lid
says...

On 23/01/15 09:53, Sacha wrote:
A customer came in yesterday who said that, no matter what she bought,
or where, scented plants seem always to lose their scent once she gets
them into her garden. Even her Daphne bholura 'Jacqueline Postill' is
poorly scented. She says friends have said the same of their gardens
and have been told it's because of the time of soil they have. Warmth
makes no difference, apparently. Has anyone else experience of this,
or heard of soil making a difference to scent?

I can't say I've found many plants that are not scented in my garden,
but are scented elsewhere. I do wonder if multiple vegetative
propagation might weaken some plants in certain ways, which might
include scent, but that would not be a garden-specific change.

I do find it hard to believe that in one particular garden normally
scented plants are not scented.

OTOH many people seem to have little awareness of how much location,
aspect exposure and density of planting affect plant performance. In a
sunny sheltered garden, where the air is still, scents will be more
noticeable. In an exposed windy garden they may be barely perceptible
until you cut flowers and take them indoors.

I am in full agreement with physical effects on presence or absence of
scent. To your list I would add, in particular, temperature. There is no
doubt that a cold site will usually result in reduced scent. But even
that isn't necessarily true for plants which flower in winter. They
don't seem to be affected by low temperatures - as one would expect.

I've often noticed in nurseries that where there are masses of one
plant all in full flower, sheer volume of flowers makes the scent almost
overwhelming and attracts customers from yards around, a great selling
point but far more concentrated than one small purchase will produce in
its new home.

It can also repel them if the scent is particularly strong and might be
deemed unpleasant by some (such as hyacinths or certain "scented"
narcissi)!

--

Jeff

On 2015-01-23 15:17:25 +0000, Janet said:

In article , lid
says...

On 23/01/15 09:53, Sacha wrote:
A customer came in yesterday who said that, no matter what she bought,
or where, scented plants seem always to lose their scent once she gets
them into her garden. Even her Daphne bholura 'Jacqueline Postill' is
poorly scented. She says friends have said the same of their gardens
and have been told it's because of the time of soil they have. Warmth
makes no difference, apparently. Has anyone else experience of this,
or heard of soil making a difference to scent?

I can't say I've found many plants that are not scented in my garden,
but are scented elsewhere. I do wonder if multiple vegetative
propagation might weaken some plants in certain ways, which might
include scent, but that would not be a garden-specific change.

I do find it hard to believe that in one particular garden normally
scented plants are not scented.

OTOH many people seem to have little awareness of how much location,
aspect exposure and density of planting affect plant performance. In a
sunny sheltered garden, where the air is still, scents will be more
noticeable. In an exposed windy garden they may be barely perceptible
until you cut flowers and take them indoors.

I've often noticed in nurseries that where there are masses of one
plant all in full flower, sheer volume of flowers makes the scent almost
overwhelming and attracts customers from yards around, a great selling
point but far more concentrated than one small purchase will produce in
its new home.

Janet.

This customer wasn't only comparing how things smell in a Nursery or
garden centre but also how her plants and those of some of her friends,
perform compared to other plants in the gardens of other friends.
There, they are grown singly and not for a sales display. She's an
experienced gardener and is well aware of the difference warmth, air
currents, etc. will make and is talking of her plants bought over
several years.
--

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

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
A customer came in yesterday who said that, no matter what she bought,
or where, scented plants seem always to lose their scent once she gets
them into her garden. Even her Daphne bholura 'Jacqueline Postill' is
poorly scented. She says friends have said the same of their gardens
and have been told it's because of the time of soil they have. Warmth
makes no difference, apparently. Has anyone else experience of this,
or heard of soil making a difference to scent?
--
I don't know.

Last year I bought a red rose Thinking Of You, which was described by
various sellers as having a great scent. Although it bloomed beautifully, I
could barely detect any scent, nor could anyone else that I showed it to. I
brought this matter up on another forum about roses, and one poster said
that she had grown plants with 'scented' blooms that didn't have any
detectable scent in their first year of planting, but in subsequent years
they did produce the anticipated scent. So maybe it takes time for some
plants to establish thenselves in different soil conditions before they are
happy to reward you. Or maybe in my case the rose breeder was just lying
about that rose having a strong scent and fasely describing its scent as a
sellingpoint.

On 2015-01-23 14:44:28 +0000, FrankB said:

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
A customer came in yesterday who said that, no matter what she bought,
or where, scented plants seem always to lose their scent once she gets
them into her garden. Even her Daphne bholura 'Jacqueline Postill' is
poorly scented. She says friends have said the same of their gardens
and have been told it's because of the time of soil they have. Warmth
makes no difference, apparently. Has anyone else experience of this,
or heard of soil making a difference to scent?
--
I don't know.

Last year I bought a red rose Thinking Of You, which was described by
various sellers as having a great scent. Although it bloomed beautifully, I
could barely detect any scent, nor could anyone else that I showed it to. I
brought this matter up on another forum about roses, and one poster said
that she had grown plants with 'scented' blooms that didn't have any
detectable scent in their first year of planting, but in subsequent years
they did produce the anticipated scent. So maybe it takes time for some
plants to establish thenselves in different soil conditions before they are
happy to reward you. Or maybe in my case the rose breeder was just lying
about that rose having a strong scent and fasely describing its scent as a
sellingpoint.

I could see this except that the customer wasn't talking specifically
about any one plant but ALL scented plants. She's bought them from
different sources, found them to be highly scented when bought but not
in her own garden. And the Daphne bholua Jacqueline Postill is one of
the most perfumed plants going. Hers just doesn't perform!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

On 2015-01-23 14:44:28 +0000, FrankB said:

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
A customer came in yesterday who said that, no matter what she bought,
or where, scented plants seem always to lose their scent once she gets
them into her garden. Even her Daphne bholura 'Jacqueline Postill' is
poorly scented. She says friends have said the same of their gardens
and have been told it's because of the time of soil they have. Warmth
makes no difference, apparently. Has anyone else experience of this,
or heard of soil making a difference to scent?
--
I don't know.

Last year I bought a red rose Thinking Of You, which was described by
various sellers as having a great scent. Although it bloomed beautifully, I
could barely detect any scent, nor could anyone else that I showed it to. I
brought this matter up on another forum about roses, and one poster said
that she had grown plants with 'scented' blooms that didn't have any
detectable scent in their first year of planting, but in subsequent years
they did produce the anticipated scent. So maybe it takes time for some
plants to establish thenselves in different soil conditions before they are
happy to reward you. Or maybe in my case the rose breeder was just lying
about that rose having a strong scent and fasely describing its scent as a
sellingpoint.

I've often seen many varied descriptions of plants have a strong scent
or being 'sweetly fragrant' etc. Obviously, reactions vary according to
an individual's own sense of smell. I've often seen Lonicera purpusii
described as strongly fragrant, whereas to me it's merely nicely
perfumed. I'd called Sarcococca and Daphne bholua and Akebia quinata
alba strongly scented because I and others often stop in our tracks to
detect where 'that lovely smell' is coming from. You may be right -
maturity of the plant may have somethiing to do with it, or
pollination, or who knows what! And of course, a lot of things will
smell scented in the warmth and stillness of a conservatory, that
wouldn't be especially noticeable if blown about by wind in a garden.
--

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

"Sacha" wrote

A customer came in yesterday who said that, no matter what she bought, or
where, scented plants seem always to lose their scent once she gets them
into her garden. Even her Daphne bholura 'Jacqueline Postill' is poorly
scented. She says friends have said the same of their gardens and have
been told it's because of the time of soil they have. Warmth makes no
difference, apparently. Has anyone else experience of this, or heard of
soil making a difference to scent?

It has to be something about conditions they are growing in, possibly
nutrients.
I say that as, and I have mentioned this before, many years ago my wife used
to ensure there was a vase of flowers in the house, normally spray
carnations which had no smell at all as bought. I noticed as I arranged them
that a few had offshoots that could be used as cuttings so I took them
potted them up as any gardener would and when rooted plated them out on our
allotment. That meant they grew hard in an open position with no care at all
other than weeding. When they eventually started flowering the next season
they all had that glorious clove like scent missing from their parents and
it was strong too. Can only have been the difference in the way they were
grown.
Too much fertiliser or rich soil perhaps?

--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

On 2015-01-23 17:09:02 +0000, Bob Hobden said:

"Sacha" wrote

A customer came in yesterday who said that, no matter what she bought,
or where, scented plants seem always to lose their scent once she gets
them into her garden. Even her Daphne bholura 'Jacqueline Postill' is
poorly scented. She says friends have said the same of their gardens
and have been told it's because of the time of soil they have. Warmth
makes no difference, apparently. Has anyone else experience of this,
or heard of soil making a difference to scent?

It has to be something about conditions they are growing in, possibly
nutrients.
I say that as, and I have mentioned this before, many years ago my wife
used to ensure there was a vase of flowers in the house, normally spray
carnations which had no smell at all as bought. I noticed as I arranged
them that a few had offshoots that could be used as cuttings so I took
them potted them up as any gardener would and when rooted plated them
out on our allotment. That meant they grew hard in an open position
with no care at all other than weeding. When they eventually started
flowering the next season they all had that glorious clove like scent
missing from their parents and it was strong too. Can only have been
the difference in the way they were grown.
Too much fertiliser or rich soil perhaps?

But she has the opposite problem, Bob. She buys scented plants, puts
them into perfectly good ordinary soil and they become almost scentless.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

"sacha" wrote ...

Bob Hobden said:

"Sacha" wrote

A customer came in yesterday who said that, no matter what she bought,
or where, scented plants seem always to lose their scent once she gets
them into her garden. Even her Daphne bholura 'Jacqueline Postill' is
poorly scented. She says friends have said the same of their gardens
and have been told it's because of the time of soil they have. Warmth
makes no difference, apparently. Has anyone else experience of this, or
heard of soil making a difference to scent?

It has to be something about conditions they are growing in, possibly
nutrients.
I say that as, and I have mentioned this before, many years ago my wife
used to ensure there was a vase of flowers in the house, normally spray
carnations which had no smell at all as bought. I noticed as I arranged
them that a few had offshoots that could be used as cuttings so I took
them potted them up as any gardener would and when rooted plated them out
on our allotment. That meant they grew hard in an open position with no
care at all other than weeding. When they eventually started flowering
the next season they all had that glorious clove like scent missing from
their parents and it was strong too. Can only have been the difference in
the way they were grown.
Too much fertiliser or rich soil perhaps?

But she has the opposite problem, Bob. She buys scented plants, puts them
into perfectly good ordinary soil and they become almost scentless.

That is what the professional flower growers had done with those spray
carnations, taken well scented flowers and made them grow with no scent.
They had grown them soft with too much TLC and fertiliser.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

On 2015-01-23 17:09:02 +0000, Bob Hobden said:

"Sacha" wrote

A customer came in yesterday who said that, no matter what she bought,
or where, scented plants seem always to lose their scent once she gets
them into her garden. Even her Daphne bholura 'Jacqueline Postill' is
poorly scented. She says friends have said the same of their gardens
and have been told it's because of the time of soil they have. Warmth
makes no difference, apparently. Has anyone else experience of this,
or heard of soil making a difference to scent?

It has to be something about conditions they are growing in, possibly
nutrients.
I say that as, and I have mentioned this before, many years ago my wife
used to ensure there was a vase of flowers in the house, normally spray
carnations which had no smell at all as bought. I noticed as I arranged
them that a few had offshoots that could be used as cuttings so I took
them potted them up as any gardener would and when rooted plated them
out on our allotment. That meant they grew hard in an open position
with no care at all other than weeding. When they eventually started
flowering the next season they all had that glorious clove like scent
missing from their parents and it was strong too. Can only have been
the difference in the way they were grown.
Too much fertiliser or rich soil perhaps?

Could be - definitely another possible theory. I wonder if any of those
are grown hydroponically?
--

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

On 23/01/2015 09:53, Sacha wrote:
A customer came in yesterday who said that, no matter what she bought,
or where, scented plants seem always to lose their scent once she gets
them into her garden. Even her Daphne bholura 'Jacqueline Postill' is
poorly scented. She says friends have said the same of their gardens
and have been told it's because of the time of soil they have. Warmth
makes no difference, apparently. Has anyone else experience of this, or
heard of soil making a difference to scent?

As scent is one of the ways that plants attract pollinators then if the
plant is thriving in nice rich soil and is living in the lap of luxury
then why exert all that effort producing scent?
Think of lavender a sun-baked rocky soil and the scent is really
concentrated, here in wet Wales a lot less scent.
Grow 'em hard.
David