Weather was generally lovely this winter so I don't know what caused my TX Mtn Laurel not to bloom. Tell me which plant(s) of yours didn't bloom, that should have.
Things that did not bloom
I bought some mums from the grocery store in October and planted them right next to my door, thinking they would provide some nice winter color until it started getting hot. They just sat there all winter until a couple of weeks ago and NOW they are blooming! LOL
Marylyn they look nice. all mine mums are in various stages of bloom. did your MT laurel bloom this year
Yes, my MT laurel had a very good year. I even had a neighbor knock on my door to ask what they were - the first time that's ever happened! Mostly I get the impression that the neighbors wish I would take the beds out of the front yard and plant grass so our yard looks like everyone else's. I gave her a couple of MT laurel pups. She brought a friend over to see the trees the next day and I've seen her walking by a few times, so I feel like I'm on a garden tour now. LOL Right now my garden is probably disappointing her. I have a few seedlings in (I actually managed to fail to kill a few of the seeds I planted this year!! YAYY!), but they aren't doing anything pretty yet and I haven't had the time or money go visit a nursery yet, so mostly right now the garden looks like mulch. LOL
I have Texas Mountain Laurels in various spots on my property (came with the property) and all the ones that have bloomed before bloomed this year, plus a couple of ones that are smaller bloomed the first time. Size has a lot to do with whether they bloom, I think, plus how much sun they get. Has yours bloomed before? You didn't prune it, did you?
they're little, 18" tall and they bloomed last year and year before that. I don't remember pruning them in the past 12 months. grrrr. why didn't the bloom?!?!?!??!
Plants that have not bloomed when they should have:
Bearded iris, don't know the cultivar
Dutch Iris 'Oriental Beauty' - may be because the neighbor's cats knocked all of the foliage to the ground; I really miss this one
Paperwhites - only a few bloomed
Candlestick Tulip (Tulipa clusiana var. chrysantha)
Chinese fringe flower - did not have as many blooms as usual
Louisiana blue phlox ((Phlox divaricata) is just starting to put out a lot of new growth so it will be bloomimg late if it all because the daytime temperatures may become too hot for it
Moonflower seeds won't germinate (I soak them and then plant them when they germinate so bugs won't eat the seed leaves). maybe the weather hasn't been warm enough for them yet. I germinated them late last year (first of June) and they germinated in water in just a few hours
Honeysuckle 'Gold Flame' - whole vine is looknig bad (few leaves, but it has bloom buds on it)
Other plants have bloomed early - realy weird
hazel I forgot to mention my late tulip. the did squat.
RE: Moonflowers: Don't give up on them buy yourself another package of seeds and this time don't soak or sand down the seed! And i'll assure you that they will sprount within 1 week! I have them planted all over my yard along the fence... I'll try to post pictures of them sometime within the next 2 days...Another type of morning glory that is doing well is called "Sunrise Serenade" from Burpee's bought at home depot. I did actually have to buy me a bag to assist in getting rid of them tiny red ants when I noticed they were starting to nibble on a few of the morning glories leaves...it has help!
mine didn't either. My mums are just starting to put on bloom buds which is very late for them.
PaperWhiteTulip, thanks for the information. I'll try the moonflowers again. I really love them. I'll look for the 'Sunrise Serenade' seeds.
Okie Dokie! The first time I grew them for my aunt...back in 1995, I forgotten I planted them...and yanked them out by mistake thinking they were large weed (lol) and saw the beautiful flower hanging from the clump I pulled out (Grrrrrr) Then I forgot all about ever replanting them...til about a month ago. When I went to HD and bought one package to test them out and then went back for more seeds!
Oh, no. I bet you felt like crying after you pulled them. I planted them for the first time last year and was amazed by the size of the seed leaves. I thought. ""Oh, my gosh ... what monster have I planted."
(lol) re: monster plant! Yes, I felt like crying and screaming!!! (lol) when I saw the large Moonflower after I had pulled them out :(
Re: Hollyhocks "Peaches & Dreams"... when I first planted them by seed about 5yrs ago... I did not know once you plant them you shouldn't transplant them... so I transplanted them and they didn't come up the second year! "grrrrrrr" so, the third year... I planted them and they came up ok.... but the second year when they were suppose to bloom! Only one came up becuz I planted them in a too shaded area! Gosh, I treasured the one an only "Peaches&Dream" hollyhock I grew that year! (lol) I did ended up planting other hollyhocks and totally forgotten what color they were..... becuz I was so looking forward to seeing the "Peaches & Dreams" hollyhocks... so when they finally started blooming, I was in total shock to see "Black hollyhocks" blooming 7 feet tall! I guess I had bad gardening karma that year? (lol)
another that didn't bloom for me is the magnolia soulanginiana (sp?) the one that blooms first, then puts out leaves. Was full of buds, then we had the 20 second freeze and that was it for 2006. I hate it when that happens.
Hollyhocks never seem to bloom for me before May....I plant the seeds in August...mine are huge so I know they will bloom; just not until may.
Vosser...aww gosh what a total bummer :( I had a nightmare about a month ago that it was snowing here in the valley! And in my dream I was basicly in "shock" from looking out the window....at all the snow! (lol)
Dmj: Your plants look very healthy! So, far out of three packages I planted I only have about 8 tiny ones growing very slowly...............gee whiz......
Off topic, but I'll join in on the hollyhock talk. I planted my first ever last fall, four of them - two flanking the sides of two trellises (I knew they would need help to stand up straight.) They were growing like gang-busters, but were taking so long to bloom that I was concerned they were shading my slowly reviving vines. I cut down all but one of them, and the first bud finally bloomed a week ago Sunday. The thing is, this thing is huge! Granted, it's in a raised bed, but the bed isn't all that high. I'll get on my computer when I get home tonight and post a picture.
"WoW" Im totally excited to hear your great news! And look forward to seeing a picture!
Tks for your post......
Thar she blows! A week ago this was flirting with the height of the gutter, now it's 1 1/2 feet above the gutter. Sheesh!
Hazel, Dutch Iris 'Oriental Beauty' did not bloom for me either. I put them in a container under some Pansies last fall. The foliage came up beautifully, but no blooms. I finally pulled them out of the pot Saturday. They are all stuffed in a gallon pot with a little soil waiting for the foilage to die back and then I might keep them or toss 'em.
Maggie, that is some great looking hollyhock.
sweezel, I just don't understand why my 'Oriental Beauty' didn't bloom and am so disappointed because I really love their long lasting blooms. Mine did just like yours. They came up just like they always do and nothing happened. I just read somewhere that the old blooms should be cut off inorder for them to bloom the following year (leaving the foliage to die before cutting off). In the past, I have never cut the old blooms off, but this never stopped them from blooming the following year.
My freesias were disappointing, only a few bloomed. My poppies didn't get a chance to flower. I think I planted them too late and it got too hot.
My Dutch iris flowered, but the blooming period was so short. I think I'm pushing my zone too much! Will they survive here or do they need a cool winter?
Maggiemoo, that is some hollyhock tree! It reminds me of the bouganvilla that I planted in the ground next to a small trellis for it to "decorate". When that thing get going you can't even tell there is a trellis there. I have to tie the plant to the trellis we made for Mdm Alfred (it's near by) and it grows way up above the eaves of the house. I'll get a picture of it this year.
another thing that didn't bloom was the forsythia, but I kinda expected that since winter so mild. I'm noticing a trend on my non-bloomers. seems to be mostly plants that bloom first, leaf out later.
oh, also ranunculus bulbs that I planted, didn't even come up. and I guess they're NOT coming up at all since, too warm already. bummer.
Maggiemoo, "WoW" amazing hollyhock... that looks like it could be a world's record for the books! (wink) I really like the leaf pattern on the hollyhock... Do you recall the name of the flower? Silverfluter: so that's how ya, spell bouganvilla...tks! (smile)
Just ran across this thread and wanted to find out what you are doing to make hollyhocks grow. I planted mine last year - they got to about six inches tall and quit. Looked at them the other day and they are only about 8 inches tall. By the way, can't see Maggiemoo's - the picture seems to have disappeared.
Sharon
Picture is back - guess it had to do with the new server
This message was edited Apr 19, 2006 5:20 PM
I have been tempted to try hollyhocks, but some people have told me they don't do well here. Others have told me you have to get the right kind. So what's the right kind?
Hollyhocks always do great for me as biennials--they should bloom soon--the leaves above are 3 foot tall.
Debbie
Can they take the heat and dry climate up here along with the alkaline soil? What's the difference between french hollyhocks and any other kind - besides language.lol
RE: heat and dry climate: I been watering my seedlings every day it seems. We haven't had rainfall in such a long time... I was watering the lawn twice a week to keep it green and now im down to once a week.... This house did not come with a water sprinkling system... I mean ya, it would be kewl to have one..but I get the chance to burn a few calories by reeling out the hose and then reeling it back (lol) and it gives me a chance to check out the garden even more :)
Just be sure that when you water the lawn, it's a deep watering. It's better to water less often, but deeply, than to water more often but shallowly. The deep watering encourages the roots to go deep, so they can survive the worst of the heat and drought easier. Shalow watering keeps the roots shallow, where they dry out much faster, and are more subject to the heat.
Another plant that did not bloom that should have already ... kaffer lily (Clivia miniata)
Silverfluter,
My one and only attempt at growing hollyhocks here failed last year mainly because I never got it in the ground, but if they can grow in Kingsville, they'll grow in Fredricksburg. I remember my mom had lots of them, but I don't remember them being that big. Mary, you must have found the perfect spot for them. Are they growing in full sun?
The warm winter we had has affected my apple trees. Only one bloomed — the one that requires only 200 chill hours. The rest started to leaf out about 2 weeks ago. The average number of chill hours is 600 - 650 a year. No blooms. My Mountain Laurels didn't bloom. The late frost we had wiped out all but 2 little peaches and all the plum blossoms.
I'm afraid for all my live oaks. Around here, they normally lose all their leaves in early February. Most never really went bald and a few are just now losing theirs. Add drought stress to the mix and all the energy they put into blooming and prcducing pollen and I could have a serious problem in my hands
veronica, I am relieved to hear I am not not the only one whose MT did not bloom.
I worry too about my various oaks, most are over 30 years old (could be much older, I dunno) and this stress weather has me looking above my head constantly. just a few minutes ago hubby picked up a huge branch that fell off one of the trees.
Okie Dokie Maggie, I use a sprinkler... I was late in putting weedkiller towards the front of the curb area of the lawn and grrrrr had to do some weeding today... after I mowed the lawn infront.... I was watering twice a week becuz our (fern tree) Not sure the correct name of it but that's what it looks like fern leaves on a tree (lol)... well it had buds on it but it was taking 4ever it seems for them to grow... but now they grew quite fast and that is why im down to watering the lawn only once a week. I really didn't water much during the winter months... which is why I think the tree's buds got a late start?