I planted 2 big 1 gal gold star esparenza's about a 1 1/2 months ago and they had some blooms when I planted them and now nothing. The plant itself looks goods, gets plenty of sun and water and is growing well but none of those gorgeous yellow blooms. (My soil is very acidic is that my problem?)
My Esparenza (Gold Star) won't bloom...
Hey! Another Tallahasseean! Hi!
I have Yellow Bells and haven't ever even seen another esperanza in Tally. Someone gave me one at a roundup. The first year, it bloomed a little bit, right at the end of the season and then I bit my nails to see if it would make it through the winter, which it did just fine. This year, it's blooming like crazy. As long as you're not going overboard trying to troubleshoot the problem, my best advice is to wait it out. Maybe it needs a year or so to establish itself before it pops out with blooms. It seemed like mine wanted to mature to its full size first. You might also consider trying Miracle Gro's Bloombuster fertilizer. It's high in nitrogen or something that makes plants bloom better.
I'm curious -- where did you find the gold star? Which nursery in Tally carries esperanza?
Transplanting from the pot to the ground is going to create a little stress for the plant as it adjusts to its new environment, so it probably decided it wanted to put energy toward developing new roots rather than using up all its energy producing blooms. I've had this happen with a number of shrubs when I've planted them, so I wouldn't worry about it at all (it's probably better for the plant if it's not blooming, that way it can focus its energy on root development and putting out new growth). I also think it's better not to fertilize recent transplants right away, better to let them get settled in a bit first.
You know the 1st year I'd planted my orange one it didn't really bloom like I thought it should. This year, 2nd year in the ground, it's been more dramatic. Also, the plant is growing more this year than last year and I have had to cut it back quite a bit- I have noticed that it really blooms more after I cut it back- something I woudn't have done the 1st year because it wasn't really all that big.
Hope this helps.
Believe it or not it came from the Wal-Mart on Thomasville...who knew? (I also got some great looking gardenias there too. With all you guys telling me it isn't going to bloom much the first year I guess I'll have to believe you. I probably should'nt expect the same results as a chicken farmer who has lots of free fertilize (he got loads and loads of blooms the first year.) Oh well I guess I have something to look forward to next year...I'm just so impatient :-) Maybe I'll cut it back a little and hopefully get a few blooms.
Well I would fertilize- that can't hurt and in my book it makes all the difference!
Oh, I had no idea that Wal Mart carried plants.
:: adds another plant store to Saturday rounds ::
Thanks for that tip! Hope you get some blooms.
I'm going to disagree with aprilwillis on the fertilizing--if the plant were well established then by all means fertilize it, but it's not generally recommended to fertilize shrubs right after you plant them. The one thing that would be OK for a newly planted shrub would be something like liquid seaweed, but I would definitely not recommend the typical Miracle Gro/bloom booster type fertilizers until next year.
Not sure that I would recommend a MG type- I am not a fan of them at any rate. Would have planted it w/ some osmocote and probably some Superthrive; periodically throughout the growing season would have recommended a water soluable and NOT time relased fertilizer. Each to her own.