HELP: Snowstorm annuals barely making a flurry

I usually hang impatiens, but this year I wanted to try something whose dropped petals wouldn't be so hard to clean off my porch floor.

On or around May 1, I purchased three of Snowstorm 'Pink'.

For most of the month of May, they bloomed profusely and continuously, but the last 10 days or so, they have started to look very disappointing.

I fertilize twice monthly, alternating basic container fertilizer (MiracleGrow) with Neptune fish stuff.

The tag says deadheading not necessary, and they take sun to part shade. All three are in part shade with a bit of direct morning sun.

Any ideas what is wrong?

Here's another image. Sorry that the picture is dark. No sun out today.

One more image in better light.

My first guess would be the lack of direct sunlight. I always grow my Bacopa in full sun. The plants I have tried in the shade never flowered well.

Your plants look beautiful and healthy so it is not a lack of care.

Ah, thanks. That is what I was afraid of and why they looked so wonderful to start. I didn't realize they preferred more sun, as they were in the same spot as impatiens.

Nursery people sometimes arrange plants that they think look good together and not any other criteria.

Impatiens and Bacopa will grow together, but, they need morning sun>

Hmm. They do get a bit of morning sun, and my impatiens (in the past) has flowered prolifically in the same spot.

Maybe I just bought duds. Or maybe they don't like the chilly nights in May, but I could swear I read they were hearty to 30 degrees F.

Just this week, when I watered and the water came straight out the bottom, I discovered that two of the containers were rather skimpy on soil, which I didn't notice when I purchased them. It seems that whoever put them in the basket took the plants out of their containers but didn't back fill the hanging basket with soil. So I added some and we'll see how they do. Otherwise, I guess it's back to impatiens and scrubbing the porch floor.

Your basket looks very nice. Are those double impatiens?

Yes they are double imp's.

By morning sun I meant 5 hrs, filtered thru trees, but, still very bright. I went thru my photos and I don't have one container that is in deep shade, like your porch.

One of the ways I make my paycheck is by planting containers>

peony8:

Here in southeastern Mass, we got a lot less sun than usual over the past 5 weeks, and the sun-loving annuals haven't grown much. Maybe it's the same as your situation.

DaleTheGardener mentioned on another thread that the volcanic eruptions of Alaska's Mt. Redoubt may be a contributing factor. In any case, it has been the "darkest" late spring I can remember in decades.

I saw your other thread, asking about shade-loving annuals for containers. There are some very light-colored coleus that brighten up porches, and they don't shed blossoms.

I tried giving up impatiens for the same reason, but went back to them because they looked better than anything else. I solved the problem of leaf litter by purchasing some indoor/outdoor area rugs. I don't even clean them off every day, just once a week I shake them. If you decide to try them, you might want to go with the color of the fallen plant debris (usually brown), rather than porch color.

An area rug is a great idea. Thanks. If I decide against impatients next spring, I will look at coleus. I know there are so many varieties/colors, I am sure to find something I like. But doesn't it grow tall? Or does it eventually flop over? Tall would look weird in hanging baskets.

That's interesting about your weather pattern. I was just thinking what a lovely spring it's been and, aside from a few days of rain and cloud the last week, we have had beautiful weather -- lots of balmy, dry breezes and plenty of sun. In fact, I promised myself that I would take vacation in May or early June next year to avoid the heat and humidity of July/August. Then again, you just never know. It rained up here for nearly a month straight last June-July, and the previous couple Mays it rained all month. I remember because we were either trying to install a new deck or paint our house!

You're not far from where I grew up (Scituate). Beautiful area down there.

I agree with Dale that your Bacopa (one of my very favorite trailers) probably wants more sun Peony.

Not to take your thread too far off-topic but I'm wondering if you have any other suggestions for shade containers Dale. I did a little marketing myself this year and was blown away by how many people ask me to make shade containers for them. After I'd exhausted my supply of impatiens, coleus, violas and lobelia I was kind of stuck. I tucked in some wandering jew and oxalis as filler (the color isn't as vivid, but they'll still grow in shade) and that was about all I had to offer. Do you have any other suggestions for porch plantings?

Edited to add that I just saw Peony's thread asking the same question. I'll go down there and read now. LOL.

This message was edited Jun 7, 2009 8:13 AM

Coleus come in different growing habits, so just avoid the taller types. Pinching them back just takes 30 seconds every other week to keep them bushy. Don't bother with scissors, these are tough plants, not usually fussy. By the way, another person who responded to ths thread, DaleTheGardener, has lots of experience with coleus; I'm just a casual gardener who finds coleus wonderfully useful for many situations where other plants don't thrive, since they tolerate shade so well.

There are literally hundreds of cultivars, so there are plenty of colors and forms to choose from. My local nursery had only two selections, so definately look around online to see what's available if you decide to try them. Since they tolerate shade so well, you can bring them inside for the winter, or you can take lots of cuttings, since they root very easily in water, thus saving your favorite cultivars (and money).

It's not too late in the season to give them a try, if you want to, since they function year-round, depending on your gameplan.

I will always prefer impatiens over coleus, especially the double impatiens that look like tiny rosettes from a distance. However, coleus have earned their polularity by being real workhorses, especially for busy people without much time. I use both.

Here are some information sources if you want to try coleus (sorry, I don't know how to creat clickable links):

Dave's Garden has a Coleus Forum.

Wikipedia.org has a Coleus page with limited basic info.

ParkSeed.com has photos (and seeds and plants).

RosyDawnGardens.com has great info on plant habit, such as mounding, trailing, upright, size ranges, and sun tolerence. I think theyhave stopped filling orders for the season, but worth a look.

ColeusFinder.org (not .com) has an incredible collection of photos and sources, plus a clickable color guide to make searches quick and easy.

I hope your Snowstorm annuals make a comeback!

Those pots do get very bright, filtered sun from but only from around 7-10.

Probably not ideal, but I think the issue might have been lack of soil combined with a string of rainy/cloudy days. This morning -- 3 days after I added new dirt to the containers and 1 day after better weather -- I see new blooms!

BostonArea_6A, thanks so much for the coleus info. It was one of the first plants I experimented with after buying this house (also my first).

I had purchased a tiny flat on sale and stuck pencil-think sprigs into dusty, shady earth with barely a backward glance. I was astounded at how well they performed. They completely filled out the area within a few weeks and even tolerated some afternoon sun.

I did want blooms in my hanging containers but coleus can be very colorful in its own right.

I'll check out those links.

Meanwhile, my Snowstorm appears to be making a comeback! This basket was previously the worst looking of the bunch.

This message was edited Jun 7, 2009 8:56 AM

Also, this spring was also my first foray into double impatiens. I added them to the front of an immense planter at the base of the steps, and I love how bushy and friendly it looks.

This message was edited Jun 7, 2009 9:05 AM

DaleTheGardener, would you mind identifying the plants in Post #6651604. Those colors look gorgeous together. I assume full sun.

Lala_Jane, are all violas perennials?

I always compost my annuals in October/November, but it never occurred to me that some could be saved. I am wondering if my Majestic giant 'Rose Blotch' pansies can be moved to a part shade garden early this fall because they are really gorgeous, and I would love to see them again next spring.

(Please ignore the oak catkins all over my porch in the attached image. I haven't swept in a couple days -- or finished painting!)

The funny thing about that peony is that until this year I always treated violas as annuals. I've always used them in hanging baskets and let the first frost take them. I just found out this spring that I should plant them and let them come back!

I can tell you the red/orange is a lantana, and the yellow is a strawflower. I think they're so interesting and different. Blue looks like a salvia. Here's a closeup of my strawflower. It may be a particular type, but I didn't keep the tag.

And part of the planter. The foliage is kind of gray/green, which makes a nice contrast.

Here's part of my planter garden - all full sun, though

Lovely!

WOW! lrwells50, I have major container envy!! Such a gorgeous and peaceful collection. I could easily sink down into a chair next to those plants and read and snooze for hours. (If I weren't so busy weeding, lol)

Lala_Jane, I'm gonna transplant my viola in early fall and see what happens!

The view from my "throne" on the back porch about 8 am last week

I took 5 pics of this bumblebee, and he always flew away the minute I snapped the shutter until this one

lrwells50, awesome pictures! I love the view from your throne, and that image of the bee is really something.

My view improves improving every year. I just ordered window boxes for my shed (which is actually a miniature version of my Cape).

Now ... what to put in them. Hee hee.

Luckily they are in part sun, so thre are so many more choices. I'd like to get some of that pretty silvery licorice that trails so nicely.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54990/

Helichrysum - I use it as a ground cover, it is perennial here.

Helichyrsum in a container w/geranium.

Peony - I get paid to garden, that is why I have so many photos.

Last one

Nice! What's the pink flower on the right in the last image? Is it a dianthus?

In the right side container, at the very top of photo is Guara, then clockwise there is some Cosmos in the back and the most numerous is Petunia, small flowered kind.

These folks said they couldn't afford me this year, this is last summer's>

Those are some gorgeous plantings. I hope a new customer took their slot.

When money is tight, I cut back on everything else before my flowers. Life is too short to not surround yourself in beauty.

Every time I walk outside and see something new blooming, I feel so good.

You're right, peony8, there are other budget strategies that make more sense than eliminating good plants!

I never saw a movie that gives me as much joy as fresh morning blossoms!