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Choisya not growing

1945crewood1945crewood Posts: 19
in Plants
I bought a couple of Choisya (Sundance) plants almost three years ago and although the plants look healthy, they don't seem to have grown much at all since I've had them.

Can any one please advise on what care I should be giving them at this time of year?
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  • punkdocpunkdoc Sheffield, Derbyshire border.Posts: 7,401
    Are they in pots, or in the ground?
    Sun or shade?
    What is the soil like?
    Do you feed / water them?
    Photos would help.
    Did they tear it out with talons of steel
    And give you a shot, so that you wouldn't feel?
  • 1945crewood1945crewood Posts: 19
    edited September 2019
    The two plants I have are in the ground but the soil has never been worked on at all. They get the morning sun up until about 1pm.

    I water them weekly when I do water changes on my fresh water aquariums, plenty of fish waste in the water. No feed other than that.

  • 1945crewood1945crewood Posts: 19
    No One?
  • ObelixxObelixx Vendée, Western FrancePosts: 18,827
    The RHS says they need full sun - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/96024/Choisya-ternata-Sundance-Lich-(PBR)/Details - altho I grew one very well on the north side of our last house so it got no sun in winter but plenty of light and then only full sun all day around the summer solstice.

    I suspect if the soil wasn't worked before or since that it just needs a good feed but not now.  This autumn, after plenty of rain has fallen, give it agood mulch of welll-rotted garden compost or spent planting compost which the worms will work into the soil over winter and thus improve its texture. 

    In spring, give it a good mulch of well-rotted manure and a handful of pelleted chicken manure or blood, fish and bone to give it slow release nutrition and occasional feeds of liquid tomato feed up until mid July.   That should help with growth and flowering.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • 1945crewood1945crewood Posts: 19
    Thanks for taking the time to reply Obelixx, really appreciate the help.

    Not heard of the pelleted chicken manure before, is it something that my local garden centre should stock?
  • WillDBWillDB Posts: 1,965
    I think morning sun would be OK, they may go a shade greener in semi shade.

    OP - you haven't told us anything specific that raises alarm bells other than the soil wasn't worked on at all. That doesn't really help either - if it was a good loamy soil that would be fine but if it was rock hard clay subsoil or waterlogged that would be the reason they are struggling. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl west central ScotlandPosts: 27,058
    I'd agree with @WillDB re the semi shade. Morning sun is definitely ok for them.

    Bit more info needed about the conditions. It could be all sorts of things causing the issue, but without adequate info, it's hard to be specific. Exposure to cold wind and cold winters for instance, aren't appreciated. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....


  • 1945crewood1945crewood Posts: 19
    To help with the soil, it is pretty easy to dig, not waterlogged an no clay that I can see at all. Both plants are in the same border around the edge of a lawn.

  • ObelixxObelixx Vendée, Western FrancePosts: 18,827
    Try feeding and watering then, as above.  The last thing you want now is soft new growth just before the frosts start.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • 1945crewood1945crewood Posts: 19
    Thanks for all the help, I'll give it try as suggested.

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