Do my penstemons need feeding?
Do you feed yours?
From 2L plants purchased last Autumn, planted out in Spring, my Raven have grown into large, healthy, bushy plants, but have few flowers - maybe three to five spikes at any one time. Not for me the ‘flowering it’s socks off all summer’ result I was hoping for.
They are planted in a new bed with a ton of compost and manure dug in, so lots of goodness there. I keep them well hydrated. The position is full sun in the morning for a few hours then part shade. So far I have given them one high potassium feed, thinking there was enough fresh nutrients already in there.
Do I need to keep pouring on the potassium weekly or do you think the conditions are too good so they’ve got lazy? Not sure whether to treat ‘em meaner (less water?) or be more bountiful to persuade them put out??
From 2L plants purchased last Autumn, planted out in Spring, my Raven have grown into large, healthy, bushy plants, but have few flowers - maybe three to five spikes at any one time. Not for me the ‘flowering it’s socks off all summer’ result I was hoping for.
They are planted in a new bed with a ton of compost and manure dug in, so lots of goodness there. I keep them well hydrated. The position is full sun in the morning for a few hours then part shade. So far I have given them one high potassium feed, thinking there was enough fresh nutrients already in there.
Do I need to keep pouring on the potassium weekly or do you think the conditions are too good so they’ve got lazy? Not sure whether to treat ‘em meaner (less water?) or be more bountiful to persuade them put out??
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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I have about 6 clumps of Raven which usually flower all summer long.
This year I've had a couple of flower spikes on a couple of plants but that's all.
'Garnet', Hidcote Pink, Sour Grapes and White Bedder all flowered profusely in June, but almost nothing since.
I don't usually feed them, but have been giving the Raven Tomorite for a few weeks - it's made no difference.
I can only guess it's weather related - it's rarely been above 20c here this summer and mostly thick cloud with occasional drizzle
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Not a problem for @Nollie l'm guessing?
I’m kind of wishing I got Garnet instead of Raven @AnniD. Tough sounds good 😃
Come to think of it, most of them are near my roses so they could have helped themselves to rose fertiliser🤔
I also have a big Raven in a big pot that usually gives a fantastic display. It is in a position where it would get full sun if the sun shines and that's the one I've been giving tomorite thinking the compost may be a bit depleted, but it has made no difference.
Even when the ground is baked and bone dry, 'Garnet' carries on flowering regardless - not this year
Garnet in 2020
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.