Non Flowering Penstemon!
Lynn Davies
for your good selves. Can anyone tell me why my penstemon hasn't flowered?
I pruned it in late April as per Alan T's instructions on Gardeners World.
I used the shoots on the offcuts to propagate new plants with a good measure
of success. Now the odd bit is the new plants are all in flower now but the
parent plant shows no sign of flowering at all! What did I do wrong or is
it possible that Alan 'God' Titchmarsh is giving out duff info!!!
Lynn (Magnolia)
Barry and Iris McCanna
"Lynn Davies" <lynnd...@blazingsaddles.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:9mgkdk$487$2...@news5.svr.pol.co.uk...
Lynn,
I'm sure AT didn't give out duff into :-) It is normal to leave all the
old growth on penstemons for the winter as protection and then cut down to
the new growth in April. If that's what he said, that is right. It's
difficult to know, maybe the plant is old or maybe needs some fertilizer.
Does it look healthy?
Penstemons are not known for being long-livers and it is always wise to take
cuttings (which you've done). Actually I've found this year that my
penstemons have not flowered nearly as well as usual. I've put it down to
the weather as I can't find anything wrong with them at all.
This isn't very helpful I know, but just a few thoughts.
Iris McCanna
Lynn Davies
"Barry and Iris McCanna" <beti.m...@wanadoo.fr> wrote in message
news:9mic52$or0>
>
> Lynn,
>
> I'm sure AT didn't give out duff into :-) It is normal to leave all the
> old growth on penstemons for the winter as protection and then cut down
to
> the new growth in April. If that's what he said, that is right. It's
> difficult to know, maybe the plant is old or maybe needs some fertilizer.
> Does it look healthy?
> Penstemons are not known for being long-livers and it is always wise to
take
> cuttings (which you've done). Actually I've found this year that my
> penstemons have not flowered nearly as well as usual. I've put it down
to
> the weather as I can't find anything wrong with them at all.
>
> This isn't very helpful I know, but just a few thoughts.
>
> Iris McCanna
>
>
Iris the plant is only in its second season so I don't think it is age that
is at fault here. The new growth is about 18 inches tall and nice and
strong with good healthy green leaves on it. It is a mystery to me what is
going on so maybe I will cut it down early April next year and not wait for
Alan T to tell me when!!!
My neighbours don't cut theirs down at all and it is now on its 3rd flush of
flowers!
Lynn
Chris Stewart
Aberdeen - they look healthier than ever this year, but I fear they've had
their chances, and will become friable material in a year or so when the
compost is used.
Chris S
Barry Davis
doing well but all my cuttings are keeling over
Barry Davis
Janet Galpin and Oliver Patterson
from "Chris Stewart" <christoph...@xxxbigfoot.com> contains
these words:
to
> > the new growth in April. If that's what he said, that is right. It's
> > difficult to know, maybe the plant is old or maybe needs some fertilizer.
> > Does it look healthy?
> > Penstemons are not known for being long-livers and it is always wise to
> take
> > cuttings (which you've done). Actually I've found this year that my
> > penstemons have not flowered nearly as well as usual. I've put it down
> to
> > the weather as I can't find anything wrong with them at all.
> >
> > This isn't very helpful I know, but just a few thoughts.
> >
> > Iris McCanna
> >
> >
> Hmmm, my penstemons have never flowered in a shady part of my garden in
> Aberdeen - they look healthier than ever this year, but I fear they've had
> their chances, and will become friable material in a year or so when the
> compost is used.
> Chris S
Some penstemons can be a bit shy flowering. I find that 'Sour Grapes'
doesn't always flower very well and this year I ve hardly seen a
flower at all. I don't know whether it flowers less well as it gets
older but even in its youth it was more reluctant than, say, 'Garnet'
which seems to toloreate a whole range of positions and just go on and on.
Janet G
willoug...@gmail.com
Indigo
You might possibly be treating your plant too well. What's your soil
like? If it's lovely and rich the plant might be making lush leafy
growth at the expense of flower. Penstemons don't generally need much in
the way of extra feeding and cosseting to bloom well, IME.
Younger penstemon plants also tend to flower more prolifically than
older ones that have got a bit woody at the base. You could try growing
a few new ones from cuttings and see how they fare in a different site;
they're quite easy in a gritty compost mix, I find.
BTW - you've added your question as follow-up to a post from a very old
and defunct thread from 2001. Searches on Googlegroups will throw up
ancient posts from way back when, as well as current discussions.
--
Sue
Pam Moore
wrote:
any flowers this year and another clump of the same unnamed variety in
a tub which has not had a flower at all.
Pam Moore
wrote:
>Younger penstemon plants also tend to flower more prolifically than
>older ones that have got a bit woody at the base. You could try growing
>a few new ones from cuttings and see how they fare in a different site;
>they're quite easy in a gritty compost mix, I find.
year. They are last years growtgh which did not die back last winter
so I left them. Thanks Sue. That certainly seems to be the most likely
answer for me.
susieho...@gmail.com
My Sour Grapes had wonderful flowers the first year but no more. It has fantastic, lush growth but no flowers. I shall take cuttings. It may be an old thread but it has helped me a lot.
4444st...@gmail.com
> That explains a lot
> My Sour Grapes had wonderful flowers the first year but no more. It has fantastic, lush growth but no flowers. I shall take cuttings. It may be an old thread but it has helped me a lot.
Dave
Oct 2018