Mock Orange Bushes?
Question:I planted two mock oranges bushes a few years ago in excellent soil, well drained, plenty of sun, but they have not grown much, always leaf out, but have had no blooms at all on them. What's up with that?
Answers:
fertilise them maybe
You could be getting a late freeze in your area that is killing your blossoms when they are starting to form. Mock orange is the Idaho state flower, I had wonderful plants but they were prone to late freezes. I am not an expert by any means.
I am assuming you are speaking of the Pittosporum plant. This plant is not typically grown for its flowers, rather the foliage. The flowers do have a pleasant smell, but are somewhat short lived and insignificant. Try fertilizing with a food that has a high middle number (i.e 15-30-15) to promote blooming. If you are going for fragrance, plant a night blooming jessamine or a everblooming gardenia.
I'll agree with Stephen.. but a question that I might raise is the depth of planting. If the root ball is planted too deep, plants sometimes languish.. and... if you're adding soil every year, you could be burying them further all of the time.
The plants will be alive, but won't really do well if they're planted too deep. this could explain the lack of blossoms.
Just my thought.. Good luck.
This is only a hunch, but I would suggest not mulching them with composted manure. (Too much nitrogen?)
I don't know of anyone with a mock orange who fertilizes it and they always had beautiful, fragrant flowers. Mock oranges are not heavey feeders at all.
http://www.humeseeds.com/efm_o.htm...
I would suggest even keeping lawn fertilzer away from a mock orange.
Hope this helps.
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