Quick Questions
Why has the echium I bought earlier this summer not flowered?
Gordon Purdy, by email
It will probably flower next summer. Most echiums are biennial; that means they make vegetative growth of leaves and roots one year and flower the next. Some, however, may take an extra year to build up to flowering size. After se ing seed, most then die, although occasionally some may flower for a further year or two.
What do we do with our decapitated pi osporum?
Anna Campbell, by email
Partly cu ing back a tall shrub rarely looks good. Fortunately, pi osporums respond well to hard pruning in mid-spring. I’d cut it back to about 30cm (12in) from the ground then. If dry, water well once a week and apply two or three handfuls of Growmore, or a similar general purpose fertiliser, over the root area. Response the first year will be modest but after that it should quickly grow away. Once at the desired height clip once a year in spring to maintain height.
Why has my hippeastrum flowered on a short stem?
Grant Rivers, South Ockendon, Essex
Hippeastrums originating from South America are popular Christmas presents. Large hippeastrums may produce two or more flower stems in succession, which usually elongate to 45cm (18in) or more in height. Where the flowers open on short stems this will be due to the plants being in too warm a position too early, such as a very warm, centrally heated room.