Ailing Baptisia
Q I have a Baptisia australis that only had one flower this year. It is quite a large plant, in a sunny position in poor soil that is quite dry. What would you suggest for next year? Philippa Fishlock, via email A I am sorry that your Baptisia australis has borne only one flower this year. The best way to encourage it to bloom better is to feed it with 1oz (28g) per sq m of sulphate of potash, monthly, from April to September.
Sprinkle it over the root area and water it in. It will balance the uptake of nitrogen of which the plant appears to be absorbing rather too much, and trigger flower formation.