Help with Mock Orange please

mummysdragon

Hi,

I need some help please. About a month ago I purchased a lovely mock orange plant. This is about 20" high and full of beautiful blooms. I have transplanted this to a larger container, and used compost.
With the dreadful weather we have been getting its blooms are dropping at a fast rate, and the petals are going brown on the edges. The leaves are fine.
Is this normal at this time of year? Or have I got a problem with my plant?

I am totally new to gardening, I used to hate it and now I am loving it. Long latin names and Ph levels will baffle me, so if you can give me answers can they be ...well TOTAL NOVICE FRIENDLY :rotfl:

The other name on the tag was snow belle, and the blooms are doubles.

I really want this plant to survive, as it was bought as part of my brothers memorial garden, so hopefully this will remain a specail plant. It is placed where it can get full sun....when ever we get any that is :rotfl:

Jayar

Mock orange flowers June/July so, you should get a while from them yet. Having said that, mine doesn't look too happy this year either. Still, there's always next year
They flower on the previous year's wood, so this is one to prune when it has finished flowering in late summer.

mummysdragon

Thank you for your reply.

Do you have to dead head them then like bizzy lizzies? Thing is if I did this I wont have any flowers left at all. Or do I let them drop naturally?

Jayar

Hmmm, never thought of deadheading a mock orange, I'm not sure that it would make a difference. Still why don't you prove me wrong and let me know how you get on.

mummysdragon

:rolleyes: I daren't, scardy cat me :rotfl:

hollydays

Are there any white spots under the leaves?
Is it getting to much water?
Are there drain holes in the container?

mummysdragon

Hi,
Many thanks for helping me. Right just been outside and there are no white spots under the leaves. The container does have quite a few drainage holes. It could have had too much water because of the amount of rain we have had.
Should I bring this indoors to help it to recover do you think?

BlondeHeadOn

I personally would not bring any outdoor plants indoors at this time of year - and not at all (even in the winter) if they are hardy. A lot of my shrubs are looked a bit sorry for themselves at the moment, which I just put down to being dried out in April and drowned this month! They will almost certianly recover though.

If leaves are all right then the plant is healthy - the flowers are the first to suffer if the plant has any stress to cope with. If it has been re-potted then it is probably just recovering. Keep an eye on it, but leave it outdoors.

mummysdragon

Thank you so much for your help.

System

KEEP YOUR RECEIPT is what i'd say to anyone whatever the purchase. About a year ago, I bought two box bushes (that I didn't need, but couldn't resist a bargain) from Morrisons. When I unpacked them the roots were bare and I did'nt think they would survive. I phoned that store and told them of my concern, but noted the time/date & name of the person I spoke to, just in case six months down the line I needed to return. I felt it would act as extra back-up. However they did survive.

In your case, if you really do feel the shrub is not going to survive, given them a phonecall and see what they say.

Perfectspace

Hi

Blonde's advice is good - please don't take it indoors. Your mock orange (you may also hear it referred to as a Philadelphus) is likely only suffering a small amount of transplant shock.

But it is likely the blooms are just coming to their natural end anyway, and have been prompted into finishing a little early.

Deadheading your plant won't really make a difference. Deadheading is a technique used usually on annuals, in order to prompt plants to produce more flowers by restricting their ability to set seed. But this won't work on a Philadelphus shrub which flowers once a year over a limited period.

If it's staying in the pot, buy some soluble feed, and follow the instructions. That'll help it too.

Perfect Space