Osmanthus Fragrans, do they all smell the same or similar?
ericapayne
14 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (19)
yellowthumb
14 years agokemistry
14 years agoRelated Discussions
osmanthus fragrans 'fudingzhu', sparse flowers
Comments (7)The Osmanthus looks perfect. All you need is a bit patience. When the new growth matured, you are going to have lots of bloom. I found that Fudingzhu has two or three massive blooms each year, other time, you get relative sparse flowers. The new growth has to mature a bit to have massive blooms. It's always a good time when you have so much new growth. Try to brew some compost tea for it, it loves well done organic fertilizer. Don't use too much chemical fertilizer on it. It doesn't respond well to high salt at all. Strong work....See MoreOsmanthus Fragrans?? or not!!!???
Comments (10)Awww, it's not fair to compare gnarly nursery plants to a properly pruned and cultured specimen. And please try to smell some when the flowers are at their peak. I spent $25 on one for our yard and we rent. That's 5x what I've spent on any other plant I won't be keeping just because the fragrance was so amazing. I went to WM in Jan. to see if they had Caladium bulbs yet and smelled something so wonderful, I had to track it down. It was a single, 2-ft. tall little shrub with barely noticeable white flowers. No way, but yep, no other flowers in the whole area. It was this baby shrub perfuming the whole (outside) area of the store. Fragrant, those leaves look big. How do they compare to your "sure" shrub? Similar amounts of light? Both potted? The soil in that pot looks really dense, without any tiny air pockets, mostly tiny closely-lodged particles. It looks like it's starting to struggle, going by the yellowing leaves at the bottom, and the fallen ones in the pot. If you don't want to repot (or in conjunction with repotting if you do want to,) you might try laying some banana peels on the surface of the soil, or for quicker impact, mixing banana peels in a blender with water and using that to water your shrub. Banana peels can inspire many "shy" plants to bloom, whether in a pot or not....See MoreOsmanthus fragrans - why is some new growth turning brown?
Comments (7)That location will provide a great deal of reflected heat and light, something that the osmanthus may find difficult to tolerate in your climate. Osmanthus prefers a fair amount of protection from the full sun, especially during the hottest part of the day...which just happens to be when your plant is getting irradiated and baked! ;-) I agree that you should know, with some accuracy, the pH of your soil. As a matter of fact, a soil test might not be a bad idea. You may find out that fertilization is required for all your plants....or not. Home pH meters can be incredibly bad, as can moisture meters. As can home soil testing kits! I always recommend springing for a soil test. I disagree that you plant looks fine. The leaves should be uniformly dark green, and the shrub should be full. Does your twenty minute watering session do the job? Have you dug around in the soil (not right at the root system, please) about 30 minutes afterwards to see how moist the soil is? In the southeast, where this plant flourishes in some locations, you'll find the healthiest plants under the high shade of tall pines (for example), or in locations that receive full sun in the morning but some shade all afternoon. My Osmanthus, planted in hard, red Alabama clay with no irrigation, is in the sunlight until about 11 ish, when the shadow from the house begins to protect it. NOW! About your use of the imidicloprid. You might not know that this systemic pesticide translocates throughout the vascular system and can be found, subsequently, in the POLLEN and NECTAR of the flowers. Every single insect that visits your osmanthus will be exposed. I even have hummingbirds all over mine! Imidicloprid is banned in some countries because of this. Bees carry the tainted goods back to the hive where it is distributed to all inhabitants. This is not a good thing. There are also some worrisome studies out that appear to point the finger at this chemical for INCREASING thrip populations, rather than decreasing it. It is well documented that spider mite numbers soar with the use of Imidicloprid. Maybe something to think about? Here is a link that might be useful: Soil testing labs...See MoreAargh! Osmanthus fragrans needs winter dormancy??
Comments (6)Not sure who suggested what for an osmanthus, but "winter dormancy" would be an odd requirement for a plant whose blooming season is fall and winter! What I think was meant that o. fragrans blooms best in cool, humid conditions; it can take night temps into the high 30s, and needs good air movement to avoid buds blasting and scale and other pests infesting the leaves. Don't let the soil get soggy, particularly if the night temps are low, but don't let it get too dry between waterings or you'll lose flowers. Evenly moist is what I try to achieve. It's a fixture in most northern public gardens with greenhouses or conservatories, you'll always see it in a sunny location, often near the glass or a vent so it gets that cool, moving air. Moving right along to the stephanotis, it also appreciates a cooler period in the winter, but not lower than the 50s. It also wants to be dry, once a week is plenty. It grows in Madagascar in a climate with a dry season, and flowers are triggered by a colder, dry period followed by warmer temps and rain. I think a good general rule with indoor plants is to assume "winter dormancy" means cooler and drier conditions for 2-3 months during the winter when light levels are lower, rather than the almost total cessation of growth that deciduous trees and shrubs go through, which requires constant low temperatures -- that's why most temperate deciduous trees can't be grown indoors as bonsai, it's too warm to establish dormancy! Sorry for the long post, hope it helps! Jim...See Moremeyermike_1micha
14 years agoericapayne
14 years agocweathersby
14 years agomeyermike_1micha
14 years agoflowers_galore
14 years agomeyermike_1micha
14 years agocweathersby
14 years agoDar Sunset Zone 18
14 years agomeyermike_1micha
14 years agomeyermike_1micha
14 years agojeff_al
14 years agocweathersby
14 years agomeyermike_1micha
14 years agoDar Sunset Zone 18
14 years agosweetmichelia
14 years agoDar Sunset Zone 18
14 years ago
Related Stories
KITCHEN DESIGNSimple Pleasures: Wake Up and Smell the Coffee
Slugging down any old sludge while pulling on socks is no way to start the day. Learn to brew amazing java and savor the experience here
Full StoryFUN HOUZZSmell This Shocking Flower at Your Own Risk
Don't say we didn't warn you: The foul scent of the rare and incredible corpse flower may knock your socks off
Full StoryGREEN BUILDINGSalvaged Materials Triumph as All-Stars of Sustainability
When you save manufacturing energy and have a beautifully crafted home to boot, it's a win-win situation
Full StoryHOUSEKEEPINGBaking Soda: The Amazing All-Natural Cleanser You Already Own
Battle grime, banish odors and freshen clothes with this common nontoxic cupboard staple
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESLinoleum, the All-Purpose Flooring Wonder
Dashing in a rainbow of colors, able to be cleaned with ease and courteous to budgets everywhere, linoleum is a super choice for floors
Full StoryUNIVERSAL DESIGNKitchen of the Week: Good Looking and Accessible to All
Universal design features and sustainable products create a beautiful, user-friendly kitchen that works for a homeowner on wheels
Full StoryVINTAGE STYLEGet Away From It All in a Glamper
A glammed-up camper can transport you to a happy place, whether in your yard or on the highway
Full StoryMOVINGThe All-in-One-Place Guide to Selling Your Home and Moving
Stay organized with this advice on what to do when you change homes
Full StoryBASEMENTSBasement of the Week: A Creative Space for Kids and Storage for All
With mudroom organizers, laundry and a well-organized space for crafts, this basement puts a Massachusetts home in balance
Full StoryMOST POPULARBlast Decluttering Roadblocks Once and for All
Change your thinking to get the streamlined, organized home of your dreams
Full StorySponsored
ericapayneOriginal Author