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Fri, Jun 3, 11 at 16:15
| I planted a centaurea montana (aka Knapweed) last year after adoring my sisters (she lives 10 mins away). This year it came up without any flowers and is only 9 or 10 inches high...any suggestions of how I can fix this problem for next year? |
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| Without any other information, my inclination is to say that since it was transplanted last year, it is taking a year to get settled, grow roots, and get big enough to support flowers. Many perennials do this, especially if planted later in the season. Other things that might have prevented flowering include too much nitrogen, which may cause lush foliage without flowers, a late frost after flower buds had formed, or an animal such as squirrels or rabbits eating the flower buds. My C. montana grows a bit sparsely, but blooms well in almost full shade, so I don't think it is lack of sun. |
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- Posted by earthchildnj 7 (My Page) on Sun, Jun 5, 11 at 10:08
| Thanks. mine is actually in full sun and I'm ashamed to say it's in a small bed with soil that I've never ammended in the 4 years I've lived here. I usually plant my fowers with some home made compost hoping that will be enough. Clearly, it's not |
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| My experience is that C. montana will grow and bloom in anything, and my first thought when I read the title to your post was, "That's a good thing; you don't know how lucky you are." Only because I'm tired of trying to pull the seedlings, and yes, I deadhead, but it blooms so long that it's difficult to keep deadheading...and there's always a plant that grew someplace you don't see to spread seeds all over. |
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| When did you plant it? It's probably not established enough. The first year from seed they don't get very big. Mostly just a basal rosette. I have a lot so I am not sure, but I don't think they bloom until they reach a certain size. They are a prairie plant: they will grow in any soil, and need no fertilizer. I have them in an area that has never been amended, and the the hose doesn't reach, so they get only rain! |
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