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Cornwall, United Kingdom Gb

I've just bought a Albizia Julibrissin Rosea (Persian Silk Tree) and haven't placed it yet. It's just a tall, 3ft twig at the moment with buds on and I was going to put it in a large pot for the time being but was wondering which type of soil to use. Does anyone know it's preferences? thanks ..




Answers

 

A pot's a good idea, this is not a hardy plant, specially where you are in the UK, so full winter protection is a must. Does not like hot, full sun either, but is drought tolerant. Plant in John Innes No. 2 or 3, or No. 3 mixed with multi purpose compost to make it a lighter mix and not so heavy to move.

7 Jul, 2011

 

Sorry, Bamboo, but it is not very drought tolerant--that is, it will survive drought, but only by dropping all of its leaves and flowers! Especially true in a pot, where it also needs regular doses of a complete plant food. Full sun also should be fine, since that is where it grows best here in the desert.

8 Jul, 2011

 

Thankyou very much both of you, I have put it in a heavy, ceramic pot with my own home made compost mixed with some miracle -gro organic root food. I shook the soil in a big seive so it got rid of all the bits and was just lovely soft soil. I hope that works alright!! Serve me right if not! Also I suppose I will have to bring it into the porch when winter comes. Very grateful, again, thanks.

8 Jul, 2011

 

Mine, in Margate about 3/4 mile from the sea, has been in the ground in full sun for over 6 years now. It has coped with drought, the last vicious winter and this year's miserable summer to date. There is always some die-back, as stated elsewhere, but this is always pruned off. I have about a foot of thin clayey on chalk and it does not get fertilised. This summer it has produced over 100 flower heads, although a fair number seem to mysteriously disappear - not eaten, and probably due to the strong winds we get here but I can find no trace of anything on the ground. I expect the first flowers in about 2-3 weeks. It is about 8-9' tall, about 12' wide with a trunk about 3" diameter at the base. I hope this is of help to others.

21 Jul, 2011

 

Thank you very much Tutor! It's coming along nicely and has plenty of leaves coming out even tho I've only had it 2 weeks, still twig like though.. I'll see how it goes and hopefully have a nice photo to upload by this time next year..thanks again.

22 Jul, 2011

 

Tutor, yours is coping because of your proximity to the sea, and the fact you're in the south - anywhere within 3 miles of the sea is always milder in winter than inland, simply because the sea is warmer than land at that time of year.

22 Jul, 2011

 

And I wouldn't expect it to need food in the ground, if there is a decent amount of vegetation around it. We only feed them in the ground here, because our soil is so poor, and we have to water them so often.

22 Jul, 2011

How do I say thanks?

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