What kind of soil?Okay - THAT explains a lot. I've gotten several plants started over the years, but they've never lasted very long, Now I know why. The little beasties brew like crazy until they had a handful of spikes about four inches high. At that point, they moved outside. They faded quickly, once out-of-doors. I tried putting them in pots, leaving them in their pots and planting them right into the ground, with no luck at all. From what you've said, it was where I was putting them ... too much sun! The next pot will stay on my sunny, covered porch. They'll be completely outdoors, but brightly shaded most of the day. Maybe that will make the difference.
They like the soil to remain nice and moist...like when you are trying to get veggie sees to sprout. In the pic of the plants on the porch...I'd water mine weekly to the point that there was maybe an inch of extra water in the drain saucer under the pots. Sometimes I would need to water them more often than most of the other plants, and about as often as any of the potted roses that were in bloom.
They are thirsty buggers but had beautiful healthy leaves and none of the typical bugs that devour roses ever touched them.
Well, the picture of my porch is a little darker than it actually is. Imagine if you were standing just under the edge of an open sided shelter and the sun was shining directly overhead. That kind of bright.
In the summer months the sun is higher and I don't get much direct light onto the porch floor, but in the spring and fall I do, thus the climbing roses provide that dappled filter.
I'd say under a densly leafed out large tree, near the trunk, would not really be the best place. Maybe if the pots were out towards the edge of the leaf canopy but still protected against harsh sun.
I have been resisting. To the point that when I'm on the computer or reading, I now take them off.
Don’t ask about my glasses.
