Gardening with Gary

Gardening Advice from an Expert

Andromeda

Shelley writes~ I have an Andromeda bush that I have had for more than 5 years. I have noticed that I am getting less and less blooms on it each year. The bush leaves look healthy and it is growing taller, how can I get more blooms on it? Should I be pruning it back or using a certain fertilizer?

A. You sure make me think and do research. I have never grown this plant, one species of which [Andromeda japonica] is commonly dwarfed into bonsai plantings with trees and shrubs! Beautiful.

Your problem from what I have read is probably the pH of your soil. If it is near or above 7.0, then the flowering will peter off and then cease. They are just like azaleas, camellias, rhododendrons and gardenias in that they need an acidic soil to grow well and bloom.

You will need to lower it, but buy a cheap soil tester from a nursery first and find out exactly where you are at. I recommend that you apply MirAcid, every two weeks at the start and then taper off to monthly feedings once the pH has gotten down to about 6.7. Read the label instructions carefully, too.

Here are some other recommendations to assist you:

Lighting: Slight shade. Likes sunlight. Watering: Likes moisture; water frequently during growth. Feeding: Apply monthly during summer, using MirAcid to acidify the soil. Repotting: A fast grower, it may need repotting annually using lime-free soil. Styling: May also be used as an accent plant. It is easiest to style as a clump. Wait until after flowering, then trim new growth as needed. Propagation: By cuttings, or by dividing the clump into several smaller plants.