Re: Cimicifuga ramosa atropurpurea

I dunno, Penny....considering your latitude, I would imagine it could
take a good deal more sun for you than for me.  Now 'not moist
enough' is another issue.  Like Gene, I don't fertilize.  Oh, there
has been the odd occasion when I've flung a handful of superphosphate
around, but, for the most part, mulch is all mine are lucky to get
and sometimes not even that except the residue of winter's leaf
debris.

Seems some gardeners swear by fertilizing plants and maybe theirs are
marvelous to behold, but I really think that if you prepare the soil
well and do a modicum of mulching, your plants won't really 'need'
anything else to prosper (well, adequate moisture, drainage and
light).  In nature they only get decayed leaves and plant
debris....old Ma Nature doesn't dispense 10-10-10 by Scotts :-)
IMHO, soil with good 'texture', full of active microbes and other
soil critters (good organic content) and good drainage (for plants
that want it) are more important to a plant than commercial
fertilizer of any sort.

If yours was small when purchased, it could also have been young.
These guys take a *very* long time to reach mature size....give it
another year or so and then worry about it.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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From: Penny Nielsen <NIELSENP@GOV.NS.CA>
Date: Monday, February 21, 2000 8:26 AM

I finally found Brunette last year, but having read all the posts am
thinking mine might be in just too much sun and not moist enough.  It
did bloom in Sept. I believe.  It was a small plant when I purchased
it and only got to be about 3 ft. I believe.

Anyone know how I should fertilize it?  Just compost?  If I do decide
to move it, would spring be the best time?

Penny in Halifax, N.S.
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