BORONIAS FUSSY

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30313, 13 December 1963, Page 10

BORONIAS FUSSY

Importance Of Soil

While boronias, particularly B megastigma, the brown of chocolate type, are found in many gardens there are some gardens where they just do not seem to thrive. In others.' they seem to thrive for a while and then suddenly collapse and die.

For boronias to thrive there are one or two requirements which must be fullfilled. The first of these is the soil. They like an acid, welldrained, gritty soil that does not dry out during the summer. In most gardens around Christchurch, they are probably best grown in light shade, but as long as the ground does not dry out they can be successfully grown in full sun. Keep chemical fertilisers away from your boronias, although a light application of dried blood or blood and bone will prove to be beneficial. Do not fork around the bush for they resent root disturbance and when weeding is necessary, do it by hand and not with a hoe.

The second condition, just as important as the first, is regular pruning. Boronias are popular as cut flowers so they are frequently cut for the house, which is quite beneficial.

However, as soon as the flowering is over pruning should be carried out. Secateurs or, better still, garden shears should be used and all the growth that has flowered should be trimmed off.

This keeps the bush tidy and encourages the production of young growth that will carry the flowers next year.

If these facts are remembered, there should be little difficulty in the growing of boronias.