Aubretia

 Hi all I am a newbie hoping for some assistance in growing Aubretia!!! I know you are probably thinking this is one of the easiest plants to grow but, I have had no/very little success with either seeds or established plants <img title="Crying or Very sad" src="http://www.plantadvice.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/icon_cry.gif" alt=":cry:" /> . I think it may be due to the fact that I live on the 2nd floor, directly on the sea front, facing a SW direction, totally exposed to the eliments and trying to grow this spendid plant in small window boxes!!!  I am wondering if I need to change the soil type, as it is just the all purpose kind you can buy anywhere. <img title="Rolling Eyes" src="http://www.plantadvice.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt=":roll:" /> Looking forward to seeing this blooming on my balcony with your help <img title="Laughing" src="http://www.plantadvice.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif" alt=":lol:" />

My Mum lived on a S/SE facing seafront and had aubretia smothering her rockery, so I doubt it's the salty air that you're having a problem with. I know they are happy in well drained soil, and will  grow in a tiny bit of soil. Mum's rockery hadn't had the soil changed in years so it must have been of poor quality. Are you over pampering them?

hello debale,

I've  introduced several Aubretia small plants into my garden over the last few months. The advice you read is that they have to have full sun but I reckon they will tolerate partial shade. I don't think they would be that particular about what soil they grow in.

I have been told that they are hard to grow from seed but I don't know how true that is.

The best advice I have been given is to cut them back fairly hard after flowering as they can get leggy.

Hope that helps

I've just had a bundle of them germinate after about a week.

hi aubretia doesnt like  alot of water it loves poor soil and full sun  defently a prune after flowering to promote new thicker growth