"Sacha" wrote

A customer came in yesterday who said that, no matter what she bought, or
where, scented plants seem always to lose their scent once she gets them
into her garden. Even her Daphne bholura 'Jacqueline Postill' is poorly
scented. She says friends have said the same of their gardens and have
been told it's because of the time of soil they have. Warmth makes no
difference, apparently. Has anyone else experience of this, or heard of
soil making a difference to scent?

It has to be something about conditions they are growing in, possibly
nutrients.
I say that as, and I have mentioned this before, many years ago my wife used
to ensure there was a vase of flowers in the house, normally spray
carnations which had no smell at all as bought. I noticed as I arranged them
that a few had offshoots that could be used as cuttings so I took them
potted them up as any gardener would and when rooted plated them out on our
allotment. That meant they grew hard in an open position with no care at all
other than weeding. When they eventually started flowering the next season
they all had that glorious clove like scent missing from their parents and
it was strong too. Can only have been the difference in the way they were
grown.
Too much fertiliser or rich soil perhaps?

--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK