On 23/01/15 20:47, David Hill wrote:
On 23/01/2015 09:53, 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?

As scent is one of the ways that plants attract pollinators then if the
plant is thriving in nice rich soil and is living in the lap of luxury
then why exert all that effort producing scent?

Because that's the way it reproduces. It has nothing to do with the way
the plant feels in itself (if one can anthropomorphise a plant's
feelings anyway - if it has any...). It needs that pollinator to pass on
its genes to the next generation. That is its primary purpose - to pass
its genes on. No scent, no pollination, no reproduction. End of line.

Think of lavender a sun-baked rocky soil and the scent is really
concentrated, here in wet Wales a lot less scent.

That's because it's cold and wet, and the scent has been partially
washed away. Smell the plant the next time it's warm and dry (probably
July 2021 in Wales) and then see if it has any scent.

Grow 'em hard.

That I do agree with!

--

Jeff