Expert: Long Island Gardener - 3/22/2007

Question
my dear friend, im'e sorry i forgot you are on the other side of the pond, in England tet a tet's are miniature daffodils growing to a height of about 8 or 9 inches with small flowering heads,  my main concern is in may over here when hard frosts are finished we plant out what we call 'bedding plants'  such as aubretia, salvia, etc etc
so,  how will they perform in this very same medium.
                                         yours Eddy.  

Answer
Ah ha!  THOSE tete-a-tetes!!!!

Yes, I know them well.  It would not be spring without them.

If your "ericaceous" potting medium is HIGHLY acidic, the miniature daffodils would not be pleased.  If it is moderately acidic there should be lots of happy daffs growing there.

So if I remember correctly -- your daffodils are NOT doing well, and you are growing them in an Ericaceous potting medium?

Do they have a lot of sun?

How is the drainage?  These plants are extremely susceptible to rot at this time of year.  They should dry out between waterings -- and your rich, Ericaceous potting medium might be too moist.  I suspect it is also very high in Nitrogen all on its own -- without a test of course we don't know for certain, but Nitrogen is like vitamins for bulb-rotting bacteria.  And if you are fertilizing with Nitrogen at all, that would be the kiss of death.

But perhaps I did not recall your problem correctly.

Please confirm -- or re-pose the question?

So glad to clear this up.  I was wondering what in the world this plant could be.