Advise please Choisya Aztec Pearl

[Mona.in.BC]

Hello everyone....I would really appreciate some advise. I am new to gardening and have decided to start with containers. This summer I planted three small choisya plants in a large container. They seemed to be doing fine until a few weeks ago when the tips of most of the leaves started turning brown and some of the bottom leaves on one of the plants turning yellow. I'm wondering if I'm under or over watering them? They are on my deck facing east. I live in the Vancouver, BC are so I think I am zone 7. What should I be feeding the plants. Thank you for reading my post. I have learned a lot just from reading your posts. I hope to be able to contribute as well some time.

[rainbowgardener]

Three in one container? Choiysa (Mexican orange) is an evergreen shrub that gets to be about 9' tall by 9' wide. Even if they are small now, I would get them into separate containers before their root systems get too entangled and give them enough room to grow.

I only know it as a plant of desert SW. I imagine you are over watering (probably if you are watering at all). It is very drought tolerant, but requires good drainage and does not like to stay wet.

If your potting soil in the containers has Miracle Gro or something in it, I wouldn't fertilize them at all until next spring. You don't want to stimulate a lot of tender new growth now with the growing season winding down.

[Mona.in.BC]

Thank you ..... I will replant them separately. The lady at the nursery told me that I could put them together in one pot. I sure hope it helps!

[rainbowgardener]

If you are repotting, I'd mix a bit of cactus mix in with your potting soil to help make sure it is very free draining. Be sure to let the top layer of soil dry out some between waterings.