worrywart

So what about hummingbirds? I bought a feeder after reading enough on the subject to know that my new plants are the types that theoretically will attract hummingbirds. How long can it take for one to show up? If ever?

Tookie

Worrywart, it takes about a week for hummingbirds to find a feeder - at least that's my experience. Thanks for reminding me - I haven't put my feeder out yet but this should be primtime for the birds. Last year I had so many it was unbelievable. Tip: I make my sugarwater way stronger than they say. I put 1/2 and 1/2.

I also bought a hummingbird plant last year but I have yet to see a bird near it.

Susantm

I have had to start keeping my hummingbird feeder out all year, as we have some hummers that stay year round. I don't know how those tiny things survive in the freezing weather, but they seem to.

Tookie, I have read that it is not a good idea to make sugar water so strong, in the summer particularly, because then the birds get full before they have enough liquid, and they can become dehydrated. Do you know if that is true? I always mix mine in the ratio of 1 part sugar to 4 parts water, which is what I have read is best.

newmassdad

Hummers? I found that unless you have your feeder out when they first come to the neighborhood, you may lose out.

Rhodies not blooming? Often not a compost issue. They like acid soil, so unless you live where they're native, and know your soil, you may need to add something. They can have an especially hard time as foundation plantings with newer houses, as the concrete foundation leaches lime. They're lousy foundation plantings in colder climates anyway.

Having grown things for many years, I can tell you that having the right soil and light conditions is far more important for plant health than what kind of fertilizer, or how often you add it.

I've used composted manure (my favorite, but expensive) and a wide variety of slow release chemical fertilizers, both synthetic and organic. All work well. The key, IMHO, is to use one that does not have much soluble nitrogen (read the label). That way the nitro slowly leaches into the soil, rather than a quick burst that washes away.

I also found the best, easiest way to amend bad soil is to use LOTS of mulch. I bought a truckload of bark mulch, spread it as thickly as I could (6 inches in spots), added high nitrogen fertilizer (organic? try Milorganite, but no veggies) and had an easy summer watering while it slowly broke down. Next summer, the soil was looking better. Two years it was great. Meanwhile, I had fewer weeds and fewer dried out, burned plants.

FountainSiren

Rhododendrons and Azaleas thrive in an arenaceous soil. Beyond that, a friend of the family grows them in pine needles with no soil at all and they are amazing to see.

Hummingbirds: Campsis radicans (Trumpet-vine)

Tookie

Susantm, I had not heard that about the birds getting dehydrated, but I'm glad you told me. Just put my feeder out today and I'm anxious to see when they'll show up. I remember last October when they were all heading south they were everywhere fighting over the feeder. They are always gone by October 15 at my house.

hayden

hummingbirds also like hostas, which are not only really easy to grow, but they grow pretty much everywhere and like shade.

worrywart

Thanks, resident experts, for sharing your experiences! It's been 8 days now since I put out the feeder and I've been replacing the sugar water every other day without results, so I have to admit my hopes are flagging. How nearby does the feeder need to be to the desirable plants?

dmd77

Hayden, thanks for the laugh, hostas may be easy to grow where you live but at my house, they're nearly impossible, between the deer--who love them--and the slugs--who love them even more than the deer!

As for hummingbirds, I think feeders are more trouble that they're worth, but have easily attracted them with annual and hardy fuschias, which they are very fond of. Beebalm is another one they like, as do butterflies. Beebalm can be invasive, however, so watch where you plant it. Pineapple sage is popular later in the season (mine doesn't bloom until late October/early November) Red tubular flowers in general.

Tookie

I hang my feeder on the outer edge of my covered patio. I don't think they have to be near any plants for them to find it. I've seen them sitting on my bouganvilla (or any bush or tree) before they dart over to the feeder. I put my feeder out yesterday and will report back when I see my first hummingbird!

Moominmama

worrywart, the sugar water doesn't need to be changed every day. Twice a week should be fine. Also, as this site http://www.rubythroat.org/FeedingHintsMain.html points out, if they haven't found the feeder yet, no need to fill it completely. The site also gives lots of practical information, as well as addresses the "concentration of sugar" issue.

Good luck with getting the little flying jewels to come to your yard!

hayden

dmd77 - LOL. You're right there! I hate the slugs, and keep searching for a mulch that discourages them (they do not know the meaning of the word, though). As for the deer *sigh* I just plant twice as many hosta in our front yard as I would normally, and consider myself as contributing to the deer salad bar, but keeping at least half the leaves. I plant most of my hosta in our fenced back yard, where the deer don't get them so readily.

worrywart

Thanks, Moominmama! I plan to check it out this evening.

worrywart

It took 6 weeks but I've finally seen my first hummingbird!!!! Thanks for all the moral (and practical) support.

Tookie

I've had my hummingbirds for about a week, too, but not too many. I'll probably have lots of them Sept-October.