West Sussex,
United Kingdom 
Sarcococca humulis. Advice please! I bought one of these last Feb when in bloom but I remember that the pots were standing in a very sheltered position. I have mine in a pot and I'm hoping for some blooms. It's a bit bowed after the snow and I'm wondering whether I should move it to shelter or wrap it. Would this be the right time to feed it and what with,please?
20 Dec, 2009
Answers
mine is planted in a shaded part of the garden and apart from a mulch in early autumn and ;ate spring I dont do anything else to it. I would feed it in the spring and then again in the late summer early autumn. dont forget to keep it from drying out.
20 Dec, 2009
from what I have read SBG they will grow in very poor soil, so it makes me wonder if they should be fed,excuse me PF.
21 Dec, 2009
Thank you for these replies. Mine is in a pot which is why I wondered whether I should feed it. I put it in a pot so that I could bring it up by the back door when it blooms.I read somewhere that they like chalk so have poked some crumbled chalk in around the top. OK so I won't feed it and I'Il move it into the shade for the summer. I am just anxious for it to be happy and bloom! The scent at the garden centre was so lovely. Many thanks again.
21 Dec, 2009
plant it after the frost in late spring and feed and give it a good watering,dont bother with chalk, but if it is in a pot make shore that the frost carn't damage it,either have it in a light frost free place or wrap the pot to exclude frost,
21 Dec, 2009
I have this and S. hookeriana 'Digyna' which is much taller. S. hookeriana is flowering now. Like Seaburngirl I don't do anything special to them. They have just had a mulch of home made compost because I have been revamping the garden nearby. They are planted in very fertile soil which does not dry out too much. One is in part shade, and one is in full sun.
If you are going to keep it in a pot, I would repot into John Innes No. 3 in late spring after flowering and I would give it a liquid feed through summer.
Mine are covered in snow which has turned to ice and they are just fine.
22 Dec, 2009
Thanks Heather. The only reason it's in a pot is so that I can have it near the door, for the scent. There's just a sea of concrete before the garden proper begins.
I'm encouraged by these comments and will be following the advice. Thanks everyone!
22 Dec, 2009
commen name christmas box,I think you have the shrub, it is hardy but likes a shaded spot,in free draining soil that remains damp, flowers in jan/feb and march,flowers are followed by shine black berries, I don't know when you feed them hope this helps.
20 Dec, 2009