Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2019 November 4

= November 4 =

Featured Article
Today's featured article is incorrect as it says that South Africa have won the Rugby World Cup twice. We have won three times, to make us equal with New Zealand. Please can someone look into amending this. Thanks Anton 81.131.40.58 (talk) 10:34, 4 November 2019 (UTC)
 * If you're talking about the pinkish-coloured box halfway down the main page, that's not a featured article but a featured list. If you click on Full List you will see that the list has already been updated to reflect this change. The fact that the change is not currently reflected on the main page is probably some weird caching issue that is beyond my pay grade. It has already been reported at Main Page/Errors and will probably sort itself out eventually. --Viennese Waltz 10:56, 4 November 2019 (UTC)
 * This has been fixed now. --Viennese Waltz 14:57, 4 November 2019 (UTC)

Wisteria
My Wisteria stayed yellow throughout the summer. I tried neglecting it for several weeks and this just made it worse. I tried to over water it and this too has little (though positive) impact. I then tried moderate watering and have fertilised the soil thoroughly as most of the soil in this region is hard clay. Other wisteria in the area appear to still be in full bloom with dark green leaves. Mine in now bare. I have read our article, I have searched online and I have knocked on doors and have asked people with nice ones, and have been told they have cultivated their's through "careful neglect" and that it is pruned after it flowers. Mine is too ill to ever flower. What can I do over the winter or what can I learn over the winter so that when summer comes I can keep up with the Joneses. Thanks Anton 81.131.40.58 (talk) 11:10, 4 November 2019 (UTC)
 * Have you called your local garden shop? ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 16:00, 4 November 2019 (UTC)

Yes, they also said to prune after flowering, but as stated above, it does not flower. Thanks Anton 81.131.40.58 (talk) 16:17, 4 November 2019 (UTC)
 * Maybe it's time to get a new one. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 20:25, 4 November 2019 (UTC)

That's a bit nonsensical. An analogy for the US market, simplified, if I can't drive a stick shift I will sell the stick shift or scrap it and buy another stick shift. I remain in the same position. Just getting another Wisteria will end up in a new plant, (the current one spreads across a full wall of my house) which is considerably smaller and suffers from the same malady. Thanks Anton 81.131.40.58 (talk) 12:29, 5 November 2019 (UTC)
 * Maybe wisteria don't grow well in your microclimate (especially your soil type or local microfauna (bacteria/plant diseases, etc.). Perhaps it is time to experiment with different ornamental bushes than wisteria.  -- Jayron 32 13:10, 5 November 2019 (UTC)
 * How big is your Wisteria Anton? These plants are known to be very fickle in their cultural requirements and most do not flower for several years, some for many years. This Royal Horticultural Society site may be useful to you. Richard Avery (talk) 14:04, 5 November 2019 (UTC)

Mine is about 3 meters high and about 1 meter across spreading an in L shape. Its about 4 years old from what I can guess. There are other houses in my area with wisteria which appear to be doing well so it can't be the microclimate, soil type or local microfauna. Thanks Anton 81.131.40.58 (talk) 14:41, 5 November 2019 (UTC)
 * Don't jump to that conclusion. Maybe the soil type in your yard is incompatible. That's something a gardening professional should be able to figure out. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 17:59, 5 November 2019 (UTC)
 * Indeed; in my yard for example, in a space of about 1/5 of an acre, I have at least three distinct soil types; a fairly nice dark loam, a hard red clay, and a streak of brilliant white clay you could make porcelain out of. One would be surprised how much these things can change in a short amount of space.  I have plants that will not grow on one side of my house that flourish on the other side of the house.  -- Jayron 32 20:15, 5 November 2019 (UTC)

You could try doing a Ph test of the soil. Just buy or borrow a Ph test kit and check your soil with it. Maybe ask for a soil sample from near a healthy one and compare them. Gardens can easily get contaminated by strange substances. Concrete or plaster waste, old paint, excess urine, etc. 49.197.86.9 (talk) 07:23, 6 November 2019 (UTC)