Clove Currant Ribes odoratum

Water

The Clove Currant requires regular watering, particularly during its active growing season in the spring and summer. During these months, it's necessary to water the plant deeply once a week, ensuring that you soak the soil thoroughly with about 1 to 1.5 gallons of water per session. The goal is to maintain a consistently moist soil environment without overwatering and causing standing water or soggy conditions, which can lead to root rot. During the fall and winter months, reduce watering frequency as the plant's water requirements decrease due to dormancy. Always check the top inch of the soil before watering; it should be dry to the touch, indicating the need for more water.

Light

The Clove Currant thrives in full sun to partial shade conditions. It will do best in a location where it can receive at least four to six hours of direct sunlight daily, which promotes healthy growth and abundant flowering. If planted in too much shade, the plant might not bloom as prolifically and could become leggy as it stretches towards the light.

Temperature

The Clove Currant is a hardy plant that can tolerate a range of temperatures. It's capable of withstanding winter lows down to -30 degrees Fahrenheit and summer highs up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the ideal growing temperatures for the Clove Currant are between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, which encourage optimal growth and blooming.

Pruning

Pruning the Clove Currant is important to maintain its shape, remove any dead or diseased wood, and encourage the growth of new, healthy branches. The best time to prune this plant is in late winter or early spring before new growth starts. Annual pruning, by removing about one-third of the oldest stems, will invigorate the plant and help to increase air circulation and sunlight penetration within the canopy.

Cleaning

As needed

Soil

Clove currant, the common name for Ribes odoratum, thrives in well-draining soil with a pH range of 5.5 to 7. The ideal soil mix for clove currant should be rich in organic matter, such as a blend of loam, peat, and sand or perlite. Amending the soil with compost can improve fertility and help retain moisture without becoming waterlogged.

Repotting

Clove currant generally does not require frequent repotting and can thrive outdoors where it has room to spread. Repot young clove currant plants every 2-3 years to ensure they have adequate space to grow. Mature plants are typically not repotted but may need soil replenishment or division if they outgrow their space.

Humidity & Misting

Clove currant prefers moderate to high humidity levels but is quite adaptable and can tolerate the normal humidity found in most outdoor environments. Providing a layer of mulch can help maintain the soil moisture level, thus indirectly contributing to the local humidity conditions beneficial for the plant.

Suitable locations

• Indoor

  Place clove currant in bright, indirect light indoors.

• Outdoor

  Full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil for clove currant.

• Hardiness zone

  4-8 USDA

Life cycle

Ribes odoratum, commonly known as Clove Currant or Buffalo Currant, begins its lifecycle as a seed, which after dispersing from the ripe fruit, germinates in spring - this may take one or more growing seasons, as the seeds require stratification to break dormancy. Once germination occurs, the seedling emerges and establishes a root system and foliage; it reaches the juvenile phase, focusing on vegetative growth. As the plant matures, it advances to the adult vegetative stage, at which point it develops woody stems and a more extensive root system. Upon reaching reproductive maturity, Clove Currant produces fragrant, yellow flowers in early spring, which are pollinated by insects, primarily bees. Following pollination, the flowers develop into dark purple, edible berries that ripen through the summer. Once the fruit is dispersed or consumed by wildlife, and the cold period facilitates seed stratification, the cycle can start anew, with seeds entering a dormancy phase through winter until conditions are suitable for germination.

Propogation

• Propogation time

  Spring-early summer

• Propogation: The most popular method for propagating the plant commonly known as clove currant (Ribes odoratum) is by softwood cuttings. This process typically occurs in late spring to early summer when new growth is soft and flexible. Cuttings should be about 4 to 6 inches long, with the lower leaves removed. The base of the cuttings is dipped in rooting hormone to encourage root development and then planted in a mix of peat and perlite or sand to provide good drainage. The cuttings need to be kept moist and in a well-lit area but out of direct sunlight until roots have established, which can take several weeks. Once rooted, the cuttings can be transplanted to a more permanent location in the garden.