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Leaf drop on milkweed, Asclepias incarnata

10 years ago

I have worked at a garden center for many years and have observed yellowed leaf drop on our young (less than one year) plants beginning at the base, in mid-summer. There is no obvious fungal or aphid cause. Anyone know what the cause could be?? thanks

Comments (5)

RugbyHukr
10 years ago
Probably a natural characteristic.
offplumb
10 years ago
is she getting enough water? mine did best close to a down spout.
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Do you have gophers? They ate the roots off of my incarnata and it did exactly what yours is doing. They especially like to nibble after rains when the digging is easier. I took the plant and repotted the parts and had two plants instead of one. You will have to put the plant in a mini greenhouse to save. Or you can clip off the leaves and blooms to allow the plant to grow more roots to sustain the top. I think if you dig up your plant, you'll find something has happened to the roots, either a gopher, root nematodes, or root rot. The top looks healthy except for the wilt. Sandy
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ericwi
10 years ago
If this is a potted plant, it could be that the pot is too shallow. Milkweeds are tap-root plants, and they really need to be in a pot that is 12 inches deep, in order to thrive.
Tina_n_Sam
10 years ago
Last summer, I bought an Asclepia pupurea. It was a young plant and had no blooms. The leaves started to turn yellow after a couple of weeks in the ground. The yellowing started from the base of the smaller stalks and worked its way up until I lost the those stalks.

Since I still had three larger stalks left, I moved it to a drier location (southwest sun on a slight slope). Here it is today. Sorry that the picture is blurry. There was a slight wind.

I know that the incarnata likes more moisture than the pupurea. The incarnata is doing well in the same spot where the purpurea was.

-Tina
cghpnd
10 years ago
I had/have the same exact problem. Day and night I'd watch closely. I found numerous slugs feasting on all of my milkweed. Well they haven't been on there in the last 2 nights n I haven't had yellow leaves. Yet....

This plant is 5 months old.

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