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What's wrong with my heucheras?
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Posted by treelover z8 SoCtrlTX (My Page) on Tue, Jun 13, 06 at 10:10
| I keep reading about how great heucheras are, how easy, etc. Last fall I planted half a dozen Palace Purples in a mostly shady area and they just sat there and sulked. Three of them looked particularly unhappy with their leaves continually drying up so several months ago I moved those to an even shadier area.
Those 3 continue to put out new growth, but it barely keeps up with the leaves that are dying. New leaves look chewed on even though I haven't seen any slugs, bugs or beetles. Other plants in that bed are doing fine. The 3 that I didn't move still aren't getting any bigger and haven't bloomed. They all are pushing themselves up out of the ground, which I understand is normal with heucheras. I water them regularly.
Anyone have any idea what the problem is and what I should do? Are heucheras particularly slow growers?
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: What's wrong with my heucheras?
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According to Dan Heims book; "Heucheraa and Heucherellas", chapter 7, page 172. Heuchera's ancestor grew in crevices, fine volcanic detritus, drainage remains essential to their happines.
Are your plants,planted in well drained soil? Dan says to plant them at a slight incline so that adequate drainage is around the crown. They also perfer cooler nights, so part shade and sun is what I given mine.
This year I tried divided a lot of my plants in the early spring, but I don't think they liked that, because some of them just flowered and are all pooped out!
So I'll have to cut the flowers off and give them some weak compost tea, that should get them perky again!
They almost thrive on nelecte. Less the fuss the better they look, I have a total of 67 spieces of Heuchera's and Heucherella's. Don't forget the Tiarellas'!
Also it could be the root beetle,or black vine beetleit comes out at night time. I am trying Nematodes for the first time, from Garden Alive. I havn't got any results yet, but I am still moving plants around also. I'll report what happens later this Summer.
I hope I have helped you out.
Happy Gardening
janicesgarden_wa |
RE: What's wrong with my heucheras?
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| I guess I'll move all mine so they get the morning sun only and then I'll try to let them be! My soil does drain well, but I'll tilt them as you suggest. I'll keep an eye out for Tiarellas. Thank you, Janice! |
RE: What's wrong with my heucheras?
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- Posted by von1 z4 NY (My Page) on
Thu, Jun 15, 06 at 22:13
Mine push themselves up out of the soil also. Its frustrating. The plants I have had the best luck with are in a space between my sidewalk and the foundation. Maybe they like lime(from the cement)?
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RE: What's wrong with my heucheras?
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| I've always had problems with my heucheras coming out looking gorgeous in the spring and then when it gets hot and drier here in mid summer they start going dormant. I have to water mine daily to get them to maintain their leaves until fall... If you are like us, we are recovering from a bit of a drought from last year. I would suggest a shadier spot and a little bit more water. |
RE: What's wrong with my heucheras?
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| At my house the first guess is moles/voles! Just today I was investigating why a Blue Mammoth is smaller this year than last year(1st year). I stuck my finger in the soil around the plant and found a nice cavity maybe 2 inches under the ground. The moles make the runs then the voles eat the roots. I have a heck of a time with them. |
RE: What's wrong with my heucheras?
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| What gorgeous colors, autumnmoon! What variety is that with the purple veins and green border? Faloons: I looked mine over closely when I moved them last week...no root problems that I could see. In fact, I haven't ever seen any sign of voles where I live now. All my little heucheras seem happier where they are now (morning sun only). Our recent rains may have helped, too! Thanks to all for your suggestions. |
RE: What's wrong with my heucheras?
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- Posted by von1 z4 NY (My Page) on
Mon, Jun 19, 06 at 23:41
Purple veins/green is Venus according to the tag. The other one is Obsidian which gets much bigger and darker. This pic was early last year.This garden is eventually all covered with foliage from the heuchera, hosta and ferns.
Von |
RE: What's wrong with my heucheras?
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| I have terrible success uith the dark ones. The native H. americana not only grows naturally all over my wooded areas, it is a semi-weed, with seedlings popping up everywhere. I have plants of it 18" across with 4 foot flower stalks which appear incredibly healthy. The selected ones tend to die out in a few years. They start into a slow decline, and each year become smaller and smaller till they disappear. I have yet to discover a growing method to make these happy although I keep trying. George |
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