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Problem with Heuchera plant
Leonard 2
Posts: 18
Hello.
I have a problem with Heuchera plant, it seems to have rotted at the base.
It was grown in a general All purpose fertiliser.
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Posts
Hi Leonard - heucheras can be very susceptible to vine weevil damage, especially if they're in pots. The young ones chew through the roots and leave the plant 'detached'. Oftem you see nothing until the plant just collapses. Could that be what's happened?
Fortunately, heucheras will regrow from the tiniest bit of root, so all is not lost if that's the case.
If you can upload a photo here that would help too
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
That is exactly what has happened.
Is there any thing I can do to stop the pesky varmint?.
Check the roots regularly and remove the maggoty form of vine weevil. Birds like them. When/if you buy new plants, always check their roots and re-pot in a John Innes formulated compost rather than MPC..
There is a product you can buy Leonard, but it's name escapes me. You can also get nematodes to apply, which is more eco friendly, but those need warmer weather to use. They're mostly applied in spring I think. They tend to work better in pots than in open ground.
If you can see the little white-ish grubs in and around the plant roots, you can tip everything out on a sheet of plastic or similar, and the birds will snaffle them up. Clean off the soil from the plant roots and check there aren't any more, and then repot your plant.
It's the larvae that do the damage, but if you see any adults, squish them and it helps to prevent more of the b***ers!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Now is the time to apply nematodes if you want to, up to mid November. You can also do them in Spring.
They work out a bit expensive to put on the garden, depending on how big your garden is I suppose.
I only used them in pots and tubs.
Its the slug ones that you apply in the Spring/early summer.
That's useful info Lyn - thanks. I couldn't remember if they were only applied in spring!
I've never used them. We do have vine weevils, and I do have quite a few heucheras, in pots and in the ground, but I haven't had any issues with them. They did devour a nice new sedum I bought a while ago though
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
They’re a b***er under my aquilegias!
the chemical stuff is called Provado.
I knew someone would remember the name!
Perhaps they're getting smarter and adapting to try and keep us all on our toes - chomping on lots of other species.
I blame Brexit.....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
As well as the usual basket type plants, fuchsia, Begonia etc, they’ve had aquilegia, heuchera and lupins.
They are the one creature apart from slugs of course that I just cannot touch with bare hands, they are so clean and perfect, I pick them out with tweasers and feed to the birds.
I love to squish them. ( vine weevils, not heuchera ) I like to know the job is done.