Getting a tad fed up with it now,big mac and wellies just to do the bird feeders,and I can see so much that needs doing! I love Heucheras too,nice reliable plants,like the Perrenial gernaniums.
The whole truth is an instrument that can only be played by an expert.
Will wait till Spring Fairy when all these storms have passed. @Valley Gardener I feel just the same. Been to allotment to feed birds whilst the rain held off as I couldn't get there yesterday and it's like a quagmire. If only we could have a few dry days. As you say so much to do. Noticed one of my heucheras was a bit like mush. Can't remember what happens to them in winter...
They get some tatty leaves Fran, but they spring back. If I can be bothered, I remove the manky ones when I go past, especially if there are bulbs underneath. They benefit from a good tidy up after winter too.
Otherwise, they just get on with it - snow, rain, frost, ice, wind - they get it all and they don't mind
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Fran what do you mean? Like mush as in the leaves or the stems? I only have three varieties, all have leaves at the moment, no mushiness. I just had a little look ont t'internet and some types do not like winter wet apparently. So if you know which type it would help, you may have the answer. If your allotment is very boggy they could in theory get too wet and rot I guess.
I must have very hardy ones here by chance as we are on clay. I hope yours will be okay.
Maybe the mushy one I noticed today was past manky Fairy. I didn't get a proper look cos of the bad weather and my despondency as to how much there is to do which I am unable to tackle yet. I would say the mush is in the leaves Ruby but if I am able to get there tomorrow I will take a much closer look. The leaves are of the paler variety and the label may still be around if I am lucky. Thank you both for your interest. Will let you know...
@Lizzie27,..congrats on your purchase of the two Heuchera Plants and i hope they do well for you,..Heuchera like sun though some shade as well,..constant wet soil will rot the crowns otherwise they will get through most conditions.
Overwintering your two plants will of course mean they will die back somewhat until Spring and the suggestion of placing them in an unheated greenhouse might not be the best idea,..far better to leave them to the elements as i do.
@Fairygirl,..mentioned something very important to remember about Heuchera,..they do often push themselves up out of the soil,..you don't notice this unless you inspect the base as otherwise one will not notice due to the foliage being so dense,..then one day you notice your big healthy plant looks out of sorts,..if left this way it will die,..if caught in time one can make numerous cuttings while saving the main root by replanting.
Below is one of my several Heuchera,..this is quite a big one but within a week the plant pushed itself up out of the soil,..i saved six cuttings and the main root,..luckily.
Thanks Nultyphilip. Nice photo. My unheated greenhouse is not air tight at all so there is a constant airflow. I thought if I kept them in there, it would keep at least keep them dryer so they don't rot over the winter. I've never been terribly successful in taking heuchera cuttings or chopping off the pushed up main stem. I did read recently (on here?) that you can dig them up and replant more deeply to get over this problem but haven't tried it yet, have you?
Yes - do that Lizzie. Bury them a bit deeper and they'll be fine I've never had a heuchera rot, and many of mine are in permanently wet ground, and barely see the light of day. Philip - while they will take some sun [as long as there's damp enough soil ] I never use them for anything but shade as it always seems a waste, when there are plenty of plants to experiment with in a sunnier site! I find they get a bit frazzly if they get hot sun. Not that we get a lot of that here
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@nultyphilip224 Nice healthy looking heuchera you have there. Do you have the name? @Fairygirl and @Rubytoo Managed to get to allotment today just to feed the birds and had a good look at my heuchera. Think the strong wind had dried it out a bit but there were no leaves at all and all that remains are the flower stalks! It doesn't seem to have lifted itself out of the soil. Surprisingly the label was still where I had placed it and I now find that it was my favourite one named Sister Theresa which had lovely pink flowers and even when they faded it still looked good. Looking at the picture the leaves would have been quite dark. Do hope I haven't lost it although it is still firmly in place. Will it revive come Spring do you think?
Thanks Nultyphilip. Nice photo. My unheated greenhouse is not air tight at all so there is a constant airflow. I thought if I kept them in there, it would keep at least keep them dryer so they don't rot over the winter. I've never been terribly successful in taking heuchera cuttings or chopping off the pushed up main stem. I did read recently (on here?) that you can dig them up and replant more deeply to get over this problem but haven't tried it yet, have you?
Thank you,..that plant is 'Palace Purple',..i tend to take cuttings from the base then dip them in rooting powder,..during Spring and Summer,..works well,..so far i have not dug up the plant in order to get over the problem of the 'pushing up from the soil',..though its a good idea when one spots a plant that has decided to pop up,..oh if your greenhouse is airy enough there should be no problem as the conditions will be like outside but protected from winds and extreme cold.
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I love Heucheras too,nice reliable plants,like the Perrenial gernaniums.
@Valley Gardener I feel just the same. Been to allotment to feed birds whilst the rain
held off as I couldn't get there yesterday and it's like a quagmire. If only we could have
a few dry days. As you say so much to do. Noticed one of my heucheras was a bit like mush. Can't remember what happens to them in winter...
Otherwise, they just get on with it - snow, rain, frost, ice, wind - they get it all and they don't mind
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Like mush as in the leaves or the stems?
I only have three varieties, all have leaves at the moment, no mushiness.
I just had a little look ont t'internet and some types do not like winter wet apparently.
So if you know which type it would help, you may have the answer.
If your allotment is very boggy they could in theory get too wet and rot I guess.
I must have very hardy ones here by chance as we are on clay.
I hope yours will be okay.
I would say the mush is in the leaves Ruby but if I am able to get there tomorrow I will take a much closer look. The leaves are of the paler variety and the label may still be around if I am lucky.
Thank you both for your interest. Will let you know...
Overwintering your two plants will of course mean they will die back somewhat until Spring and the suggestion of placing them in an unheated greenhouse might not be the best idea,..far better to leave them to the elements as i do.
@Fairygirl,..mentioned something very important to remember about Heuchera,..they do often push themselves up out of the soil,..you don't notice this unless you inspect the base as otherwise one will not notice due to the foliage being so dense,..then one day you notice your big healthy plant looks out of sorts,..if left this way it will die,..if caught in time one can make numerous cuttings while saving the main root by replanting.
Below is one of my several Heuchera,..this is quite a big one but within a week the plant pushed itself up out of the soil,..i saved six cuttings and the main root,..luckily.
My unheated greenhouse is not air tight at all so there is a constant airflow. I thought if I kept them in there, it would keep at least keep them dryer so they don't rot over the winter. I've never been terribly successful in taking heuchera cuttings or chopping off the pushed up main stem. I did read recently (on here?) that you can dig them up and replant more deeply to get over this problem but haven't tried it yet, have you?
I've never had a heuchera rot, and many of mine are in permanently wet ground, and barely see the light of day.
Philip - while they will take some sun [as long as there's damp enough soil ] I never use them for anything but shade as it always seems a waste, when there are plenty of plants to experiment with in a sunnier site!
I find they get a bit frazzly if they get hot sun. Not that we get a lot of that here
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Fairygirl and @Rubytoo Managed to get to allotment today just to feed the birds and had a good look at my heuchera. Think the strong wind had dried it out a bit but there were no leaves at all and all that remains are the flower stalks! It doesn't seem to have lifted itself out of the soil. Surprisingly the label was still where I had placed it and I now find that it was my favourite one named Sister Theresa which had lovely pink flowers and even when they faded it still looked good. Looking at the picture the leaves would have been quite dark. Do hope I haven't lost it although it is still firmly in place. Will it revive come Spring do you think?