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Electric blue dying

SchalaislostSchalaislost Posts: 41
edited June 2019 in Problem solving
Hello!
I bought a beardtongue electric blue two weeks ago that is now dying. It's in a well-draining pot in the sun. I don't know what to do. I water it about once a week, giving it a good soak. 

Posts

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    It could be that you are overwatering the plant Schalaislost. Glazed pots do not transpire water as efficiently as unglazed terracotta so it is possible that the soil is very wet deeper in your pot and Penstemons like a dry soil.
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I often see some of my penstemons wilting in the June sun (when we get any), but they recover in the evening.
    Does you plant perk-up in the evening? If so it's just the sun and it'll toughen-up as it grows.

    I agree with Ladybird that it could be too wet in the pot, which would have the same effect. Penstemons like free draining soil.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • SchalaislostSchalaislost Posts: 41
    edited June 2019
    Ladybird4 said:
    It could be that you are overwatering the plant Schalaislost. Glazed pots do not transpire water as efficiently as unglazed terracotta so it is possible that the soil is very wet deeper in your pot and Penstemons like a dry soil.
    It's actually a plastic pot so it's probably very damp in the bottom part of the pot. I put gravel at the bottom to help with the drainage and when I do water it the water comes out the bottom quite quickly. 

     At first I didn't water it at all but then I noticed the leaves were really brittle so I worried maybe I wasn't watering it enough. Right now the soil is a bit damp and the leaves aren't so brittle so I'm going to wait until the soil dries out completely before watering it again and seeing if that does something. 
    Do you think it'll flower again this season? 
  • SchalaislostSchalaislost Posts: 41
    Pete.8 said:
    I often see some of my penstemons wilting in the June sun (when we get any), but they recover in the evening.
    Does you plant perk-up in the evening? If so it's just the sun and it'll toughen-up as it grows.

    I agree with Ladybird that it could be too wet in the pot, which would have the same effect. Penstemons like free draining soil.
    We're in the rainy season here in Japan so maybe it's just not liking the cloudy days? I put it toward the back of my balcony so it can get the sun (when there is sun) and it won't get wet.

    The leaves got really brittle, though, so I worry it actually didn't get enough water somehow. Right now the soil is damp so I'm leaving it alone but I hope it recovers. I checked in the evening and there seems to be no difference between how it looks in the day and at night. 
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    edited June 2019
    As long as you keep dead heading the plants they should flower again. They are well known for their long flowering season. However, they are not long lived so you sould try to take cuttings so that you have new plants to take over when the old one dies. This forum is UK based - where most of the members live - but there are a few members in other parts of the world and its interesting to hear that you are in Japan.
    I think you could just try the plant in the rain on your balcony and let nature do the watering but also check that it is not getting too wet as the plastic pot won't transpire either.
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
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