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Echium pininana for foliage

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  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    I think the wrinkled leaf is caused by spider mite. I get something similar on Brugmansias.
  • I love the foliage. Occasionally I get one that remains quite short and stocky.

  • AstroAstro Posts: 433
    I'll investigate spider mite @fidgetbones , I did a bit of reading about them last night as it's not something I'm familiar with. 

    Very nice @Igrowfromseed, that's exactly what I'm after, spikey and flat ideally 🙂
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    @Igrowfromseed. That’s a perfect one, just how they should be it’s not short and stocky, it’s perfect. They start to suddenly shoot up from the middle.
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    How’s everyone’s Echiums getting on, mine survived the winter as they usually do but succumbed to this weeks freezing nights, as they usually do, I’ve only got 2 still standing now. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • AstroAstro Posts: 433
    Lyn said:
    How’s everyone’s Echiums getting on, mine survived the winter as they usually do but succumbed to this weeks freezing nights, as they usually do, I’ve only got 2 still standing now. 
    That's a shame , though seems you expect it. Hopefully there aren't any more cold nights that take out your survivors.
    Mine are still in the pots, the main battle they have had is spider mite which decimated a few leaves. 
    The centre one is pretty decent looking the other two umm. One lost Iots of leaves , the other is sulking because it needed a drink.

     I have been putting them out during the day and they have put some decent growth through the centre. I'm holding out for the weather to warm up a touch more overnight, then I'll plant them out and wish them luck.
  • AstroAstro Posts: 433
    Was reading at echium world recently and they suggest digging them up as a method they use. 

    "We use various methods.

    If left in the border a good quality fleece is best -  covering them loosely to ensure air circulation and on brighter sunny days temporarily removing so as to give them some light and air.

    Another well tested method that we use is to dig them up at the end of September/ early October and grow on in bucket size pots in a cool frost free greenhouse through the winter. Make sure to dig up the large tap root and be aware that  the plant will wilt dramatically but usually recovers well. Although we use this method every year we cannot guarantee success."

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