Japanese anemone wilting

TheGreenMan · August 2020

Hi! I've grown a Japanese anemone (September Charm) this year. It's flowered today. Over the last few weeks I keep finding very wilted and wet feeling stems and leaves. Any ideas? Is it too hot for it? It's happened after watering and then not watering (in case it was too wet).

I'm stumped.

Fairygirl · August 2020

Are they in pots?
Hard to keep them hydrated enough in pots, especially when they're at flowering stage.

TheGreenMan · August 2020

Fairygirl said:

Are they in pots?
Hard to keep them hydrated enough in pots, especially when they're at flowering stage.

My whole garden is pots (concrete yard). I'll give it a water. Thank you.

Fairygirl · August 2020

It's quite difficult for them in pots - big fleshy leaves and tall flowers, especially in drier conditions. They'll just struggle to get enough moisture up there at the top.
The shadier the spot you can put them in the better it will be for them, even if it's just temporary

TheGreenMan · August 2020

Thanks @Fairygirl I moved it along the yard earlier so that it stops getting the sun at midday. It was a trial. I normally stick to more compact plants.

Fairygirl · August 2020

As shady a spot as possible for those. They can cope with sun if they're in a damp spot in the ground, but not a pot.
Mid day sun in particular, is very difficult.

TheGreenMan · August 2020

@Fairygirl Can you just pop down to Newcastle for the day and talk me through everything? Haha! I saw a post last night telling someone to cut back their epimedium so it would flower and now I'm worrying about that. It's a minefield.

Fairygirl · August 2020

I wouldn't worry too much about an Epimedium

Your climate should be pretty favourable for the anemones though. They'll dry out a bit quick in pots, so shade will help prevent that.
You'll probably need to put it into something much bigger though, and with some soil, not just compost if that's what you've done. It dries out more quickly than garden soil, so if you can get some topsoil for it, that'll help as well.

Obelixx · August 2020

Japanese anemone - shade and enough moisture to keep them happy but not drown them.

Epimediums - cut back old foliage in late winter/early spring so you can see the flowers and the lovely new foliage and its markings when it comes thru - https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/124124/Epimedium-rhizomatosum/Details

TheGreenMan · August 2020

Thanks @Fairygirl @Obelixx - When you spend £10+ on a plant from a garden centre (indie) they should come with a little fact sheet. All I got on the September Charm label was "full sun". I'll get there...eventually.

Fairygirl · August 2020

I find it astonishing that it says that on the label.
They certainly will grow in sun, and some people find them quite aggressive if the soil's lighter, but that's very misleading.
Many plants are quite adaptable, but when they're in a pot, it's a different story too.

Japanese anemone wilting

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