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Honeysuckle leaves changing colour around edges

peroroncinoperoroncino Posts: 74
in Problem solving
I planted Lonicera Belgica in a fairly large planter at the end of last summer and it was doing okay with keeping its green leaves until two weeks ago when I noticed it had lost its lower leaves and whatever was left had been turning orangey-red around the edges. The stems lower down have also turned paler from the previous red. What could be wrong with it?
Apologies for the blurry photos but hopefully you can still make out the detail.

I also planted either a Lonicera Graham or Golden Trumpet in another planter at the same time and that was also doing well until it just suddenly lost all its leaves and the stems have started turning grey. Is it just a symptom of winter? Should I cut it back?

Alongside the previous two I've planted Lonicera Japonica Halliana and Lonicera Delavayi in exactly the same type of planter and soil and they are doing well. I was hoping the honeysuckles would create a privacy screen by summer 2021 but it doesn't look like that will happen at the moment. When's the earliest I can find out if I need to replace the plants?

PS. I know honeysuckle doesn't like containers once they grow big so I planned for this by putting the planters above a shallow but wider soil bed which means their roots can spread out once they reach the bottom.

Posts

  • robairdmacraignilrobairdmacraignil Posts: 782
    The RHS page on lonicera Belgica says it is deciduous so that might be why it is loosing leaves. The RHS page on lonicera Graham Thomas if that is the other one you are asking about also says it is deciduous.
    https://www.youtube.com/user/sustainableveg/videos
  • peroroncinoperoroncino Posts: 74
    robairdmacraignil said:
    The RHS page on lonicera Belgica says it is deciduous so that might be why it is loosing leaves. The RHS page on lonicera Graham Thomas if that is the other one you are asking about also says it is deciduous.

    I thought deciduous just meant the leaves turn yellow and fall off, whereas this is going through several colour changes and affecting the stems?
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    It looks like there are new leaf buds appearing behind the existing one ? It may just be the leaves coming to the end of their natural life and looking particularly sad. My personal instinct would be to wait and see.
    The other lonicera with the grey stems, l'm wondering if that is some kind of mildew. Assuming that you're in the UK I would hold off on doing any kind of cutting back for at least the next week or so, as the forecast is for extremely cold weather with a fair wind chill. 
    I think it would be possibly March before you could tell for sure if they are okay , but there should be a few more forum members around at a more civilised hour who may be able to advise you. 
  • peroroncinoperoroncino Posts: 74
    AnniD said:
    It looks like there are new leaf buds appearing behind the existing one ? It may just be the leaves coming to the end of their natural life and looking particularly sad. My personal instinct would be to wait and see.
    The other lonicera with the grey stems, l'm wondering if that is some kind of mildew. Assuming that you're in the UK I would hold off on doing any kind of cutting back for at least the next week or so, as the forecast is for extremely cold weather with a fair wind chill. 
    I think it would be possibly March before you could tell for sure if they are okay , but there should be a few more forum members around at a more civilised hour who may be able to advise you. 

    Yes the buds give me hope that all is not lost. Thanks for the tip about waiting a week to cut, I haven't been checking the forecast for a while and assumed it would be mild like the past few days :(
  • peroroncinoperoroncino Posts: 74
    I took another photo today of a wilted bud lower down

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I think it might be due to being too dry at the roots, not necessarily since you planted it, but maybe at the Garden Centre or supplier. I have had a look through the forum for any similar questions and it may be that. I hope @Dovefromabove doesn't mind me tagging her, l see she answered a couple of years ago and might be able to help.
    I'm still hoping someone can confirm or help :) . 
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