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Honeysuckle looks like it's stuggling

davebettzdavebettz Posts: 110
in Problem solving
Its been planted just over a month and I've noticed it seems to be really struggling and it looks like it's dying.

Its west facing and shaded its seated on slate over the last week I've tried to prop it up abit so to let the air get to the bottom.

Its planted in John inns no3

Any ideas what I can do? 


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  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I'm afraid honeysuckles are edge of woodland plants with eventual large root systems. they usually don't like being planted in a pot. Also the brick wall behind will be storing the heat and then releasing it.
    You could try extra watering, a full 2 gallon canfull and see if it picks up.

    A clematis would do much better in a pot in that spot. 
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • davebettzdavebettz Posts: 110
    The pot doesn't go there I just moved it to give it more sun as it was there a couple of weeks ago before I moved it and it seemed to be doing well

    Thats the area the where it will go at the back

    The only other thing I added was a packet of swellgel to the compost could that be the problem? 
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    You can try but Honeysuckles as @Lizzie27 says prefer a a good cool root run. Looks like you may be a bit short of space there.
    Think about where you see them growing naturally and then try to emulate those conditions.

  • parrotfeather*parrotfeather* Posts: 188
    As mentioned above, first of all you need to get it in the shade.  It does look dry so maybe a good soak in a deep bucket of water might help, and cut it back so it doesn't have so much foliage to cope with while it is trying to recover.  The other, completely different,  possibility is that it is actually too wet because JI No 3 can be a bit heavy and I would normally mix in a bit of grit or Perlite just to make sure it does not get soggy at the base.  The Swellgel might not have helped in this respect but unless you used an awful lot of it it is unlikely to have made much difference. Pot feet would also be a good idea to ensure that the pot drains.They are better planted in the ground but I have kept Honeysuckles in pots for some time and they do quite well as lomg as you do not let them get rootbound, potting them on regularly, feed them with a slow-release fertilizer, keep their roots shaded and remember to water them, preferably by soaking every so often in a trough or bucket  for an hour or so rather than just watering over the top of the pot.  They are generally quite tough plants so it is definitely worth perevering with this one.  Hope it proves successful.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    I have quite a few and they are shady,NW facing back garden,they get a little morning sun,they are growing up a fence under trees. How did you treat it when you first got it,? When I pot something on,give it a week in the garden in the shade, then into its final pot,with plenty of water all the time
  • davebettzdavebettz Posts: 110
    I've gave it a good water but the soil isn't dry as I was worried it was holding to much water so checked the bottom etc and it seemed ok.

    I've a deeper pot I can use baring that I can plant it although it's quite boggy in that area under the slate

    I was thinking it could be the John inns I've used so I might have a look at it tomorrow and replant it in normal compost


  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited May 2021
    No don’t use MPC on its own ... it breaks down too quickly and soon has no substance ... but a few handful of it to ‘lighten’ the JI3 is a good idea for honeysuckles and clematis. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • davebettzdavebettz Posts: 110
    Dovefromabove said:
    No don’t use MPC on its own ... it breaks down too quickly and soon has no substance ... but a few handful of it to ‘lighten’ the JI3 is a good idea for honeysuckles and clematis. 
    Thats what I've used for most of my pots I add feed every 3-6 months, currently using tomato liquid feed every 2 weeks
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Hi Dave, if you used a whole packet of Swellgel, the plant may well now be waterlogged so don't add more water, contrary to what I suggested earlier. Does the compost feel very wet if you stick a finger in it? Don't feed it either for the time being until you see it picking up (or not). 
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • davebettzdavebettz Posts: 110
    Lizzie27 said:
    Hi Dave, if you used a whole packet of Swellgel, the plant may well now be waterlogged so don't add more water, contrary to what I suggested earlier. Does the compost feel very wet if you stick a finger in it? Don't feed it either for the time being until you see it picking up (or not). 
    I'm going to replant it tomorrow into the taller pot and add more compost.

    It was never very wet yes it felt damp, checked the hole in the bottom and that wasn't saturated.

    The plant was doing well where I've moved it back to now(1st picture) before I moved it as it gets the sun for most of the day so maybe it was down to being to wet?

    Is it worth adding some grit or stones to the bottom of the plant pot? 
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