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Honeysuckle Help

Hello 👋🏻
Last year I planted two honeysuckles in a planter, one pink and one orange. The pink one bloomed last year, but both bloomed this year. I was just starting to get a lovely show, when a couple of weeks ago they started wilting and turning crispy - leaves, stems and flowers! I've been keeping them watered, but we've had plenty of rain anyway, and they've had a few feeds with Tomato fertiliser.
Last year I sowed Aubrieta either side of them but were crowding the planters by this Spring so moved them to my new rockery. In their place I planted a couple of nasturtiums and begonias as temporary bedding only a week or so before the honeysuckle started suffering. Surely they're not stealing the honeysuckles nutrients?
I'm reluctant to cut back the affected areas as some bits are close to the base of the plants. 
Would appreciate any advice. Thank you. 


Posts

  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    They don't like being in pots. Maybe the feed has been too much for them?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    One won't grow well in that tiny trough I'm afraid, let alone two.  
    They need loads of room for roots. It won't matter how much you feed and water - there simply isn't enough soil and room to sustain them long term.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    I agree not enough root space . Don’t know how you feel about this suggestion…….why not take up a couple of slabs and re plant it in the soil , then it could stay where the trellis has been put , and they don’t need a load of feed either , just a sprinkle of bone meal when you plant ,then ignore it and let it do it’s thing .
  • MsCatFlyMsCatFly Posts: 68
    @bertrand-mabel @Fairygirl @bcpathome Woah! I had no idea that they don't like pots! Unfortunately they're not slabs the planter is sitting on, it's a poured cement pavement, so I can't lift to replant the honeysuckle in place in the ground. So I have to replant them somewhere else, but in the ground. Will it be okay to cut them right back as I won't be able to untangle the woody stems from the planter?

    Any suggestions what would work well as a climber in that size planter? 
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    Sure .you could try a clematis in that pot. They DO need feeding and plenty of water not much scent but.Seems you have no choice but to take out the honeysuckles and put them in soil . Wait till any flowering has finished , then cut them cleanly away from the trellis after preparing the place they are going to first. Make sure the new home has plenty of light and sun .They should start off again in the spring or before if the weather is fine. 
  • MsCatFlyMsCatFly Posts: 68
    bcpathome said:
    Sure .you could try a clematis in that pot. They DO need feeding and plenty of water not much scent but.Seems you have no choice but to take out the honeysuckles and put them in soil . Wait till any flowering has finished , then cut them cleanly away from the trellis after preparing the place they are going to first. Make sure the new home has plenty of light and sun .They should start off again in the spring or before if the weather is fine. 
    Thanks so much for advice. I'm always admiring Clematis but haven't had a place for a new one, now I will. I'll just have to be patient.
    I have a dry stone wall that the honeysuckle could scramble over, if I brush the gravel away I'll try and dig down there. 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Be careful which type of clematis you choose … most of them need similar conditions tk a honeysuckle but there are a few that are happy in containers … in fact they have been specifically bred for it. 

    This site has good search filters https://www.taylorsclematis.co.uk/

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





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Make sure if you plant them by your stone wall that you don't plant them close in to it. That will be very dry as well. Keep them a good distance away - at least a foot to 18 inches.
    I'd echo @Dovefromabove's suggestion. One of those little patio clems would be fine, or some of the smaller alpinas. They like a drier medium than the larger flowered ones. I wouldn't have loads of other plants in with it though, until you get it properly established.  :)  
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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