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What has happened to my Heuchera?

NewGardenerCornwallNewGardenerCornwall Posts: 40
in Plants
Hello. Does anyone have any ideas what/why this has happened over winter.
Is it alive or dead? What was the cause- too shady, too wet or a bug?
If alive is it best I replant in the ground in a sunnier spot?
Thank you
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Replant it but bury it a bit. They often push themselves out of the ground. When you lift it check there aren't any vine weevil grubs too. :)
    They only cope with some sun if they're moist enough, so just keep it where it is.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • NewGardenerCornwallNewGardenerCornwall Posts: 40
    Found barely any root and some grubs. So assume vine weevil.
    What can I do with the compost?
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    We don't grow Heuchera's in pots any more (or Heucheralle/Tierella), as they always succumb to Weevil. The do far better in the ground. 

    Personally, I pick the grubs out of any soil and throw it on the garden, but I never re-use it in a pot.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    If there is any life at all in the heuchera you could try washing what remains and starting again as a cutting. You will need to be careful as the eggs are soil colour.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • NewGardenerCornwallNewGardenerCornwall Posts: 40
    KeenOnGreen said:
    We don't grow Heuchera's in pots any more (or Heucheralle/Tierella), as they always succumb to Weevil. The do far better in the ground. 

    Personally, I pick the grubs out of any soil and throw it on the garden, but I never re-use it in a pot.
    So ok to use the compost in the garden?
    Intresting you don't pot Huecheras due to the weevil.
  • NewGardenerCornwallNewGardenerCornwall Posts: 40
    GardenerSuze said:
    If there is any life at all in the heuchera you could try washing what remains and starting again as a cutting. You will need to be careful as the eggs are soil colour.
    Looked too past it and didn't want to pass on eggs etc. So gone into my hot bin composter.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @NewGardenerCornwall That is what I thought might be the case from your photo. Always worth thinking of if it should happen again it is possible to rescue them if you are careful.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • NewGardenerCornwallNewGardenerCornwall Posts: 40
    GardenerSuze said:
    @NewGardenerCornwall That is what I thought might be the case from your photo. Always worth thinking of if it should happen again it is possible to rescue them if you are careful.
    Looking at nematodes to treat the pot, and surrounding area.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited March 2022
    That's the problem when it's vine weevil, although they don't tend to bother plants in the ground so much - mainly pots, as @TheGreenMan describes. 
    A shame, but you can often clean them up and grow them on again, as @GardenerSuze says. Bear it in mind if you have any more, or if you buy any. They're actually very easy to propagate - from almost nothing, but if you've stuck it in the compost bin, it's a bit late    ;)
    I'm not sure how you could have re used compost as it was in the ground though, or have I got that wrong? I thought it had been planted out, but perhaps it's just the photo.
    When they're potted, you can empty the compost out -on a piece of plastic, or on paving or grass etc, and the birds will take the grubs, which is the best form of control  :)  
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • NewGardenerCornwallNewGardenerCornwall Posts: 40
    It was in a pot. Hence wondering what to do with the compost. Problem is my garden is very new so not many birds to eat the grubs.  Literally last year when moved in decking and grass with no wildlife. Birds starting to appear. Seen a wren, 3 Great Tits, pairs of Sparrows/Dunnocks/Blue Tits/Black Birds and family of Magpies. I could leave the compost on bottom patio and see if they nibble. Then can add compost to that flower bed next to it and brush the patio to clean it.
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