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Alliums in pot not looking good

msqingxiaomsqingxiao Posts: 482
in Problem solving
Hi all, I planted 8 Allium bulbs (large ball mixed) in a large terracotta pot last Sept, and left them outside all winter in a shady area. They showed new growth at the end of Jan so I moved the pot to a full sun location. However, some of the foliage now looks a bit crappy. Wonder if there is a way I can make them happier please? Thanks!


Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Allium foliage can often look pretty bad early on, before they produce buds, but they're probably a bit congested too. Bulbs start producing offsets, and coupled with the amount you have in the pot, it's probably not been ideal for them all to thrive.
    You might need to tip them out [after those ones flower] and split them up, just returning some to that pot with a bit of food as they die back.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    As alliums flower their leaves turn brown from the tip. It is a good idea to grow them with other plants such as hardy geraniums to cover the leaves. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    Everyone that I know that grows them cuts the leaves back as soon as they start to look messy, usually as the buds open. These are mine at the moment and by the time the other plants are a decent size the bud will be opening. I know that the leaves will die back and I'll cut them off. The bud can just be seen lower down.




    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • msqingxiaomsqingxiao Posts: 482
    Thanks all for the advice! I'll let them do whatever they like for now, and move them around after flowering  :)
  • Cambridgerose12Cambridgerose12 Posts: 1,134
    I just underplant with low-growing things—Welsh poppies, forget-me-nots, that sort of thing—and the foliage is concealed.
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