Forum home Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Plants turned to mush

In the recent freezing weather, some of the plants in the garden have gone mushy. Two so far are red hot pokers (in the ground) and agapanthus (in pots). My question is are they lost forever? Or will they come back?  Hoping someone will know...

Posts

  • I don't know about the red hot pokers, but some of my Agapanthus are the same. I think they may re-sprout from the base, others have posted  to this effect. Worth waiting to see. 
    AB Still learning

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    mushy leaves not too serious, mushy roots mean the end


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • The basic Kniphofia ( pokers ) are usually pretty reliable but it could depend on the variety and where they are planted. Some types aren't quite as resilient.  For sure, this last winter has seen off a lot of plants that you can usually rely on to come thru a normal winter.
    If you can, may be worthwhile digging up the Pokers and see whether they are totally gone ? The mushy leaves don't automatically mean death but if the roots are in a similar condition, that's probably Bye bye.
    Pots of plants will always be more susceptible than in the ground unless they have been well protected.  As per @Allotment Boy - a case of waiting and seeing.  
  • Ah - I never thought of the roots. They are not mushy as I had a look around them yesterday afternoon. So it seems as if it is a case of wait and see. They are south facing in a sunny garden, so maybe ok. They have been there for 20 years but we have never had such cold temps for so long.
    Thank you so much for your comments!
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    There are two types of agapanthus, those that go mushy and those that don't.  Deciduous and evergreen.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • I have deciduous and evergreen agapanthus in pots and kniphofia in the garden. Some of the agapanthuses have begun shooting new growth and the pokers have all kept some of last years foliage although a bit tatty, but alive. I would leave well alone and wait, I am sure yours will all begin new growth in the next couple of months. Especially the one you have had for so many years.
Sign In or Register to comment.