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

Gaultheria procumbens - Partridge Berry- Whats wrong with it

hi2u_ukhi2u_uk Posts: 58
in Problem solving
Hello some of the leaves in my berry partridge berry plant are looking very orange/yellow . Is it dying ? what can i do to save it ? I am talking about the ones on the bottom left of the picture 
«1

Posts

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Is your soil acidic it is very fussy about growing conditions. It is a plant that rarely seems happy for very long and I am never sure why, it does like shade too.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I grow it in shade. Soil that doesn't dry out.
    I'd say they've succumbed to heat/sun, and too dry a soil. My soil is neutral to acidic and it's happy enough in that, but they can diminish a bit over time. 
    One or two plants would have covered most of that area - they spread quite a bit.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I've tried to grow them a couple of times here in my slightly acidic clay-based soil in a shady area.
    They didn't even last a season, so I gave up with them.

    My only other thoughts on yours is that an animal of some kind has 'watered' them..
    Or is your soil very dry? we've had no rain here in many weeks and I've already had to start watering - crazy!

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That's terrifying @Pete.8, re your dry weather. I'd send you some rain, but we've got lovely frost and sun today, and I was just saying on the cheerful thread how lovely it is - yesterday was the same. 

    I think they do need reliably moist soil to do well. The one I had at the edge of a raised bed gradually died off. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    It is a worry @Fairygirl - it's only Feb and the ground is really dry and 1 of my water butts is empty already.
    I've been weeding for the last few days and I'm able to sit/kneel on the grass or soil without getting a wet bum or knees - a small silver lining perhaps :)


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    A very, very small one @Pete.8. I don't envy you that climate/weather.  :/
    No chance of kneeling on grass and staying completely dry at almost any time of year here. Last summer was very hot and dry though. I'm really hoping this isn't the way it's going to be regularly, but there's been a definite and obvious change over the last five years or so. 
    I'll need to move to Sweden.... ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • hi2u_ukhi2u_uk Posts: 58
    it seems i misread the information on this plant. I thought it was supposed to be ever green and hardy and like dry conditions. It was planted outside in january and although it hasnt rained every day i think it has rained and i thought maybe its had too much water.  I wanted something that would be green all year round but not grow too much. When it comes to summer there will be less rain water. I have checked the soil ph which says neutral so i will sprinkle some coffee  grounds on it.  It may have been dug up by something  but yesterday when i was out i pulled up a few bluebells that were starting to sprout close to it

    It sounds like im not going to get anything from this plant :'(
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    You’ll always get a wet bum sitting our grass,  even through that heat last year,  which wasn’t really here,  only for a couple of weeks. 
      It’s like walking on a water bed here. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Lyn said:
    You’ll always get a wet bum sitting our grass,  even through that heat last year,  which wasn’t really here,  only for a couple of weeks. 
      It’s like walking on a water bed here. 
    If ever you're out this way @lyn feel free to treat your bum to a sit on my bone-dry lawn 😁
    I'd always thought Devon would be at least as dry and hot as Essex.
    Spent many happy days of my youth often pitching up a tent in Beer - we were obviously attracted to that town :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    edited February 2023
    It's probably just dried out. Issues with soil pH will take a LONG time to show up and come on gradually. We've barely had any rain, and we've also had long spells of frost - when the ground's frozen, the plant can't take up any water, but it is still losing water via the leaves and can therefore be left looking rather crispy!

    I think they would prefer a humusy soil, sounds like they don't much like clay.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
Sign In or Register to comment.