Floppy phormium

Sarah248 · March 2023

Hello there, my ‘Yellow Wave’ Phormium has been very perky and happy for several years in its pot and has quadrupled in size since I originally planted it.
However, after this winter it is looking very, very sad - particularly in the middle. Is it because we have had quite a few days of hard frosts (I’m in the SW) or is it simply pot bound and it’s time to dig it out and start again with a new one?

If it can be salvaged, do I cut it right back and if so, when?

Many thanks.

Fairygirl · March 2023

Weather - yes, but they do need splitting every few years to keep the colour. Your pot is very small.

You can cut off the dead foliage, right in at the base - not always too easy, and sharp scissors are the best method, but it would be a good idea to tip it out and split it, then repot the pieces, and just keep them somewhere out of the worst of the weather until they're established again.
My Y. Wave is a goner, which is a pity. All the others are dead too as it's been too much for them this year, with the wet/freeze cycle. Only one, in a raised bed, looks like it might grow again.

KeenOnGreen · March 2023

Trust me, yours looks absolutely superb. We had to cut back all of the leaves of almost all of our Phormiums, as most of the leaves were completely brown/dead. I'd be very happy if ours looks like yours.

philippasmith2 · March 2023

P Yellow Wave is one of the biggest and fastest growing IME - dividing regularly but ground planted as opposed to a pot is always a better bet
This winter certainly hasn't been very kind to these plants but hopefully you can salvage something of yours.

Plantminded · March 2023

Your plant has suffered because of the weather but I’d agree it needs to have the worst of the damaged leaves removed at the base and either repotting in a larger pot, or dividing into smaller sections and potting them up. They are quite happy in pots if the compost is refreshed or topped up but will fare much better in the ground if you have space. A soil based compost like John Innes no 3 is best for repotting shrubs like this. I’d wait until the current cold spell has finished so next week should be fine if the forecast looks better.

Fairygirl · March 2023

@KeenOnGreen - I'm not even remotely tempted to post a current photo of my Y.Wave...

Shame, as I'd had a couple of them for a long time. Lost one a few years ago, and the current one was around 12 years old - maybe more. Brought them here when I moved in 10 years ago.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/z6/mth4jeqg5iq0.jpg

My Phormiums are all potted or in raised beds- ground isn't suitable at all for any of them.

bcpathome · March 2023

I agree . Much bigger pot or plant in ground ,or as suggested split and several pots . Is it sheltered where it is? They do best sheltered from the bad weather I’ve found . Mine are both 15 years old and get a good haircut every year . Yours is lovely but will regain its colour and look good with some TLC .

Sarah248 · March 2023

Thank you so much for all your replies.

Yes, I think next week I’ll be out there with my plant saw extracting my poor Phormium. I think it’s been in that Ali baba pot about 10 years, so has done pretty well up until now. I’m actually amazed it’s survived so long in the same compost - if there’s even any left! When it was smaller, it looked very attractive with the leaves tumbling over the edge, so hopefully I can regain that look!

@Fairygirl, love the Phormiums in zinc containers. Never thought of that combination.

Sarah248 · March 2023

bcpathome said:

I agree . Much bigger pot or plant in ground ,or as suggested split and several pots . Is it sheltered where it is? They do best sheltered from the bad weather I’ve found . Mine are both 15 years old and get a good haircut every year . Yours is lovely but will regain its colour and look good with some TLC .

It’s currently protected from strong SW prevailing winds by a high fence and is situated under a large overhanging willow from my neighbour’s garden. Until this winter, it’s done really well but it sounds like it’s starting to suffer the combo of a prolonged cold spell and needing repotting/dividing.

JennyJ · March 2023

Sarah248 said:

... I think next week I’ll be out there with my plant saw extracting my poor Phormium. I think it’s been in that Ali baba pot about 10 years, so has done pretty well up until now....

Good luck! If the pot is full of roots (which is likely) you might have to choose between losing a lot of root or breaking the pot to get the root ball out in one piece. Phormiums can be split so if you can get pieces out with a decent amount of root each, you could grow them on in individual pots but they'll likely take a few years to reach the size of your original one.

Fairygirl · March 2023

It'll be desperate to get out if it's been in there that long!
You'll probably get a few plants from it, but it's quite hard work sawing through the roots when they're solid, so it depends how easily it comes apart.
You may need to soak the pot really well first, so just time it depending on your weather conditions. You don't want the new divisions freezing as soon as you've got them sorted, but your climate might be fine at this time of year for them to grow away readily. I usually do it later in the year as that's easier for my conditions, but you'll have to see what suits you.
The ones in my photo were that size within a couple of years of purchase, probably from 6 or 7 inch pots

Floppy phormium

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