Monterey pine and lavender wilting

crystalpalacebadger5k6aYUF3L · July 2023

Been told my container Monterey pines wilting due my failure to bring them into the conservatory in winter.
2 out of 3 showing signs of some delicate new growth.
Doesn't explain why my container lavender, supposedly tough, looks sick.
Told lavender hates cossiting so largely left it alone...but felt need to water in very dry weather, not too much I think?
Maybe lavender really not a container plant, as my neighbours bed planted looking amazing.

Fairygirl · July 2023

Where do you live?
Lavender is often grown in containers, and the pines are relatively hardy in most parts of the UK, but they would be very difficult to keep happy in containers though.

Obelixx · July 2023

Thirst makes plants wilt and that's a likelihood if grown in containers and under-watered.

Perversely, over-watering can also make them go limp but I suspect that is no the case here.

I suggest you give each plant a thorough soaking and then let it drain. As has been said, Monterey pines are not good subjects for pts a sthey want to get to 12m high and 7 or more broad when they reach maturity so are always going to struggle for nutrients and water in a pot.

Fairygirl · July 2023

Despite lavender liking drier, free draining soil - that only applies if it's in the ground where it can access moisture lower down when needed. Pots are completely different because the plants only have access to what's in the pot. If that dries out, which can happen very easily in drier spells, they need the right treatment to get rehydrated. That usually involves putting the whole pot into a bucket of water until no bubbles appear, or putting a saucer under the pot and watering until no more water gets taken up by the plant.

crystalpalacebadger5k6aYUF3L · July 2023

Thanks chaps....a thorough soaking is just what I was told not to do...for lavender...but I'm desperate so what the heck.
I'm in Crawley, Sussex, ...and my mungo mountain pine in a container seems remarkably healthy...probably should've overwintered the montereys...oh well...other stuff doing well.

Obelixx · July 2023

Monterey pines are hardy to -15C which is surely hardy enough for Crawley. The only reason to bring them in for winter is if they are still small and to prevent their pots from freezing.

To rehydrate yours, give them the dunking treatment described by @Fairygirl and then if possible, get them in the ground where they can get their roots down deep enough to find nutrients and water. They'll still need watering all this summer while they establish and then in any future hot and dry spells.

crystalpalacebadger5k6aYUF3L · July 2023

Ok mate, many thanks. Think I can find a bed for them ( though still think 1 beyond help)

Dovefromabove · July 2023

Monterey pines are certainly hardy in Norfolk … they were planted at the Old Vicarage Gardens at East Ruston as a shelter belt when the gardens were being established.

They cope with the worst the East winds can throw at us … in winter the weather here comes straight from the Urals ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ 💨

Fairygirl · July 2023

Pines cope with all sorts of weather, but, like many plants if they aren't 100% super hardy, it's continuous wet cold that affects them more if they're not in the right soil. Drainage is important in that weather. Long, very dry spells are also difficult because they need to be well established to cope with that. It's why containers aren't as easy as growing in the ground.
I'm not sure who has told you not to water thoroughly. That's a big mistake with anything in a container, whether it's an annual, perennial, tree or shrub. You water according to the plant and the conditions. That's why anything in the ground has to have the right drainage if you're in a consistently wet area, and if you have the opposite, the soil needs lots of organic matter to counteract soil and climate. Then, you pick plants which suit your general conditions, because - even then, some won't thrive.

I had to laugh when visiting friends who lived in Crawley, many years ago. It had started to snow and the whole place ground to a halt. There was barely enough to cover the pavement! My husband's friend, who had moved there to live, said that was what always happened. Everyone just shut themselves inside and moaned instead of clearing it.

Loxley · July 2023

Monterey pines get very big, I would hesitate to plant them in the ground unless you have a huge garden. Enjoy them in a pot for a while would be my shout. There are ways you can prolong their existence, such as root pruning and renewing the potting soil.

Dovefromabove · July 2023

I agree @Loxley … they grow to be huge https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/13128/pinus-radiata/details

Monterey pine and lavender wilting

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