Borassus - I thank you for your politeness in describing this plant as not looking particularly robust!. I do agree that the plant was not in ideal conditions. The soil appeared fairly good at time of planting (pH 6-7) but the positioning was semi-shade for part of the day and north-facing. However, although the plant bed was situated north-facing, this is a town garden surrounded by tall buildings and the sun from 11.30am-8pm mid-summer can be extremely warm) and the plant was open to the sunshine during these hours. It has not grown at all in the past 3 years but it's neighbours (astilbe, pieris, aucuba, bay laurel) all planted at the same time, have thrived. I only began tackling the garden 3 years ago so I am sure that my beginner experience is responsible for this failure in not knowing how to respond, certainly not in a timely fashion, to seeing a plant in distress.
I also agree with Emma about the vine weevil in that the disappearance of the roots has been severe. It is no exaggeration to say that all that is left is one 1cm thick main root about 6cm long and a series of extremely delicate looking hair-like attachments - which makes it astonishing to me that there are signs of new leaf growth now. The original roots have most definitely gone. There is so little there that it would have been easy to spot any 'can be seen with the naked eye' type pests and it's probable that there has been considerable eating going on over a long period of time. I ought to have cottoned on to the possibility much earlier.
It is now in a warm sunny spot and I will nurse it over the summer months and hope to see some revitalisation. I'm assuming that it does take even a healthy Choisya a few years to give bushy growth and height? It would be informative to know how much growth a good healthy plant would be expected to produce in a year.
Thank you again for your appreciated responses. It's very helpful, encouraging and a good learning experience.
Sorry to be so lengthy and to return again. For clarity, the 4 neighbouring plants mentioned in my above post thrive - but the others Phygelius and can't remember the names of another 2, all had very little left of the roots and similar leaf damage as in the original photograph. About 40 bulbs which were beautiful last year - have not appeared but I wouldn't know if this is relative to the Choisya culprits.
what were the bulbs??some bulbs can rot over the winter if the ground is not free draining, also if you cut back the foilage too soon after flowering the leaves may not have bulked up enough, i have found slugs have eaten some of my bulbs too ....i generally move anything that isnt thriving after a good stint of trying things like a good mulch and pruning as required..
I had one which didn't like my heavy soil - it didn't grow at all and looked very sad. I dug it up and put it in a nice pot in full sun, and have been feeding it regular. It looks amazing now, so hoping for some flowers next year.
Janice: Thanks for your comment here. I'd forgotten all about the choisya and this thread - I binned it about a month after my last post back in April. It was becoming disappointing effort.
I have heavy clay soil but i'd improved it over 3 years - with little luck. The choisya I have left is growing upward but not out and every beast in town seems to now be having a chew. I might as well do what you have done - opt for the tub. Can I ask Janice what you feed yours with? I'd like to use something that has worked for someone else.
Many thanks - and glad you came onto this thread just now and made me think about the choisya issues again.
I have a two year old choisya ternata hedge which is being eaten by something. It's leaving bare stalks at the top of the plants. Any ideas? Would post a picture if I knew how.
Posts
rosie plum, Borassum and Emma
Many thanks for your responses.
Borassus - I thank you for your politeness in describing this plant as not looking particularly robust!. I do agree that the plant was not in ideal conditions. The soil appeared fairly good at time of planting (pH 6-7) but the positioning was semi-shade for part of the day and north-facing. However, although the plant bed was situated north-facing, this is a town garden surrounded by tall buildings and the sun from 11.30am-8pm mid-summer can be extremely warm) and the plant was open to the sunshine during these hours. It has not grown at all in the past 3 years but it's neighbours (astilbe, pieris, aucuba, bay laurel) all planted at the same time, have thrived. I only began tackling the garden 3 years ago so I am sure that my beginner experience is responsible for this failure in not knowing how to respond, certainly not in a timely fashion, to seeing a plant in distress.
I also agree with Emma about the vine weevil in that the disappearance of the roots has been severe. It is no exaggeration to say that all that is left is one 1cm thick main root about 6cm long and a series of extremely delicate looking hair-like attachments - which makes it astonishing to me that there are signs of new leaf growth now. The original roots have most definitely gone. There is so little there that it would have been easy to spot any 'can be seen with the naked eye' type pests and it's probable that there has been considerable eating going on over a long period of time. I ought to have cottoned on to the possibility much earlier.
It is now in a warm sunny spot and I will nurse it over the summer months and hope to see some revitalisation. I'm assuming that it does take even a healthy Choisya a few years to give bushy growth and height? It would be informative to know how much growth a good healthy plant would be expected to produce in a year.
Thank you again for your appreciated responses. It's very helpful, encouraging and a good learning experience.
Borassus - apologies for naming you Borassum. Typo.
Sorry to be so lengthy and to return again. For clarity, the 4 neighbouring plants mentioned in my above post thrive - but the others Phygelius and can't remember the names of another 2, all had very little left of the roots and similar leaf damage as in the original photograph. About 40 bulbs which were beautiful last year - have not appeared but I wouldn't know if this is relative to the Choisya culprits.
what were the bulbs??some bulbs can rot over the winter if the ground is not free draining, also if you cut back the foilage too soon after flowering the leaves may not have bulked up enough, i have found slugs have eaten some of my bulbs too ....i generally move anything that isnt thriving after a good stint of trying things like a good mulch and pruning as required..
I had one which didn't like my heavy soil - it didn't grow at all and looked very sad. I dug it up and put it in a nice pot in full sun, and have been feeding it regular. It looks amazing now, so hoping for some flowers next year.
Janice: Thanks for your comment here. I'd forgotten all about the choisya and this thread - I binned it about a month after my last post back in April. It was becoming disappointing effort.
I have heavy clay soil but i'd improved it over 3 years - with little luck. The choisya I have left is growing upward but not out and every beast in town seems to now be having a chew. I might as well do what you have done - opt for the tub. Can I ask Janice what you feed yours with? I'd like to use something that has worked for someone else.
Many thanks - and glad you came onto this thread just now and made me think about the choisya issues again.