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sickly sedum

Alf ParkerAlf Parker Posts: 4
in Problem solving

Hello all. I've just registered on the forum and look forward to hearing your views  and learning a few things. I would like to share a little problem.

I've grown sedum spectabile for years as it encourages plenty of insects, moths and butterflies into the garden. This year, several (but not all) clumps have stems on which the leaves dry out, curl, then blacken - see first image. Eventually the stems blacken and collapse. I've not used any fertilisers or pesticides on or near the plants. I've not found any pests or sign of fungal growth in the curled up leaves or on the stems and no evidence of slug/snail damage (they've kept a very low profile during the dry weather we've had here) and although the soil surface has been dry, it's quite moist an inch or two down. 

Yesterday I did find the little guy in the second image at the base of one of the affected clumps. I recognise it as an alder leaf beetle and suspect he is an innocent party - wrong place, wrong time! I'd welcome any thoughts you might have.  

 

image

 

image

 

Thanks

Alf

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Hi Alf. They're usually quite straightforward as you no doubt find since you've grown them for years. Only thing I can suggest is that you mention the top of the ground being dry but damp about an inch down. Is there any chance that the ground lower down is too wet and they're rotting? 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Alf ParkerAlf Parker Posts: 4

    Thanks for the responses and sorry for the tardy reply. Not "wet" below surface and I avoid watering established plants so far as possible if not in pots. Pansyface may have found me out - I haven't split the clumps for a couple of years so maybe my neglect has come back to bite me - the dead bits are indeed in the middle of the clump. However, I've neglected all the clumps and it's only about half of them that have this problem. I will make sure I split them for next year. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    No worries about taking time to reply Alf - lots of us aren't around all the time either! 

    Take some cuttings - they root so easily and it'll give you lots of fresh plants which will grow quickly. You can literally pull little bits off and stick them in some gritty soil/compost and they'll grow. I just put mine in a sheltered spot over winter so that they don't get too wet image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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