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echium pininana
gardeninglily1
Posts: 424
I was given 3 plants last Autumn about 5 inches tall. I've kept them in a cold frame all winter and have not looked very healthy. I've just re-potted them but bottom leaves have all turned brown. Any ideas please
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Echium pininanas
Thank you pansyface -but I've only just re-potted and certainly wasn't root bound and got at least good couple of inches all around the root ball. Used john in New no.3 -
Glily1 - I've got the same problem, but I've looked it up and supposedly it is pretty normal behaviour for this plant. The only other thing would be maybe to ease up on the watering?
I have some of these x wildpretii, although I don't know how different it makes them...
The ones in the ground have lost all their lower leaves and look extremely sorry for themselves but they seem pretty sturdy to the shake.
The rest are in pots outside and look a bit happier. It's a learning curve for me - I don't know if they'll survive the winter or not
Possibly I might bring them in to the porch on the house where it is a bit warmer - thank you
From experience they will looks a lot better in the next coming months. They prefer full sun and good drainage. Bottom leaves browning is not an issue as we are still in winter!
Thanks Blairs - this is the first time I've grown them. There is more stem and brown leaves than green growth and I would hate to lose them. I'm in north west of england so hope we get a good summer. Will they flower this year?
I have grown thease they always look scruffy in growth especially in the winter.
I pot up some of the seedlings they produce and them keep them in a frost free greenhouse over winter,water sparingly then when the weather warms up at the start of spring harden them off and then plant in situ.
The habit of the plant is one years growth and one years flowering then they die, but you should have some seedlings to plant up to get your next plants.
Because after the first year your plants are in the ground for that winter be mindful where you plant, a somewhat sheltered sight is better.Make sure you also mulch for that winter.
Thank you Chrissie - that's exactly what these specimens are. A kind gardener gave me some seedlings he had potted on. Apart from his garden I have never seen them growing in north west - he opens it up for NGS every year.
It looks large enough to flower this year