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Bottlebrush plant - looks like its dying
bottle brush plant looks like it is dying ? I purchased two last week and planted them in containers with Ericaceous Compost - since planting the leaves have started to drop off and the flowers have gone from a bright red to a dull looking red ? I include photos : please can someone tell me whats happening ? Novice myself
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The red tassels were bright red, and now are a dull red and are falling off, the leaves are also falling off and - the leaves are getting some yellowing and appear dry and brittle in places.
Any advise on looking after them would be welcome, I,am a complete novice when its comes the gardening & plants
It appears now the two plants are shedding lots of leaves, as its quite windy today in Nottingham.
Probably too dry.
When you planted them were the roots cramped in the pot? If so these need teasing out as they wouldnt be able to venture out into the soil to reach moisture and the rootball would stay in the same place.
I had a problem with non-flowering,but solved it by re potting into ericacious compost and only watering with RAIN WATER not TAP WATER. I hope this helps.
Roots where cramped in the pot, so I,am now taking them out to break up the root ball, I also have a water butt in garden that is rainwater fed from garage roof, so I will water with rain water from now on - lets hope they make a full recovery
thanks for the info people
Mine is in the garden and it flopped and has needed watering, just starting to flower now
In my personal experience bottle brushes (Callistemon) are quite sensitive in terms of their root systems. They need an open, well drained soil medium, not something that is too peaty or closed and holds too much moisture around the stem. Adding some grit or coarse bark to the potting mix helps to open the medium up and give better drainage. The plant will be vulnerable to infection with fungus and rot if the soil conditions are not suitable. This will result in leaves browning and dropping. Originating from dry, hot desert like climates they also prefer to be under watered rather than over watered.
I'm a bit surprised to learn that Callistemon originate from a hot, dry desert like climate. If you walked around my property, you'd be hard pressed to find country which agreed with that description!
Quoting from one of my Wrigley and Fagg books (well known authors of Australian Plants). "a genus of about 33 species ... They are amongst the hardiest of plants ...Their hardiness to frost has made them a favourite in many northern hemisphere countries. ...Soil types matter very little as most species will tolerate even badly drained soils. full sun is important if full flowering potential is to be realised. propagation is easy from seed which should be collected from near the bottom of the bush to ensure it is mature. most species will also strike easily from cuttings."
I'd like to suggest, ROB22, that the plant didn't like being disturbed, and that you might try propagating by seed or cutting while you still have a viable plant. Good luck.
Just done some more research online... you are right Pat E. Callistemon don't originate in desert areas of Australia. They in fact are distributed among the moister coastal regions of Australia. Sorry for the wrong information!
Some accurate info here - http://www.anbg.gov.au/callistemon/