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Problem honeysuckle
Galadriel2
Posts: 15
My honeysuckle has no leaves cut back recently will it come back to life it is in a large pot have due to courtyard garden has always been in a pot can anyone give advice what problem may be
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Posts
Hi Galadriel
Most honeysuckles lose their leaves over the winter so don't panic.
Sometimes they lose them in the summer due to powdery mildew if they've been too dry at their roots - when you say the pot is large, how large? What sort of compost is in the pot? Was it regularly watered and kept moist? How long has it been there? Is it in a sunny or shady spot?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
It has been in pot for last three years regularly watered I summer pot is the 20th diameter. It did have some leaves until I cut it back 3 weeks ago but now has virtually none, cannot see any new growth has it gone into shock through cutting back
Organic compost I think not sure, pot 20 inches diameter and advice please
Are you able to upload a photo Galadriel?
Honeysuckles are generally a bit unhappy in pots as their requirements are hard to meet in them. Do you replace some of the soil/compost each year? The pot may be full of roots and not much else by now. Also, a period of drying out - wind as well as sun - can adversely affect them. They like a damp soil to give of their best.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Will try and upload photo. No haven't replaced compost at all you may be right about roots. Thank you for reply
Here is photo of my honey suckle at the moment, last year had lots of leaves what is the problem
Can anyone recommend what is wrong with my honeysuckle
I would recommend an even larger pot for a honeysuckle - say 24"x24"x24" cube. I suggest a cube shape as honeysuckle likes to get its roots well down into the soil and a cube has more space lower down than a traditional 'pot shape'.
I would use John Innes No 3 loam-based potting compost with some added organic matter such as leafmold and fill the pot to within an inch or so of the rim.
Your honeysuckle is struggling in just a few inches of old compost
Even my OH (who is not a gardener) feels sorry for it 
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thank you should I do that now I feel sorry for it too
It does look rather miserable doesn't it? Not too late to get it going properly Galadriel - they're quite forgiving
If you follow Dove's advice you'll have a cheerier specimen to look at.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...