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Any hope for this?

CFCCFC Posts: 71

It's a miniature lavatera possibly Barnsley.

Suffered a lot from slugs and possibly dryness last year.

Some twigs are green when cut but no growth of buds that I can see. But I know nothing about these.

Will it come back or is it toast?

image

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,146

    I wouldn't want to come back if it was me ... I don't think it feels very loved image

    I don't wish to appear rude, and I realise that not everyone has much gardening experience, but that pot is too small for it, particularly if it was allowed to dry out last year ... and then, to be wound back and forth and tied to a stick with a piece of string ... image

    Maybe a bigger container and some fresh compost (loam based John Innes No 3 so it doesn't dry out so easily) and it might think it's worthwhile making the effort.  image

    I'd also cut it hard back, which should encourage it to put out new shoots.

    Good luck image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • CFCCFC Posts: 71

    Haha it wound itself back and forth a few years ago. Possibly the pot is too small though in real life it does look in proportion to the plant. I acquired this plant hence no idea whether it springs from roots or whether it should have buds. Thank you for the suggestion to cut it back hard, how hard do you think?

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,146

    I'd be brave and cut it back to a couple of inches below that crack in the main stem near the blue string.  Sort of 'Kill or Cure'.  

    Good luck ... I'm crossing my fingers image

    However, lavatera aren't long-lived plants ... it might just be that this one has reached it's expiry date. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • CFCCFC Posts: 71

    Cheers Dove I'll give that a try. I did wonder if it has just reached the end of its lie but I don't know how old it is.

    Oh yes I said possibly Barnsley but I meant Barnsley baby - the dwarf. Not the huge ones!

    Last edited: 01 May 2017 16:45:17

  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093

    they shoot from the roots so if there's life there, it'll come back. The dwarf ones are less vigorous, so you may be out of luck, but give it a bigger pot, go with Dove's advice and hope for the best 

    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • CFCCFC Posts: 71

    Thanks very much Raisin :)

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