Rudbeckia- Blackeyed Susan- Indian Summer

Is it normal for it to droop and look a little disappointed when I first removed it from its big box store pot and put in it my garden? I just put it out this morning, now it looks like all the flowers stems are bowing down a bit.

I should add -- when I bought it this morning it stood up straight.. though the flowers are looking droopy they are all leaning toward the sun.



This message was edited Jun 21, 2010 10:49 AM

Sounds like it's just drooping from the transplant and possibly the heat.

Coneflower-type plants are pretty susceptible to dropping in the heat. When you check on them later you often find they've rebounded in the coolness of early evening. Then they'll look fine in the morning...and droop again in the heat of the afternoon.

The key is to keep them deeply watered, especially after transplanting. Coneflowers (echinacea, rudbeckia, and friends) are often pushed as being "drought resistant." I think that's a little misleading. No, drought won't usually kill them, but a dry spell, particularly accompanied by heat, can make them look pretty shabby. So, water deeply in the morning and only as often as needed (when about the top inch of soil is only slightly moist) to encourage your plants to send down deep roots. That often perks them up.

If your flowers are leaning toward the sun it's possible you have your plants in more shade than they're accustomed to. In my experience, though, rudbeckia can take a fair amount of shade. Mine get about 4 hours tops during their blooming season and it hasn't affected them one bit.

daisy:
I also live in your hot climate and I agree with kayly.
I would add that I shade new plants for a few days when planted in the heat of summer. It's just too much stress here in the South. I put an open basket, turned upside down over the plant and put a rock on the basket. This temporary protection and keeping that root ball watered every day for at least a week, then every other day will help the plant transition to the conditions.

If the plant is too tall for a basket, I have used a folding lawn chair set up and turned various ways to provide some shade. Once again, you'll want to weight it down so wind doesn't topple it over onto your plant.

Good luck.

Thanks KaylyRed and cedar18..

They are actually in full sun for about 6 hours per day on the south side of the house. They are partly shaded 1st thing in the morning and then again for a couple hours in the evening...I will watch them and see what happens. I may even follow cedar's advice and put something over them for additional shade.

Daisylovn, I planted mine a couple of years ago and they didn't do much until this year. I actually thought they didn't make it and bought more, now have three bunches. Mine are in direct sun all day and seem to love it. Here is a picture. I read somewhere that they don't last over a couple of years so guess I'll find out next year, but so far looks like they have spread nicely.

Rudbeckias reseed themselves pretty readily most of the time, unless the conditions aren't very favorable. I'm not sure how they handle warmer climates that way, but they're definitely pretty prolific here--not weedy, just reliably always there because they continue to reseed.

They're also really easy to start from seed indoors. You might try saving seed this year and starting them indoors over the winter. I started some indoors this year (Indian Summer and Autumn Colors) and had more than I knew what to do with. :)

I have some (not Indian Summer) in an area of my back yard.. Bought this house 5 years ago, and they come up every year. I haven't seen them come up this year yet. Is it too early for them to come up on their own?

Not sure about your zone, but the foliage comes up in mid-spring here. I have buds on my rudbeckia now. My guess would be that if the ones in your backyard haven't made an appearance by now they're not going to. :(

Yesterday I went out and my new Indian Summer looked almost dead.. Its was drooping, no sagging all over. Leaves were limp and the flower stalks were almost dangling... I went out in the evening and watered that whole bed thoroughly.. Today my Indian Summer is looking perked up and good. Flower stalks are back to a normal position..


I have been watering thoroughly every day since I planted the bed...Guess it wanted extra : )

This message was edited Jun 24, 2010 11:28 AM

daisy, that's great.
Just remember with new plants that they can only use the water on their "root ball-from-the-pot." And that soilless mix (from nursery potted plants) dries out really fast. Like daily. But water in the surrounding soil doesn't help them at all because their roots have not had a chance to grow out of their pot root ball yet.

Happy gardening.