Help!!!

These are not doing well and I don't know what to do.

What are they?

This was the name on the card.

Botanical Name:Gaillardia 'Burgundy Picotee'

They'll be happier if you plant them. They may be too wet.

The one in the metal bucket has a bud on it. The flower petals will fall off after a while leaving the seedheads shown. The Gaillardias atre prolific bloomers. Ours bloom all summer long until frost. I would definitely put them in the ground versus containers.

Doug

Full sun and excellent drainage...these guys are drought and heat tolerant and will reseed freely when happy.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/31614/

Hi edforlife -
Gaillardias are wonderful prolific bloomers that bloom for a long time, just like postmandug said.

Based on your picture a few possibilites come to mind. . .

1) Your pots are pretty small & Gaillardia like room to spread.

2) It looks like they're in shade, but maybe it's just the time of day. Gaillardias do best in full sun. Mine aren't in full sun all day, but they have sun on and off much of the day & are very happy.

3) Are they super wet? They don't particularly like to have wet feet all the time.

4) If you don't have a good place to put them in the ground, I would recommend larger pots.

Good luck! If you can get them to grow you'll be amazed at the beauty . . .and all the bees & butterflies.

Wow! Thanks for all the help guys. I really want these to do well. I've already had 4 of them dry up and die on me. I don't want to lose any more. It has rained quite a bit in the last couple of weeks and they ARE very wet. I do have one in the ground close to these and it's doing okay. What I've tried to do so far is leave plants in the pot, place it where I think it will do well, and try it for a few days before planting. That method has worked out pretty well so far (crossed fingers). I actually thought about leaving these in the pots but I would rather have them in-ground as you guys said.

Please send your rain my way:)

Please do not despair! I too, have lost many perennials!

"if at first you don't succeed, try again"

Gardening for most folks, is hit or miss- it is truly an evolving process.

If you find it more convenient to plant in pots-try using clay (terracotta) pots with saucers.

When reusing pots-do not forget to clean them with a mild detergent and small amount of bleach.

Clay pots require a bit more watering. In Winter, place your clay pots indoors to keep from freezing- they will crack.

Happy Gardening!

I wanted to let you guys know that all of my Gaillardias died...except for one. It has taken the place of all the others and has done wonderfully since I took the advice you gave me. I really appreciate it guys. You've been such a help. If it wasn't for your advice I'd have lost that one too.

That's great news . . .that you were able to save one! Sorry the others didn't make it, but that sometimes happens with plants.

Now that it sounds like it's getting established you can look forward to it growing and spreading next year. Once it starts to spread, you can make more plants if you want from the offshoots. The seed heads can also be used to start more plants.

If you get a chance, post a picture.

edforlife - just maybe the plants went dormant or maybe they really did die. At least you saved one and when they are happy they do, as nuts mentioned, multiply. Here they tolerate dry soil very well. If I water them once a week in these attached brick planters it's a lot. They were planted without any reconstituted water crystals but all other plants did get them. It saves the day during the hottest weather.

pirl - Beautiful planter box! Also a lovely combination of plants you have in there...

Thank you, nuts! We didn't design them - they came with the house and the original owners had them planted with small (ugly) shrubs and all subsequent owners retained them. We ripped them out the first month we were here, 20 years ago. I've tried many plants that didn't work or didn't blend and now, maybe, I've got it right. To think that using my leftover coleuses from last year saved the day and was the answer I had been searching for is amusing to me.

The gaillardia doubled so the matching brick planter got half. Then each produced a baby plant so they stayed in each planter.