We need more photos

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Tammy somewhere, PA Aug 08, 2005

The G. Acaulis seems to be doing very well so I think its the soil not the sun.
I'm reading a 1960's Alpine Gardening book right now and the author suggested
epsoms salts for yellowing gentiana. I bet its more likely iron than Alkalinity
since mostly we've got acidic soil. Unless the rock chippings are lime... hmmmm.

Thanks for the suggestions... I'll have to try the old soil test kit I bought a few years
ago to see if it helps!.

Its been in the upper 90's during the day and gets to the mid-70's at night. We're
all melting - definitely not used to this!

Tam

Post #1680068

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Zuzu Sebastopol, CA(Zone 9a) Aug 09, 2005

I would expect the G. acaulis to be doing better. It and G. verna like the sun. Most of the other varieties don't. The only one that really hates lime enough to die from it almost immediately is G. Sino-Ornata, as far as I know. The epsom salts remedy sounds like a good idea. I know people use it when their rose foliage starts looking crummy. I'd follow the instructions in that book.

Another possibility is that it's just that time of year. My G. septemfida was drying up and turning brown, but then it sent up the most beautiful new green growth in the middle of the clump, so I cut off the other stuff. Maybe yours is revving up for some new growth.

Then there's the possibility that it's supposed to be that color. I actually don't grow G. scabra, so I don't know. Was yours a lot greener before? I still think it's lovely.