I very happily planted 2 gold dust plants and 2 fatsia plants and admired them in my garden for about 6-8 weeks last spring.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/130/
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1714/
Then the rains wouldn't quit, and all 4 shriveled up and died - first the gold dust plants, then fatsias. The gold dust was a slow, painful looking process but the fatsias literally looked robust and healthy with new growth one day, and was wilted over on the ground completely the next.
I really really love these plants that look fabbo in my shady garden but I don't want to be disappointed again. What could have caused their death? What can I do to prevent it again?
I also lost my bush honeysuckle, which I never got the chance to discover if I loved or hated because it died so fast.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/79546/
Should I try again?
sounds like they drown....; one thing to help prevent drowning is a 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of water and use it to water the play....it gives oxigen to the plant so that it wont drown....but we all kill plants by watering too much etc.....and/or nature drowns them...; as for replanting....i will let someone else answer that that is from your area....we just had some funky weather this year and unfortuantely plants suffered
Larissa ~ you might try them again and build a raised bed this time. That way the soil can be suited for better drainage.
OTH, it may be verticullum wilt. I have it in one bed. Some plants do well and others I can replant over and over only to have them crater. Buddleia davidii was the one that crushed me.
It causes wilting. The leaves yellow starting at the margins and progressing inward. Then turn brown and die. It dies upward or outward from the base of the plant or a branch. The fungus develops in cool, moist soil but the wilting may not show till it becomes sunny and warm. The plant is under water stress. The leaves transpire water faster than the diseased roots can supply it. Around here they call it cotton root rot.
What are you thinking caused the die off? A lot on times, the gardeners intuition is good!
Sticks! HI! you back home? empty handed? Ready to interview? 8 )
no i am not ready to interview...i don't want to get a job...i am too busy; i am so so so sad about it;
There is no "good" time to have to get a job. You go girl ~ get after it!
edited to remind you ~ misery does love company ~ 8 )
This message was edited Oct 5, 2007 7:52 PM
well, i am breaking it down into attainable goals.....i called the school here to pull my app for substitue teaching....otherwise i am going to have to drive 45 min to work everyday....
my doggies are the ones that lose in this deal....i hate leaving them all day; hubby said most people base a dogs life around theirs....not vice versa.....thanks for the upbeat message...i need all the help i can get not to be depressed:)
Larissa, I wouldn't give up. Both of those plants grow in our area, if you can get them established.
I'm scared it's because of a fungus or something... :(
I have a woodland area in the back of my lot I can try, as well.
Is there a way to test for these killer fungus's in the soil so you can know for sure if it's safe to plant?
I dunno about testing. But you can sure treat your soil with things like corn meal, which kills off a lot of fungi and improves the soil.
Larissa ~ if it is verticillium wilt, other plants can still be grown in that spot. Look for wilt resistant plants. Although I have never seen them promoted as such so it may be trial and error. Some that I see listed are cedar, cotoneaster, euonymus, holly, oleander, pyracantha, rhododenrons, and bulbs like amaryllis, narcissus and tulip.
I understand if it is wilt, it will help to only water infrequently but deeply. No fertilizer if the signs of wilt appear. Nothing will kill this fungus in the soil. To grow shallow rooted plants, the soil could be fumigated by a specialist but who could afford that. Instead, I planted other things in that bed just by trial and error. There is no guarantee that is what happened to your plants last year. My 3 Buddelia that died were given to me (and even bloomed) before they died. At least I didn't have to invest dollars to learn it. You might just try one of those plants in the same spot and see what happens before adding more...
I am just saying this from my experience and research afterwards. You are in a larger area but Denton should have a county extension office. If you contact them, they should have lots of free info available on this and other gardening issues in your area. Besides, last year was odd weatherwise and that may have been the cause...
Thanks podster - however, most of those plants you list aren't for shade - and this is on a north wall below post oaks - not much sun. ;) Perfect for fatsia and gold dust...alas.
My ferns, coleus and impatiens are doing fine. *shrug* I'll try again...
Best wishes Larissa ~ please keep us posted with the outcome. My comments are based on my experience only and I hope to learn from others also. pod