Bee Balm needs a little something?

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Melissande Chillicothe, OH Jul 02, 2008

My red bee balm is coming up awfully yellow. I should explain a little... I bought both it and a purple one at a local, reputable greenhouse. They had about six or seven of these buried in some other perennials, and I didn't see clearly I was buying two different kinds. Anyway, the red was pretty leggy so I chopped it down when I got home and planted it. I'm not sure if it growing beside the rather bluegreen foliage of 'Blue Stockings' is affecting my impressions of it or if it really needs some nitrogen or iron or something.

Anyhow, when the red bee balm leaves came up they were *really* pale green, maybe even greenish yellow. Otherwise, the leaves are large, well formed and healthy looking. they are growing in a bed which has been under cultivation for about 15 years, and has always been a good home to volunteer columbine, so I'm guessing it's a bit acid-though I've never tested it. This bed faces west, and doesn't get full sun until about one. It loses it at about six p.m. during summer. If it helps, I've had iris, Oenothera perennis ('sun drops') both wild and yellow trumpet vine, pink cultivated honesuckle, dark blue salvia, peonies, ajuga, artemesia, chives and sage all growing successfully in this bed. I've never had any reason to think the soil was deficient in any way until now. So...

D oes *anybody* have a clue what's up with my red bee balm? Since it looks healthy, should I just keep on keepin' on and just be grateful it's growing? Is it any threat to Blue Stockings bee balm, one of the blue or purple varieties, which is right next to it? Any suggestions?--Melis 5b I think.

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Jul 02, 2008

Can you post a picture? There are lots of things that can cause yellowing leaves so a picture would really help.

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JasperDale Long Beach, CA(Zone 10a) Jul 02, 2008

Depending on how long it was in it's nursery container and "buried among other perennials" it probably got "LOST" in there and used up all the nitrogen in the soil it was planted in.

I've purchased plants that came from similar circumstances and they eventually "came around" and did fine once they were planted in the ground and got established.

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figaro52 Lakes of the Four Se, IN(Zone 5a) Jul 02, 2008

My red Jacob Cline monarda has leaves with a lighter shade of green, but not yellow.

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Melissande Chillicothe, OH Jul 03, 2008

Camera's busted at the mo., otherwise I'd have included one.

Did look very long and straggly and was in a TEENSY little pot, so you may be right about the nitrogen.

Last poster, Cline is the same kind this one is, so maybe it's just normal for this plant. Sure is an unusual light green though.

Thanks for your thoughts! I feel better!

Melis

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