Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Wednesday Vignette, stunted

I just don't know what to think. I've been growing these Podophyllum pleianthum in this stock tank for some, oh, seven years now. They've always looked great. That is until this year. 

They came up like normal, then I noticed a few of them had the odd white veining—then they just stopped growing, and the edges started to brown (the strange tadpole-like shapes on the soil are blooms from the neighbor's tree).

Here's a photo from last September, they'd been through a rough stretch of heat, smoke (from wildfires) and more sun than previous years, since the neighbors had a few trees removed. Yet they still looked fabulous!

This year, not so much. They should be full size by now but they just refuse to grow. I did put some fresh mulch on them back in early March. I wonder if that's to blame? 

Weather Diary, May 4: Hi 69, Low 45/ Precip 0 

All material © 2009-2021 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

17 comments:

  1. Dang. Any bugs on the underside?
    If you cut them all off, any chance it will grow new and better looking leafs?

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    1. No bugs, and no idea about regrowth. I don't know if I have the nerve to cut!

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  2. Looks systemic... either fungus or there was something bad in that compost. I'd be tempted to dig them up and start over with fresh soil as a last ditch effort. Good luck!

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  3. Agree with Eliza, might have been something in the compost that is burning the leaves.

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  4. I understand your disappointment. The damage looks systemic to me too. I'd probably dig the plant up and repot elsewhere in fresh soil as Eliza suggested.

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    1. Sounds easy enough, but where!? No empty ground and it's too big for other containers.

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    2. Is it divisible - maybe get two out of the one?

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  5. Just a few thoughts from things I remember from a class:

    uniform plant damage = abiotic cause (i.e. not pests/bugs/etc.)

    It may indeed be the compost, since that is the last thing you remember doing. Can you scrape it off?
    In containers, there can sometimes be a build up of salts, yes? So, before potting in new soil, you might try flushing the soil (filling with lots of water and letting it drain) a few times.
    I'm not familiar with podophyllum, so I don't know if it would object to this! ;D
    Hope you find the cause!

    Love your site and all your posts, by the way. Just discovered you a couple of months ago. My grandfather was a huge fan of "weird" plants and orchids and all plants for that matter. It's so fun to see what you grow and find.

    All the best.

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  6. Oh dear, how weird! I have no idea. I agree with Eliza and Kris. Worth a shot, and besides - they tend to go into high multiplication gear when you dig around them.

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    1. Ah, this I didn't know! (multiplication gear)

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  7. Hi Loree .. You have extraordinary plants gathered together there !
    I think you are going to get a consensus with lifting the plant and using fresh soil .. a fresh start ? .. good luck with that, I get your disappointment with what is happening .. I hope it recovers for you.

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  8. Frost damage? Often takes time to appear compared to when the frosty night was.

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    1. I was initially thinking that might be an issue, but the ones in the ground are doing great. Although of course a container (even a container of size) is more susceptible to temperature fluctuations.

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