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Red bistort

jan a novice gardenerjan a novice gardener Posts: 3
in Problem solving

I had a very healthy red bistort in a large pot which I have had for a number of years, it has moved house with us 2 years ago and this year it has looked unbelievable. A couple of days ago, however, we moved the pot to a different position in the garden and it now looks as though it is dying. It's very droopy and the leaves are turning yellow. I think some of the fine roots had started taking root in the ground through the bottom of the pot so by tearing these up, would this have caused its sudden deterioration? Will it grow back again next year? 

Posts

  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 21,891

    RED BISTORT IS RELATED TO DOCK PLANTS, WHICH NATURALLY LIVE IN DAMP PLACES.

    I THINK YOUR PLANT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OUT OF ITS POT AND PUT SOMEWHERE DAMP.

    TAKE A SMALL PIECE OFF AND PUT IT BACK IN THE POT IN FRESH COMPOST IF YOU LIKE BUT KEEP IT MOIST.

    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,060

    Hello Jan

    A certain recipe to ensure your plants survival would be to cut down to base . As it is going yellow already you need to conserve the residual moisture in the root system .

    The newer finer roots would have been taking in water , so moving it probably has  had a slightly detrimental effect . They are thirsty at the best of times .

    To summarise then :- Cut down ; move somewhere cooler and slightly shaded and keep watering as normal ; I'm 100% confident it will be fine !

  • jan a novice gardenerjan a novice gardener Posts: 3

    Thanks pansyface, I'll repot some of it and put it somewhere else, but since it was moved it has been kept moist and it also has dappled sun, so do you think it has just been shocked or is it actually dying off this year?It's a heavy pot to move again so I'm hoping it's hardy enough to recover by next year, but don't know if this is false hope. Should I prune it right back at this stage and keep fingers crossed, or accept that I've lost it and reuse the pot for something else.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,790

    Far too early to give up on it.  I'd put money on it recovering image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • jan a novice gardenerjan a novice gardener Posts: 3

    Thanks for that, will repot some as pansyhead suggested and then wait and see, but will pruning help or hinder do you think?

  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 21,891

    UNLESS SOMETHING IS EATING ITS ROOTS, I DON'T THINK IT IS POSSIBLE TO KILL IT.image

    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,790

    I would cut back any flowering spikes/seed heads so that it doesn't rely on them to further its genes, but has the chance to focus on repairing its roots. 

    Last edited: 17 August 2017 09:50:11


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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