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Is my echinops poorly?

yorkiethorntonyorkiethornton Posts: 100
in Plants
In recent weeks the foliage has gradually turned brown/died? Is that normal? The flower heads are starting to turn blue/white. Thanks  
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  • PerkiPerki Posts: 2,420
    It shouldn't be going brown , it may of damaged the stem lower down if it had been on the deck
  • yorkiethorntonyorkiethornton Posts: 100
    Perki said:
    It shouldn't be going brown , it may of damaged the stem lower down if it had been on the deck
    Thanks. It had fallen over hence the stake; didn’t noo any break towards base but will check. Guess it’ll be fine for next year though and will stake earlier? 
  • yorkiethorntonyorkiethornton Posts: 100
    Perki said:
    It shouldn't be going brown , it may of damaged the stem lower down if it had been on the deck
    Hi. The heads that were turning colour have now lost that change; I guess that’s not good news. If the stem has been broken (I can’t see where that might be), will the plant recover next year? I want to move it anyway as didn’t realise it’d grow to the height it has. Thank you.
  • LynLyn Posts: 22,887
    It looks dead to me. The soil has cracked away from the plant, it’s dried right out.
    They are very easy to grow from seeds, try a packet and sow half a dozen next March, 
    pot on and they will flower the flowing year. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • yorkiethorntonyorkiethornton Posts: 100
    Lyn said:
    It looks dead to me. The soil has cracked away from the plant, it’s dried right out.
    They are very easy to grow from seeds, try a packet and sow half a dozen next March, 
    pot on and they will flower the flowing year. 
    Thanks. As a perennial it won’t come back?
  • Joy*Joy* Posts: 571
    Is that a light bulb positioned almost inside it. If it is and it gets warm/hot, that won't have done it much good either  I'm afraid. You have done well not to have lots of aphids on it. I ditched mine when there were more of them than balls!
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 9,637
    It might come back next year if it's just the top growth that's died back.  Mine are in the driest sunniest part of the garden, and the foliage often dies back in late summer if we have a very dry spell, but they come back from below ground in spring. I leave the seed heads on because I like how they look when they're dried.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • yorkiethorntonyorkiethornton Posts: 100
    Joy* said:
    Is that a light bulb positioned almost inside it. If it is and it gets warm/hot, that won't have done it much good either  I'm afraid. You have done well not to have lots of aphids on it. I ditched mine when there were more of them than balls!
    It’s one of them solar lights; only recently positioned it there to help keep it standing (before I staled it). Will move! No aphids though 😉
  • AstroAstro Posts: 420
    A similar thing happened to one of my echinops, it just went brown and flowers flopped. I don't know why as the other one I have is fine. I just cut it down short will see if it comes back.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,585
    the plant may actually still set seed , I'd leave it for a while.
    Devon.
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