St Johns Wort

Andrew Kenneth

Does anyone know why my St Johns Wort leaves are turning from green to yellow and then, falling off?
I only bought the plant one week ago!
Thanks

Hostafan1

looks like it's dried out at some point

Andrew Kenneth

Hostafan1 said:

looks like it's dried out at some point.

Can it be revived?

Hostafan1

patience, and don't let it dry out again. (but don't flood it either)

Bijdezee

This grew wild in a clearing near the woods where I used to live. The soil was very sandy and impoverished. 
Sometimes plants have yellow lower leaves from over watering - for example, you see this a lot with annual Pelargoniums. 

I don't have a lot of experience with St John's wort though it does say online that it likes a moist soil with good drainage. 

What sort of soil did you use? Would you say it drains well? 

josusa47

Terracotta pots look classier than plastic, and are more eco-friendly, but they do dry out a lot quicker.  Also, it looks as though you've filled it to the brim, so when you pour water on, much of it will just spill over the edge.  I suggest you tip it out, line the pot with any old plastic bag you have handy, remembering to make a drainage hole in it, and put the plant back in.  This time, leave the top of the compost about an inch below the rim of the pot.  You can hide the edge of the plastic bag under the compost so no-one knows.  Oh, and stand it in a dish or tray of some sort to reserve the water that runs out at the bottom.

Andrew Kenneth

Just wondering why, when I had the choice of another one the garden centre man gave me this one. I commented that the other one was much greener and looked healthier but he said this one was better as it had buds already..mmmmm

Borderline

It's very rare for Hypericums to survive well in containers. If you have a space in the ground, I recommend you plant it in. If not, they will have weak yellowing leaves and flower for a very short period and look like dried sticks for half of the year. 

Andrew Kenneth

I did notice on purchase that the plant was dry and the roots had come through the bottom of the pot and formed a sort of carpet.
I'm going to put it in the ground tomorrow.

Andrew Kenneth

Bijdezee said:

What sort of soil did you use? Would you say it drains well? 

It's possible I've put it in a too small pot for the size of root ball it has. I used universal compost to pot it. I put plenty crocks in the pot for drainage.

mrtjforman

It should do well in soil. They can tolerate a lot of sun and heat but I'd give yours some shade while the leaves are poorly till the roots can establish themselves in the soil. Not sure what crocks are but the idea with drainage to me is to make soil airier and have water drain faster. I use perlite, clay pebbles stones and sand, my dad loved using egg shell pieces. Putting stuff at the bottom of the pot surely helps but essentially that is still using badly draining soil and only using half of it and filling the rest with a filler. But anyway you are potting it in the ground which should eliminate your problem but can't hurt to chuck a few crushed egg shells in the hole if you have them.