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My primula viali (red hot poker) is lifeless

Debs1410Debs1410 Posts: 5
in Problem solving
I'm new to gardening and enjoying filling my garden with new plants. I've recently bought a red hot poker plant and despite regularly watering it, it's looking decidedly lifeless. The flower stems have flopped and I'm not sure what to do now. How do I bring it back to life?
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,109

    Hi Debs - is it Primula vialii or a poker (Kniphofia) ? They're two different plants.

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Debs1410Debs1410 Posts: 5
    The label says primula viali. It has long stems from primrose like leaves and the flowers are lilac with red tips. Like this http://www.rightplants4me.co.uk/sites/rightplants4me.co.uk/files/photo/Primula viali ~mid 1.jpg.



    I bought it a couple of weeks ago and it just doesn't seem to be coping. I bought two lavenders at the same time and they are a bit droopy too. I planted in decent compost. Where am I going wrong?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,109

    I thought that was the one Debs - but wasn't sure if you meant the other poker!

    Have you got them in decent ground - moist and a bit of shade? That's they're preference. Also, what sort of size were they when you bought them - very small plants are sometimes better if they're potted up and grown on for a while before planting out in their final position. Lavender likes different conditions from those primulas, but again, if they're small, they'd do better if they're grown on a bit till they're a good size before planting out image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • paulk2paulk2 Posts: 184

    Are you overwatering and where have you put them (ground or pot?) - lavenders need very free draining poor soil in full sun.

  • Debs1410Debs1410 Posts: 5
    They are both in the same bed which has a lot of tree roots in it (an acer) and both lavenders and primula get full sun some of the day and shade some of the day. The lavenders were 2l pot and the primula was about a 1l pot I think.
  • paulk2paulk2 Posts: 184

    Did you plant the lavender with lots of grit?

  • Debs1410Debs1410 Posts: 5
    No?! Should I have done???
  • LynLyn Posts: 21,910

    The poker primula and the lavender both need completely opposite conditions. Lavender dry and sunny, the primula needs to be kept moist, you can grow then by the side of the pond. So if you give the primula all the water it needs you could kill the lavender.

     

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Debs1410Debs1410 Posts: 5
    Ah OK. Thanks for your help everyone. Sounds like I may be over watering one and under watering the other!
  • paulk2paulk2 Posts: 184
    Debs1410 wrote (
    No?! Should I have done???

     

     

    Yes! Have a look at this...

    http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/projects/creative-projects/how-to-create-a-lavender-garden/177.html

    Notice Monty says that he has already added grit to the bed and he is adding more grit at planting time.

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