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Help Please!

FrancescaBFrancescaB Posts: 25
in Problem solving

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Hi Everyone!

I am quite new to gardening, I bought this standard plant around 2-3 years ago. The first year it was beautiful but since then i feel like it has been attacked by something.. or maybe I am not caring for it properly?

There are hardly any leaves left on it & many of them have dark brown/ red patches on them? Also I think an insect has been nesting in the leaves as some are stuck together...

Does anyone know the name of this plant?

i am hoping that if I re-pot it, it might help make it healthy again... I wonder if it needs a special type of soil?

I think also i might need to move to another position in the garden.

would love some help with this!

francesca x

Last edited: 31 May 2017 21:45:12

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 28,841

    What is it and is there a reason for growing it in a pot instead of in the ground?

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053

    Absolutely no idea of what it is but repot it into a bigger pot with fresh compost. Keep it well watered for the next  few months. If it is in the sun, move it somwhere shadier to see if it recovers. It does look rather sickly and not long for this world. 

    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • FrancescaBFrancescaB Posts: 25

    Hiya,

    im not sure what plant it is, that's why I was hoping someone might recognise it!

    Its currently in pot because at our old house we didn't have a garden but have moved recently & I want to try to revive it!

    i will re-pot it and hope for the best...

    x

    Last edited: 02 June 2017 08:09:47

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,357

    I think it is Polygala myrtifolia.

    This is a South African plant and needs a sheltered position and protection from frost. Some of its problems are probably due to it getting too cold. It is drought tolerant but will suffer damage if roots are allowed to dry out.

    I would repot it  into a larger pot, using John Innes 3 with some added grit and keep it moist (not wet!) until it shows signs of new growth. It doesn't mind some shade, so that may help too until it gets established, then give it more sun.Don't feed it until it is growing well. Find somewhere inside for it over winter.

  • FrancescaBFrancescaB Posts: 25

    Thank you Buttercupdays! It is indeed a Polygala myrtifolia!!

    thank you so much for your advice, hopefully with some TLC I can get it back to being healthy ?

    francesca x

  • DubloonDubloon Posts: 45

    It is Polygala. I had one of these and, same as you, it was stunning in the first year and then got ravaged thereafter. I don't think this plant can really survive outside in most parts of the UK - I put it in my greenhouse but too late. I would do as Buttercupdays suggests but keep it indoors as much as possible.

  • FrancescaBFrancescaB Posts: 25

    Thank you Dubloon, such a shame as it is a beautiful plant when healthy! I used to get so many comments on it...

    Yes I think I will need to find a home for it indoors, as it keeps being attacked by some sort of pest nesting in its leaves.

    Francesca x

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