suicidal rosemary, sage, and nasturtium

17 years ago

Hello all!

I'm a new would-be gardener needing all the help I can get. I recently moved into a high-rise apartment building in NYC with a north facing balcony on the 8th floor, and became ambitious enough to start a small garden of potted herbs. The balcony is fairly well shielded from wind, but alas there's only about 3 hours of direct sun a day. There's indirect sun for the rest of the day. Also, there's been a lot of rain lately, so even less sunshine than normal. I started with good large plants from the green market, and repotted them into 8 inch pots that drain well. I also used MiracleGro potting soil with fertilizer that's supposed to last at lest 3 months. Alas, it's only been 10 days since I started, and I'm already running into big problems.

After 7 days of general happiness, my sage plant has stopped all growth and become suddenly droopy in the space of 2 days. Thinking that it needed more water, I gave it that. No use. Now the soil is quite moist, but the plant is on the verge of collapse. There are no spots and no bugs that I can see. What do I do?

My rosemary is doing something odd. It initially grew quite quickly, and I pruned one stem off the top (leaving 7 inches of length), hoping it would become bushier. Instead, that stem and that stem alone has browned to the bottom. The other stems seem aright, for now. (How I wish I could send pictures!) Again, no spots, no bugs. I'm afraid the other stems will go down too.

Finally, I also have an anemic nasturtium plant. It's of the bushy variety with two-toned leaves. It started with a good number of flowers, and I repotted it into a large container. Since then, all the flowers have dropped off, and some of the leaves have turned yellow. However, there has also been new growth from the root.

I have a sinking feeling that the basis of all my woes is the lack of sunlight. I appreciate any and all advice/remedies. If these particular plants cannot survive in this environment, please advise me as to which herbs can. I'm very dedicated and am happy to water them as frequently as they need. I cook quite a bit, so these will also be pruned regularly.

On the upside, my basil and spearmint are quite jolly, and my old Christmas cactus has bloomed out of season for the first time (I hope that's not its swan song!).

Thank you thank you thank you!!

linearlinear

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

Daisyduckworth
17 years ago
Not enough sun, too much water, probably poor drainage. Nasturtium absolutely HATES being transplanted - however, if you've got new growth, that's good. It will recover, but most or all of the old growth will probably die.

All these herbs prefer poor soil, so the fertiliser isn't helping, either. And all are probably suffering from Transplant Shock. After transplanting, leave your plants to recover for at least a couple of weeks before harvesting from them. How would you like to have a part amputated after your transplant surgery, huh?

Since the basil and mint are doing well, it would seem to be predominantly an excess-water problem - too much, too soon after transplanting. Both these can do with plenty of water. But the basil will be wanting a lot more sun than it's getting now.

Before watering, do the Finger Test. Poke your finger into the soil. If the tip of your finger feels damp, don't water. If dry, water. Do not allow the soil to dry out between waterings, and if the soil is waterlogged, lift the pots up onto feet to assist with drainage and add some dry potting mix to help absorb the excess moisture. Sage and rosemary cannot tolerate constantly wet feet.
Heathen1
17 years ago
The rosemary and sage just won't survive with that amount of sun... :o( do you have a southern window? Rosemary and sage love FULL sun even in near desert conditions.
Related Discussions
HAVE: want and have: my trade list!
Q
Comments (0)
LIANAS TRADE AND WANT LIST! hrhliana@yahoo.com SEEDS FOR TRADE OR SASBE: NAME, COLOR, FORM, (The number is my personal notes!) Yucca White Seed 13 Confederate Rose Seed 5 Texas Star Red Hibiscus Red Seed 8 Cleome Miz Seed 6 Daisy White Seed 2 Hibiscus Seed 3 Trumpet Vine (A) Seed 3 Trumpet Vine (B) Seed 0 Old Time TN Melon Seed 1 Roma VFN Tomato Seed 2 Great White Tomato Seed 2 Evergreen Tomato Seed 2 Passion Vine Seed 2 Bignonia Vine Seed 3 Bell Pepper Seed 5 Mixed Heirloom Tomato Bi Color, Red, Yel Seed 6 Orange Glo Watermelon Orange Seed 1 Hot Pepper, Capsicum Cardenasii Seed 1 Abelmoschus Manihot/Sunset Hibiscus Seed 9 Trumpet Daffodil Yellow Bulb 0 Tulip Variety Bulb 0 Snow Crocus Variety Bulb 0 Alpine Rosy Bells Pink Bulb 0 Dutch Iris Variety Bulb 0 Zinnia (Dwarf Pumilia Sprite) Variety Seed 0 Aster Variety Seed 0 Alyssum White Seed 0 Cosmos Variety Seed 0 Gysophila (Covent Garden) Pink Seed 0 Zinnia (Lilliput) Variety Seed 0 Ainnia (Giant Cactus) Variety Seed 0 Bachelor's Buttons (Cyanus) Variety Seed 0 Shasta Daisy White Seed 0 Basil N/A Seed 0 Oregano N/A Seed 0 Chives N/A Seed 0 Parsley N/A Seed 0 Rosemary N/A Seed 0 Thyme N/A Seed 0 Sage N/A Seed 0 Morning Glory Clarke's Heavenly Blue Seed 1 Bachelor's Buttons Blue Boy Seed 7 WANT LIST: FLOWER Achillea Ageratum Ageratum Akyssum Amaranthus Artemsia Silvermound Aster Astilbe Azalea Baby's Breath Bat Face Cuphea/St Peter's Plant Bird of Paradise Bleeding Heart Bnigella Papillosa (Curiosity) Bougainvillea Bunny Ears Bunny Tails Butterfly Bush Candleflower Candytuft Cardinal Climber Carnation Cekosia Celosia Clarkia Clematis Cleome Clianthus Cobaea Columbine Confederate Jasmine Confederate Rose Cornflower Creeping Myrtle Daylily Desert Rose Devil's Trumpet Dracunculus Dusty Miller Dusty Miller Dutchmen's Breeches Dwarf Sunflower Egyptian Star Cluster Euphorbia Festuca Grass Flamingo Feather Celosia Flmaingo Flower/Brazilian Plume Flowering Almond Flowering Kale Forget Me Nots Four O'Clock Freesia Gaillardia Gardenia Geraniums Godetia Hawaiian Blue Eyes/Blue Daze Heliotrope Hen and Chickens Hibiscus Honeysuckle Hosta Hydrangea Impatiens Indian Paintbrush Jasmine Kiss Me over the Gate Lady's Slipper Lantana Laurentia Lenten Rose Lilacs Lily of the Valley Lisianthus Mexican Evening Primrose Mexican Turks Cap Millet Money Plant Morning Glory Moss Rose Mums Nasturtium Ornamental Kale Painted Tongue/Salpiglossis Sinuata Peony Peppermint Twist Geranium Phlox Pineapple Sage Pink Lavendar Pink Pampass Grass Plectranthus Plumeria Queen Anne's Lace Ranunculus Red Hot Poker Rose Campion Russian Sage Scaevola Seashell/Cosmos Bipinnatus Silver Lace Sleepy Hibiscus Stock (Princess Pink or Harmony Purple) Sweet Pea Tangerine Dream Texas Mountain Laurel Texas Star Hibiscus Trillium Verbena Weeping Lantana Weigela White Snowball Wishbone Flower BULBS Allium Amarylis Arum Italicum Begonia Bush Lily Caladium Calla Lily Canna Crocus (No Snow Crocus) Crown Imperial Daffodil Dahlia Fairy Lily Giant Hyacinth Grape Hyacinth Iris Lily Pineapple Lily Pink Daffodil Snowdrops Tuberose Tulip TULIPS Angelique Tulip Black Tulip Blue Heron Tulip Cotton Candy Butterfly Tulip Cummins Tulip Exotic Heartbreaker Tulip Firespray Tulip French Lace Tulips Indian Summer Tulip Lady Tulip Parrot Tulip Rembrandt Tulips Scarlet Majesty Tulip Tequila Sunrise Tulip ROSES Climbing Roses Floribunda Roses Hedge Roses Mini Roses Shrub Roses Tea Roses FRUIT Apple Apricot Blackberry Blueberry Boysenberry Canteloupe Cherry Dwarf Blueberry Kiwi Nectarine Peach Pear Plum Raspberry Strawberry Watermelon HERBS Basil Chives Cilantro Coriander Lavendar Oregano Parsley Rosemary Sage Thyme VINE Cardinal Climber Cypress Vine Moonflower Rhodochiton/Purple Bells Vine White Cypress Vine TREE Chaste Tree Crepe Myrtle Dwarf Burning Bush Golden Chain Tree Mimosa Tree Pecan Persimmon Pink Smokebush Rose of Sharon Trumpet Vine Tulip Tree VEGETABLES All Blue Potato Bean Beefsteak Tomato Bell Pepper Broccoli Bunching Onion Butternut Squash Cabbage Carrot Cauliflower Celery Cherokee Purple Tomato Corn Cucumber Earliana Tomato Eggplant Endive Garlic Golden Mama Tomato Granny Smith Tomato Grape Tomato Jalapeno Kohlabi Lemon Boy Tomato Lettuce Looseleaf Lettuce Lumina Pumpkin New Red Potato Okra Onion Parsnip Peas Popcorn Potato Pumpkin Radish Red Onion Rhubarb Roma Tomato Romaine Shallot Spinach Sweet Potato Tomato Turnip Yellow Squash Yukon Gold Potato Zucchini
...See More
HAVE: Have and Wanted: My trade list!
Q
Comments (2)
Hi i was wanting to know if ou had any of your passion or bigonia vines or any of your hibiscus left. i have some stuff on my list that you might like. let me know.
...See More
HAVE: have and wanted: my trade list!
Q
Comments (2)
Hi I am a newbie and would be interested in the following for sasbe. Old Time TN Melon Seed 1 Roma VFN Tomato Seed 2 Great White Tomato Seed 2 Evergreen Tomato Seed 2 Passion Vine Seed 2 Bignonia Vine Seed 3 Bell Pepper Seed 5 Mixed Heirloom Tomato Bi Color, Red, Yel Seed 6 Orange Glo Watermelon Orange Seed 1 Trumpet Daffodil Yellow Bulb 0 Tulip Variety Bulb 0 Snow Crocus Variety Bulb 0 Alpine Rosy Bells Pink Bulb 0 Dutch Iris Variety Bulb 0 Zinnia (Dwarf Pumilia Sprite) Variety Seed 0 Aster Variety Seed 0 Cosmos Variety Seed 0 Zinnia (Lilliput) Variety Seed 0 Ainnia (Giant Cactus) Variety Seed 0 Bachelor's Buttons (Cyanus) Variety Seed 0 Basil N/A Seed 0 Oregano N/A Seed 0 Chives N/A Seed 0 Parsley N/A Seed 0 Rosemary N/A Seed 0 Thyme N/A Seed 0 Sage N/A Seed 0 Bachelor's Buttons Blue Boy Seed 7 Thanks for your kind generosity Mitch
...See More
What the HECK would eat sage?!
Q
Comments (13)
This is just a wild guess, but leaf-cutter bees? I have lost leaves off trees, shrubs and basil to leaf cutting bees. They take the leaf off the plant, roll it up and use it somewhere for a incubator for their young. I've seen them cut borage leaves and decide they don't want them (I think it is the fuzziness, somewhat like sage, that turns them off) and leave them at the base of the plant. Can you put a hairnet over your sage? I'm not kidding--a fine mesh net of some sort over the plant will discourage cutting insects. Not decorative, but effective!
...See More
linearlinear
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for all the advice. Any thoughts on what herbs WOULD be satisfied with my light conditions?

Thanks!
Daisyduckworth
17 years ago
Parsley, chervil, chives, mints, lemon balm can all take a fair amount of partial shade.
linearlinear
Original Author
17 years ago
I do have a mint. I'm a bit worried about that too. It's been getting brown spots over some of its sun-facing leaves, and they're spreading. No bugs, and still growing. Any thoughts?

Thanks!!
Daisyduckworth
17 years ago
Mint is very susceptible to a fungal disease called Rust. Repot your mint, using all fresh potting mix, wash out the pot in warm soapy water and a dash of bleach, wash all the soil off the roots and remaining plant, remove the browing leaves, and hope for the best. If your plant was in the garden, I'd suggest covering it with straw and setting the straw alight, but that isn't recommended on a balcony! You could speak to your local nursery where they might have some chemical treatment it.

suicidal rosemary, sage, and nasturtium

Comments (6)

Daisyduckworth

Heathen1

Related Discussions

linearlinear
Original Author

Daisyduckworth

linearlinear
Original Author

Daisyduckworth

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

suicidal rosemary, sage, and nasturtium

Comments (6)

Daisyduckworth

Heathen1

Related Discussions

linearlinearOriginal Author

Daisyduckworth

linearlinearOriginal Author

Daisyduckworth

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

linearlinear
Original Author

linearlinear
Original Author