Why is my Endless Summer wilting so often?

14 years ago

I purchased it out of a 3gal container and planted it in late April. The ES took off like a rocket and is covered in blue blooms right now(it still has it's blooms from April). The problem lies in that it is the THIRSTIEST plant on the planet. One issue I have is that I planted it in pretty much full sun, which I didn't think it was going to get. It really thrives in the sun, but also dries like there is no tomorrow or has some other issue. It needs at least a gallon of water per day otherwise it begins to plop over, and the blooms curl up and shrink badly. Of course, as soon as I see this I water it and it remarkably perks right back up to where it was within 10 minutes(kind of amazing). I do deep water it as well, and it helps, but really doesn't alleviate the problem much. I have some mulch underneath, but could add more. Does anybody have any suggestions as to how I could prevent this from continuing?

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hightider

14 years ago

tHEY DO BEST IN MORNING SUN AND AFTERNOON SHADE, i HAVE THEM ALL OVER AND OFTEN THOSE IN HALF SUN WEEP/i WOULD MOVE IT hIGHTIDER

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Comments (6)

lsimms
14 years ago
I moved some of my ES to an area just 10 feet north of my very successful hydrangea hedge. Same side of the house, just a little bit to the right. Huge mistake. They got noon sun and got so wilty...you'll laugh...I put patio umbrellas over them for the rest of the summer. I didn't feel comfortable about moving them again for the shock. Probably should have, lol. Some people thot it was "art." Anyway, it seems like some folks have great success with ES in full sun. Not me. I moved them the next spring. Good Luck.
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My mom has a whole garden of ES..and from what I can tell, ES (and Nikkos - she has a bunch of that too) needs a lot of water during hot summer days...relying on just moderate rainfall probably won't be enough...here in New Jersey, we have some soaking rains every now and then, only after that, we stop our regular waterings of the hydrangeas...in hot days like we had two weeks ago (98+ and no clouds in the sky), we watered the ES and Nikkos twice a day (early morning and dinner time)..and we have minimal wiltings...ES is not even forgiving when it comes to the hot afternoon sun and it needs a lot of water. In her garden, mom is trying out the Cityline series of Hydrangeas and it seems they are more sun tolerant and no wilts even during the 98-102 days we had two weeks ago..but they do get sunburn though if if you them under the afternoon sun with no shade (just as all other big leaf Hydrangeas would). BTW, my mom fried her very first ES whne she forgot to water the plant for two days and exposed it to the afternoon sun (in one of those 90+ jersey summer days)...that plant didn't perk up after some serious soakings and we knew it was beyond help then...if you plant perks up after a good soaking, you should be fine..maybe get some shadecloth drap over it during those very hot cloudless days..jmho.
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As you can tell by all the suggestions, there may be many things to consider. Specially in the case of a recently planted hydrangea. Too much sun comment: if you had too much sun exposure then your leaves would be browning out, not wilting. Newly planted hydrangeas can suffer from wilting problems as their root systems are in shock. After all, they were growing happy on a piece of land before someone butchered their roots and put them in a 1g pot. All things being equal, they should be able to "fix" themselves after the sun goes down and temps are cooler. Watering suggestion: I suggest you do it the ol'e fashioned way for the first few months: insert a finger into the ground to a depth of 2-4" and water only if it feels dry. There is less of chance of overwatering and rotting roots this way. If your weather is not hot, consider if the plant's location may be windy. Wind makes many plants wilt because they loose water faster thru the leaves than they absorb thru the small root system. Reflected heat from house walls could also be affecting them. Mulch: 2-4 inches up to the drip line Chemicals: Hold the Miracid. No fertilizers for the first few months or if the plant appears too stressed. Root Stimulators, Superthrive, Liquid Seaweed or Liquid Fish are ok during the first few months. Stop fertilizing by mid to late August. Good luck, Luis
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Don't tease me Shadeguy...... Are you sure the lack of wilting is because of the No Wilt (same as WiltPruf?) and not because your ES are another year older and more established? Oh, if only this product could be the answer I would be in hydrangea heaven but I haven't heard such glowing reviews of it before. Since hydrangeas transpire through their leaves, wouldn't sealing them be paramount to wrapping your body in saran wrap and working out in the sun without the ability to perspire? I don't mean to sound so sceptical but it really does sound too good to be true!.....yg
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sue36
14 years ago
My 6 are in full sun and afternoon shade (meaning, shade after 2:00). They've only wilted once this year, but I must be way behind you seasonally because mine are not even close to blooming yet (the buds are quarter sized). They are thirsty suckers, no question about it. I probably water them every three days if there isn't rain.
ostrich
14 years ago
I think the other posters have pretty much answered your question - you're in Columbus, which is a bit warmer than where I am in Cleveland. When I first planted my ES where they do not get any afternoon sun, they wilted like crazy whenever it's too warm! I had to baby them like crazy and water them twice a day. It took a couple of years for them to develop a root system where I do not have to deep water often again!!! Good luck! It's worth the hassle...
madeyna
14 years ago
Mine wilted last year every time we had a hot day and I really had to baby it but this year ,its in the same spot but so far hasn,t wilted yet. I,m think they just really need to get a good root system going to take any sun at all. I read on another forum where someone was successful in preventing wilt by adding the stuffing of a babys diaper deep in the soil to retain moisture that the plant could pick up when needed. I have used this method with my hanging baskets but haven,t tried it with Endless summer. When I get ready to plant my new one I will, I currently have a Endless Summer on a covered deck in a pot and it still wilts on hot days even though its in shade.
rozilla
14 years ago
Umbrellas??? Love it! Very artistic. Yes indeedy, the thirstiest plants I've ever seen. I have 3 Endless Summers planted in a shady area and those ladies are real lushes. But don't you love that constant bloom? Here in the deep South, they bloom from April through Thanksgiving. Few plants would be worth the effort of daily watering (or umbrellas) but for these, yeah.

Why is my Endless Summer wilting so often?

hightider

Comments (6)

lsimms

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