Nikko Blues Too Top Heavy?

15 years ago

Hi All-

This is the first year this has ever happened to my Nikko Blues'. After a heavy rainstorm the stalks w/blooms have fanned out all around the plant. I thought they would right themselves when the plant dried out but they didn't. Is there anything I should do to protect the stalks from laying on the ground? It seems this has been a banner year for the amount of blooms on my Nikko's are amazing. These plants are about 10 years old.

Any advice,

suebot in CT

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Comments (6)

razorback33
15 years ago
Not unusual for large mops to sprawl after heavy rainfall.
My Nikko & Glory Blues, Big & Lemon Daddys and Mme Emile Mouillere are all bent into disarray.
I don't often bother with them, unless they are smothering other plants near them or block a walkway, then I loosely truss them up with large diameter black plastic twine, by criss-crossing the twine so that opposite canes provide support for each orher. Individual canes are sometimes supported by bamboo stakes and loosely tied twine.
That is apparently the only downside to those huge mophead flowers that everyone seem to enjoy!
Rb
ditas
15 years ago
Thank you Rb33 - you make me feel better for loving my H paniculatas more - the airy-ness of blossoms keeps them more prim-'n-proper! I've had to stake 'n corral ES as we keep getting hit by 1 storm after another.

Oh my old Nikko - is something else ... is a true enigma! Last season was a bloom-buster-year, for the first time following religious/meticulous over-wintering efforts (ff Hay's tutorial). '07-'08 Winter 'did even better efforts ... only 3 very early blossoms that are now 12"x10" each, followed by later appearance of buds, now just enlarging - oh & a teeny-tiny & size one. All of the early huge ones came from tall & hefty canes that came from the ground, in the center of the 4'x6' bush.

All the old wood survivors were left in the dust - so to speak - v e r y s l o w to pick up (gave me the cute $-size blossom). My ?? could it be the 'Off-year/on-year' thing? Should I prune weaker, canes old & new,to keep 18y/o Nik productive in '09 while I try propagating a few stems?
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hanabi
15 years ago
It is always a good idea to prune old branches to the ground after four of five years. Encourages new growth from the base and keeps the plant in better shape.

I surround the heavier mopeads with stout twiggy branches so they have some support to lean over in case of rain.
ditas
15 years ago
"It is always a good idea to prune old branches to the ground after four of five years."

But not the new growth of the current season? I should try doing that & see what happens in '09, Thanks Hanabi! Â ;)

Prior to learning about over-wintering, I guess, Ma Nature took care of taming old Nikko to size & shape - however I only got blooms 4 out of the 16 years I've had her, & only a few - never as large as I've had this past 2 years.

Similarly, each yr, I leave some of the dead old canes (pruned to 2') & use them as built-in-stakes for the new ones w/ blossoms to lean on.
hanabi
15 years ago
"But not the new growth of the current season? "

Nope, that is the growth that will (hopefully) bear blooms next year.
After 4 or five years of life though a branch becomes very woody and bears smaller leaves and flowers. These old things are better removed all the way down to the ground, so you make more space for new vigourous shoots. You never should need to remove more than one or two of theese old branches every year.

New growth can be pruned in spring if you aim for very large flower heads, but as you noticed these can be inconvenient in rainy weather, and also a bit "too much" in the context of the garden ;)
ditas
15 years ago
Indeed Hanabi! "... also a 'bit too much' in the context of the garden."... I'd rather have a saucer-size than a dinnerplate one, that is not sustainable! I did notice the smaller foliage size on the axillary branches from the old canes & matching, muffin-size blossoms!

A nurseryman did suggest prunning a few of old & new canes that seem weaker, to make bundling up, for winter cover-up more manageable & control size of bush.

Not only do I have to winter protect, I also have to 'sun-screen' her up, from our Midwest summer ... since losing the dappled shade provided by a tree taken down in '05. I gave her an arbor topped with landscaping sun-shading-fab (looked hideous), planted a Sweet Autumn Clem on the wrong side (E - the only spot available) that now, is turning into a monster, in spite of regular hair-cut! Relocating an 18y/o Nik may kill her - can't afford to, starting new is not the same - so I'll try a cutting or also dig up SA Clem & sink her in a super large planter to be set on the W leg of arbor (may tame her down a bit) ... all these, for a, perhapa mere $12.50 florist Nikko Blue on Mom's Day in 1990!!! Â;)

Many thanks again for the 'Nikko-Wisdom' shared Hanabi ... what would you do in my garden clogs? TIA for your thoughts! â:)

Nikko Blues Too Top Heavy?

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razorback33

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