skip to main content

Perennials garden Native Plants

Help with bareroots please -- larkspur

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

Received my shipment of bareroot larkspur (Delphinium exaltatum), wasn't ready to plant outside so potted them up in peat-based potting mix. They had a small amount of green growth, planted them with crown slightly below soil line and put them in a sunny windowsill. Green growth shriveled up. Uh-oh. So then I moved them to the light cart, figuring the temps wouldn't swing as much as in the windowsill. It's been a couple weeks and no signs of life yet. Any ideas what the problem might be? I'm stumped as to why the new growth died off, I typically don't have any trouble with stuff like this. I didn't add any fertilizer, so nothing to burn it.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
2 years ago
I can only assume the new growth was soft and tender, having been induced into premature growth, and was burnt by the sun in the window. I seem to recall you’re in a cold zone, but these are hardy plants so I’d start hardening them off if possible. Otherwise, have you got a cool bright place you could put them, like a glazed porch or something?
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
2 years ago
give it a week or two .. then tip it out of the pot and see if you have any new root growth ... if not.. i wouldnt keep it around long ... maybe a little bottom heat ... but the light stand probably took care of that...

what does the seller say about it ..

that said.. ive had stuff like this.. and just jammed it in the ground somewhere.. and was surprised to see it come fall .. lol .. ive also throw them on the compost pile.. and found them thriving months later.. lol ...

ken
Related Discussions
larkspurs
Q
Comments (3)
I gather seed from my larkspur as the seed heads dry and then sprinkle the seed where I want it to grow in late summer. You could pull the plants as the seeds ripen, and toss the seeds onto the unsettled soil. Trying to avoid stepping on other plants is a challenge. If you can make the beds narrow enough so weeding can be done from the paths, that helps a lot. I only have very limited sun, so I have one giant bed across the entire front of my property. I try to leave "access" spaces between groups of plants. But, the clumps are spreading and the spaces are disappearing. But, that also leaves less room for weeds. Martha
...See More
Please help me with my Larkspur!
Q
Comments (23)
Georgie: Were your larkspur wintersown or started indoors? Last year I wintersowed them (2 kinds) with great results. Some of the earl gray reseeded, the volunteers are pretty but shorter this year. The gentian blue was smaller and bloomed later, around August. Left in the ground they overwintered for me and came back on the same roots (8 of them), even though T&M lists them as an annual. This picture was taken June 7 of this year, second year plants. By July they were much bigger. The others came back too, but are smaller. Those wintersown this year are still only about 5 inches tall, but we have had extreme heat and drought. Karen
...See More
bareroot ocotillo ...please advise :)
Q
Comments (2)
Hi WPAZ, Don't be surprised if you do not see anything happening for up to a year. It takes the Ocotillo awhile to get established. Leave it sit dry for a week or so, then water it, then let it go for a month. If you are getting good monsoon rains, just ignore it. It will come around in time. You might even see the orange flowers before you see any leaves. Ocotillo are wonderful plants. I use to have 3 of them, and through renovation removed them and gave them to a friend. Looking back, I wish I would have kept at least one of them. Anyway, patience is golden on these beauties, they take a while to become established. After this year you could see leaves develop with spring rains or winter monsoon. Easy
...See More
Any advice on strange Larkspur phenomenon
Q
Comments (5)
I suspect what you have, Kim, is a case of Southern blight fungus Sclerotium rolfsii. According to the research at the University of Maryland this condition can be a serious problem in field-grown larkspur. The fungus remains in the upper inches of field soil and is only active during periods of hot weather when soil temperatures rise into the 70s. The fungus attacks the plant at the soil surface, causing a rapid wilt and crown rot of individual scattered plants in the field. Close inspection of wilting plants will find white whefts of mycelium on the stem, often webbing soil particles. The small (1/8 to 1/4") spherical, white to brown sclerotia are formed on stems and soil. Prescence of this sclerotia is diagnostic of Southern blight. The management practices to reduce Southern blight would be: 1) Deep tillage, which buries the sclerotia and this will reduce the disease because the sclerotia require warmth and oxygen to grown. (I am assuming the area where you planted the larkspur wasn't tilled.) 2) Incorporating organic matter will help by promoting decay of the sclerotia during the fall, winter, and spring. Wilting plants should be removed to reduce further increase of disease in the field. Fungicide controls and biological agents that decay the sclerotia are in development; however, not yet available. Trish
...See More
sah67 (zone 5b - NY)
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
“wasn't ready to plant outside...”

Do you just not have a place for them yet? Bare-root perennials, especially something perfectly hardy like D. exaltatum, can (and should) be planted outdoors any time the ground isn’t frozen solid. Especially if they’re waking up from dormancy as you describe with the new green growth, I’d be in a rush to install them in-ground ASAP.
mxk3 z5b_MI
Original Author
2 years ago
Hmmm, maybe I should stick them in the ground this week. They've been under the lights for a couple weeks, so I'm a bit apprehensive to plop them into the cool ground. Should I just place the pots out on the deck until they start to grow? Or just go ahead and plant them?
mxk3 z5b_MI
Original Author
2 years ago
Update: I planted them outside yesterday. When I took them out of their pots there were no growth buds. Sigh... Hopefully they'll recover eventually.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
2 years ago
Note I said to harden them off first.

Related Stories

Houzz Interview: French Larkspur

PLANTING IDEAS 3 Color Palettes to Help Set Your Garden’s Mood

By Lauren Dunec Hoang

Select plants in these color combinations to create an outdoor space that’s cheerful, energizing or calming

MOVING Relocating Help: 8 Tips for a Happier Long-Distance Move

By Laura Gaskill

Trash bags, houseplants and a good cry all have their role when it comes to this major life change

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Asclepias Incarnata for a Butterfly Garden

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Beautiful swamp milkweed makes it easy to help monarchs and other pollinators in eastern U.S. gardens

11 Ways To Repurpose Shutters

By Becky Harris

Weathered, chipped and peeling paint? Yes please!

LANDSCAPE DESIGN How to Transition Your Spring Garden Borders Into Summer

By Lauren Dunec Hoang

Check out these 8 easy tricks for refreshing your garden for the season without entirely replanting

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Tsuga Canadensis ‘Bennett’

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Bennett Canadian hemlock thrives in shade and provides sculptural interest in eastern U.S. gardens

EDIBLE GARDENS A Formerly Weedy Lot Now Brims With Edibles and Honeybees

By Mitchell Parker

Photographers transform their barren backyard into an oasis filled with fruit, vegetables, honey, eggs and more

GARDENING GUIDES Southwest Gardener's April Checklist

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Welcome the return of roses and herbs, and consider a new use for vines as you rejoice in your newly green spring garden

WORLD OF DESIGN World of Design: These Gardeners Dig Cold Climates

By Sara Norrman

Passionate gardeners in Maine, Russia and northern Sweden know how to get the most from their short growing seasons and freezing conditions

Sponsored

More Discussions

A Year of Bulbs

83

Action packed or leave room?

19

Worms in hosta roots?

13

Gardenfit TV show on PBS and any others?

4

Verbascum phoeniceum 'White Bride' issues?

1