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| Hi everyone -
I started a perennial garden last year. In the back of it I planted some Tall Garden Phlox that I bought from the local garden club sale. Last year I only had 1 or 2 blooms, but since they had just been planted, I figured that this year would be better. This year the phlox came up and it is now about 2' tall. The problem is that the plants seem to be dying. Can anyone tell me possible reasons, or what to do about it? Here are a couple of photos:
I live near Pittsburgh, PA. Thanks!
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Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by coolplantsguy z6 Ontario (My Page) on Fri, Jun 4, 10 at 7:53
| It certainly doesn't look good. My initial thought is that the yellowing of the leaves indicates it is either missing one or more nutrients, or the roots are being compromised by a pest or disease that is preventing the plant from functioning properly. Take a look at the roots. Another possibility is a severe case of spider mites. Any sign of webbing on the leaves and stems? If so, check the underside of the leaves for masses of tiny spider mites. Finally, has any chemical been applied nearby? |
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| Thanks, coolplantsguy. No chemical has been applied nearby. I haven't noticed any webbing on the leaves and stems, but I'll take a closer look to make sure. Now that I think about it, this same thing happened to them last year. I chalked it up to the plants having just been planted, but now that's it happened a second year in a row, there must be some other explanation. I did an internet search last night, and found a couple of other people who had posted about similar issues with their phlox (plants start out healthy, but then begin to die from the bottom up), but none of their questions were ever answered, so it wasn't very useful other than to know it happens to other people. |
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- Posted by coolplantsguy z6 Ontario (My Page) on Fri, Jun 4, 10 at 8:21
| They are also susceptible to powdery mildew, but that does not appear to be the situation in your case. |
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- Posted by gardenfanatic MO zone5b (My Page) on Fri, Jun 4, 10 at 8:31
| They look very chlorotic to me. Since they're planted next to the foundation, lime is probably leaching into the soil, making the soil alkaline. Phlox like it somewhat acidic. Also, plants next to the foundation usually don't get enough water. Garden phlox like a lot of water. I'd try watering them, then fertilizing with acidifier added to the fertilizer. Peat moss is acidic, so you should also mix that into the soil around the plant, along with some soil sulphur to lower the pH. Coolplantsguy has a point with the spider mites, considering some of the leaves are curled under. Spider mites like it hot and dry, and being planted next to brick, heat radiates off the brick, making a prime environment for spider mites. Deanna |
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- Posted by gardenfanatic MO zone5b (My Page) on Fri, Jun 4, 10 at 8:34
| I should've also added to cut off at the base the stems that are dying so the plant can put its energy into some healthy growth. Deanna |
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| Patti, the foliage appears diseased due to the yellow blotching. Try searching for Alfalfa Mosaic Virus or Tobacco Rattle Virus. Either of those can cause the discoloration shown in your Phlox foliage. I gave up trying to grow Phlox here because the Powdery Mildew always made the plants look like crap. :-) Rosie |
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| Rosie, My David Phlox looks similar to hers but no brown leaves, and I already whacked it to the ground. If it returns when the new leaves come back--do I dig it up and toss it? I divided it in early spring, and I gave some to a friend and hers looks the same way. Should she whack hers to the ground? I looked up Alfalfa Mosaic Virus, and I think that is what mine has. |
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- Posted by coolplantsguy z6 Ontario (My Page) on Fri, Jun 4, 10 at 11:01
| If you're pretty certain that yours has a virus, yes dig it up and destroy asap. But I don't believe the plant pictured above is a virus. |
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| I think Deanna has your answer with the spidermites and brick. If you can move it to a spot with afternoon shade that will help but right now I would guess the brick is keeping it hot and dry, the side closest to the brick is probably the worst.... plus being next to the house may also put it under the eaves which keeps rain off the leaves -which mites love. Try watering and give it a dose of fertilizer. When you water, if possible, spray the undersides of the leaves with a pretty good blast... that may wash a bunch of them away. the more water on the underside the better. Three days of that should help, spraying with a little safers soap will help even more. For the long term move the plant. |
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| Thanks, everyone, for sharing all your wonderful knowledge! I am on my way out now to check for spider mites. I'm fairly certain they aren't underwatered, for all the rain we've had here lately, but will make sure the eaves are not keeping the rain from reaching them. I'll have to buy some peat and sulpher and see if that helps... If I have to move them, I'll be looking for ideas for tall plants that can survive near the brick! Patti |
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| Thanks for the advice about the lime leaching into the soil. I think that is one of my problems. Now, here's another- maybe should be a different post, but..... I planted White David Phlox... Now I have pink phlox - no white. What has happened? |
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- Posted by ctopher_mi Z5 MI (My Page) on Sat, Jul 3, 10 at 14:15
| The stems are dying from a fungus problem that likely came in with the plants, or is in the soil and garden. It could be Botrytis which is very common, or could be a water mold, which is a fungus-like microorganism called Phytophthora. Both can cause the lower parts of the stems to begin to rot, often spreading from an infected leaf, until a whole portion of the stem is completely dead. The foliage above will first start to wilt and then die. They also both occur when conditions are very wet and poorly draining. If it is really bad (as in this case) I would consider digging it all up and destroying the entire plant. If it is only a few stems you can cut them down below the dead portions and then treat with a fungicide. I would first treat for Botrytis and see how it does. If the problem still comes back later then you might have a water mold and then you will need a stronger fungicide. Look on the label when buying a fungicide for Botrytis or Phytophthora (the latter is hard to find without going to a commercial spray). Removing this plant from the landscape may be your best bet if the fungus is in the roots. If it is still only on the stems then cutting it off at the base can stop it. Then make sure the soil surface dries out between deep waterings. Hope that helps. Chris |
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- Posted by Statuelady (My Page) on Sat, Jun 28, 14 at 15:49
| My long lived (18 years) phlox garden suffered a massive, fast dye-out two years ago. I did see webbing on the plants but the destruction was unstoppable in spite of religious pesticide spraying. The plants looked exactly like those pictured. Fearing that fungus was introduced by the insects I also sprayed fungicide to no avail. Last year a few sad little plants came up and received both fungicide and pesticide spraying starting very early in the spring. I did not see any webbing. This year is a repeat of last year. A few Phlox in another location are not affected (yet) but they are in too much shade to bloom. I was hoping to find an answer here. |
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| Apparently there are phlox people and nonphlox people and I'm one of the latter. I pulled up my next-to-last David this morning after years of trying all of the remedies listed above. I think I can get the same general effect with white cosmos, at least it will be cheaper. |
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