Did I kill my butterfly bush?

9 years ago

I bought a butterfly bush in early August, and planted it on the west side of my apartment where it gets sun from about noon to sunset. I planted it in a well drained area with Miracle Grow garden soil, and mulched on top of that. At the time, it had lots of flowers and seemed okay.

Then I got an infestation of spider mites, and didn't catch it until they'd already done a lot of damage. I treated it and all surrounding plants with Forbid 4F, and that did the trick. But it still looked in rough shape for a few weeks after that, so I gave it about a gallon of properly diluted multi-purpose Miracle Grow fertilizer.

It's been looking worse and worse ever since, and that was almost 2 weeks ago. There are only a few green leaves left on it, the rest has gone white, and 1 tiny flower clump.

I started giving it at least a gallon of water every day starting 1 week ago, on the assumption that I over-fertilized and I needed to wash away the fertilizer. It hasn't improved, and if anything it seems worse. What do I do? I don't want it to die...

Comments (3)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
just stop ... everything ...

water when it NEEDS WATER ...

its going on fall ... its probably going dormant ... but i dont know where you are ...

next time.. do not amend the planting hole ... see link for planting and watering guide ...

did you apply the goo according to the label???

not many of us.. favor planting in august.... there had to be great stresses related to that.. and probably why the mites attacked ... [just because you buy a plant.. doesnt mean its the best time to plant it]

i am surprised.. that.. what was presumably 'clean' stock purchased in august.. should need hardcore miticides within 4 weeks ...

fertilizer NEVER solves transplant shock ...

you are probably on the verge of loving this thing to death.. do no more.. including water.. until your finger.. inserted 3 inches.. indicates the plant needs water at depth ... otherwise.. you will drown it.. and rot the roots off ...

it would be nice to know where you are ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link
Atharaenea
Original Author
9 years ago
Louisville, KY. I've had problems with mites this year in general, starting with the roses in May. I think they live in the grass, and the lawn crew blows clippings all over our gardens, which is why I already had the Forbid 4F. I bought the butterfly bush this late because I was busy with school and work, but got a few week's break in late July/early August, which is when I expanded my garden and bought new plants to fill it.

I amended the planting hole because it's solid red clay below 2 inches down. And it was doing okay until the mites. I have some salvia that was also attacked, which I treated the same way as the butterfly bush, but it only improved.
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laceyvail 6A, WV
9 years ago
Two points:

Never fertilize a stressed plant.

Butterfly bushes rarely succeed with fall planting in zones 6 and lower.