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#1
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Petunias and hanging baskets
I have had hanging baskets outside of my house for the past 4 years.
Normally I plant a selection of geraniums, fuschias and petunias. The first year, no problems but the last three years, all of the petunias have gone down with some sort of disease causing them to wilt and die back around two months after planting. The disease seems to start with one plant, and then spreads to others in the basket and then to other baskets. The petunias go brown, the leaves die back and although the end shoots still keep flowering (just) the volume of flowers is greatly reduced and the baskets quickly take on a 'ragged' look. Any ideas where I am going wrong, or ideas on plants I can use instead of petunias??? |
#2
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Petunias and hanging baskets
On Sun, 10 Aug 2003 10:03:57 +0100, Jordan wrote:
I have had hanging baskets outside of my house for the past 4 years. Normally I plant a selection of geraniums, fuschias and petunias. The first year, no problems but the last three years, all of the petunias have gone down with some sort of disease causing them to wilt and die back around two months after planting. The disease seems to start with one plant, and then spreads to others in the basket and then to other baskets. The petunias go brown, the leaves die back and although the end shoots still keep flowering (just) the volume of flowers is greatly reduced and the baskets quickly take on a 'ragged' look. Any ideas where I am going wrong, or ideas on plants I can use instead of petunias??? It sounds like lack of water to me. Once the plants in a hanging basket are well-established, there's a lot of roots competing in not-very-much soil. You must water an established basket much more copiously than you do when it is first planted. Also, you must *feed* hanging baskets. The constant and copious watering rapidly depletes alll soluble nutrients and if you don't replace these, the plants will suffer. Once a week, when you water, water three times, allowing the excess the drain between bouts. This will remove any fertilizer salts that may have accumulated, as well as making sure that the soil mass is evenly moistened. Then, after the basket has been thoroughly soaked and had a chance to drain, apply any decent soluble fertilizer. 20-20-20 analysis is as good as any, but some brands are more prone to burning than others -- I can't tell you which because you don't get the same brands in the UK we do in BC. -- Rodger Whitlock Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
#3
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Petunias and hanging baskets
Rodger,
Many thanks - will give your tips a try next year! I had been wondering whether or not I was infecting them with the tobacco mosaic virus when dead-heading - I am a smoker! Jordan. "Rodger Whitlock" wrote in message ... On Sun, 10 Aug 2003 10:03:57 +0100, Jordan wrote: I have had hanging baskets outside of my house for the past 4 years. Normally I plant a selection of geraniums, fuschias and petunias. The first year, no problems but the last three years, all of the petunias have gone down with some sort of disease causing them to wilt and die back around two months after planting. The disease seems to start with one plant, and then spreads to others in the basket and then to other baskets. The petunias go brown, the leaves die back and although the end shoots still keep flowering (just) the volume of flowers is greatly reduced and the baskets quickly take on a 'ragged' look. Any ideas where I am going wrong, or ideas on plants I can use instead of petunias??? It sounds like lack of water to me. Once the plants in a hanging basket are well-established, there's a lot of roots competing in not-very-much soil. You must water an established basket much more copiously than you do when it is first planted. Also, you must *feed* hanging baskets. The constant and copious watering rapidly depletes alll soluble nutrients and if you don't replace these, the plants will suffer. Once a week, when you water, water three times, allowing the excess the drain between bouts. This will remove any fertilizer salts that may have accumulated, as well as making sure that the soil mass is evenly moistened. Then, after the basket has been thoroughly soaked and had a chance to drain, apply any decent soluble fertilizer. 20-20-20 analysis is as good as any, but some brands are more prone to burning than others -- I can't tell you which because you don't get the same brands in the UK we do in BC. -- Rodger Whitlock Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
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