All of a sudden, this Sylvia Greggi I planted near my sidewalk is in decline. It bloomed real nicely during the spring and early summer, but now it is looking really sad.
I water it with the same frequency as the rest of my Sylvia plants, and I periodically add organic fertilizer (Espoma Organic Bloom! plant food).
Any idea what’s going on here? I thought Sylvia could tolerate the heat. Any suggestions on how to revive this sad looking guy?
by WaterlooScotsman
7 Comments
I’d chop her to about 6″, provide a bit more water for a couple weeks, and withhold any fertilization until new growth appears.
Back off the fertilizer and watering. Most Texas natives prefer to be without fertilizer; they’ve evolved to prefer our natural soils. Could also be getting too much water with all the rain we’ve been having if you’re also irrigating it frequently. This species takes well to shaping twice a year to keep them from getting too leggy and to promote blooms. You can cut it back by 1/3-1/2 in late summer after a bloom cycle (like now) and in late winter before things warm up.
Agree with backing off fertilizer; natives really shouldn’t be fertilized unless you’ve identified a specific deficiency via soil testing. Natives are native because they grow here naturally, without any fussing.
I also wonder if it’s getting too much water. I don’t water my greggiis *at all* beyond the first month or two after planting.
Once it’s established you don’t need to do any of that. You’re over watering it and over fertilizing. They’re called natives for a reason. They can survive in the native environment without extra help.
They love a good haircut…
Cut it back by half and don’t fertilize. How often do you water?
it blooms in spring and fall. relax, guy