Question re: cutting back

15 years ago

I have a couple of variegated heliopsis plants, WSed last year. They survived the winter and have been growing nicely. I transplanted them several weeks back, and both (kinda spindly) put out one bloom each.

Now they seem to be dying, flowers still hanging on, but leaves drying up and one plant bending to the soil. I thought about digging them up a few days ago, but thought maybe I was watering too much (haven't really), so decided to let the soil dry out a bit first.

Today, I saw what looks like 5 new shoots coming up at the base of the dying plants.

OK, so I'll cut off the dead stuff and see what happens. Sorry to be so long-winded, but I guess my question is - is this kind of behavior "normal"? I have the plants in a pot with a couple of irises - maybe that's not the best spot for it? I don't water that pot too often -

Any advice would be much appreciated ...

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Comments (3)

tepelus
15 years ago
Heliopsis likes water. If you're not watering them enough, they will do just as you've described. If they are in a pot with irises, I would separate them, because irises like it drier, heliopsis likes it wetter. You say you are getting new growth, so I would cut off the dying and shriveled parts and let the new grow.

Karen
pippi21
15 years ago
PVick..I think it is the hot temps the entire East coast is getting hit by the last few weeks. I've been getting out at daybreak and watering. Today is Saturday and I'm poking along even though I've been up since right after 5:30. This hot weather has me wiped out. I didn't go outside yesterday until about 5 pm; had to go to grocery store. It was 103-108 degrees here yesterday. You've probably been getting the same type of weather. Enjoy what's left of the summer because winter will be here before we turn around good! Have you grown anything new this year?
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PVick
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks, Karen. I did cut off the dead stuff; now I'll wait until the new growth comes out a bit more and move the plants to a separate pot.

pippi - yup, it's HOT here! 104 yesterday (felt like 115) and 101 today. The AC is working overtime trying to cool things down. I watered yesterday evening - as hot as it was, I could have watered with my sweat. I'm taking it easy today, trying not to move too much.

PV