Thank you, Bri! I’ll leave them there and water them to give them a fair chance at it. I didn’t know they slow down after Spring. But this makes me happy because I almost thought I had to dig them up and throw them out. Whew!

I suggest to mulch around crown when it is so hot. Some small stones will probably work too.

Small stones such as they use in Sweden but mulching immediately around the crown is an invitation to various fungi and rot. It can keep the crown damp.

Thank you, everyone.

Alex - I think you are right and it's time to start mulching around the plant - I used a moisture meter at noon today and the soil around the poor plant was pretty much bone-dry. I am totally a newbie to this, so had NO idea that the soil could dry so fast (it was literally watered yesterday!).

Maifleur - thanks for your clarification. I'll mulch, but will avoid the crown.

I'll update everyone in a few weeks to see if these guy get better. :)

Thank you, everyone! Indeed it was a mulch/watering issue! I added a bit of mulch (leaving a 1.5 inch gap from the base of the plant) and increased the watering frequency, and they bounced right back and are even growing new leaves!

And to think they had been struggling like this for months, and I had almost pulled them out to throw away! I am so happy right now. :)