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iamianjacob

Jacob’s Ladder Wilting

5 years ago

My one Jacob’s ladder is struggling. Attached are pictures of both, one preparing to bloom and the other just a few feet away struggling.




Comments (7)

  • 5 years ago

    Can you take a picture of the whole plant at ground level rather than from overhead?

  • 5 years ago

    Here it is @callirhoe123


  • 5 years ago

    What I meant was a picture of the whole plant from the side i.e. from the driveway/patio. Also, is there lawn grass growing in the middle of the plant?

  • 5 years ago

    @callirhoe123 thats as from the side as i can get, as the bed is only about 2ft deep and theres plants to both sides of it. Thers nothing growing from the center, but some of the Jacob’s Ladder seems to be new growth, while the rest is dying

  • 5 years ago

    we have been talking about this plant for years... in so many posts ..


    i seem to recall the general consensus is that its a PIA plant... near impossible to grow well... and very short lived ...


    so eventually.. just chuck it ... lol ...


    in teh mean time.. whats you native soil... how long has the wall been there .. could there be pH issues int eh soil... how do you water.. what direction does the wall face ... how many hours of direct sun.. what hours of the day ... where are you.. big city name ... have they been there over winter.. how was winter ...


    plz include more info.. when you want us to speculate about it all .. else.. we can only guess ... and always include city location ...


    ken

  • 5 years ago

    It doesn't look wilted to me. I'd just let the new foliage develop and see how it does.

  • 5 years ago

    @ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5


    I’m in north washington DC, the soil is odd to me, its earth, not just top soil/potting soil brought in when the landlords redid the stone work (im from the suburbs where there isnt as much hardscaping). Ive tested the PH and periodically add acidifer and Miracle Gro liquid fertilizer. Fertilize about every 2-3 weeks, i’ve added a small amount of acidifer before planting in mid march, again in late april, and added a small amount a few days ago (the jacobs ladder was already struggling before the acidifer). I also added compost in late february before planting so the soil shouldve been in top shape before i planted everything.


    The wall has always been there, it recieves SW sun in the afternoons, probably 2-3 hours of filtered sun as it the light has to peep through the alley way to reach the patio. I usually give everything a light water every other night, assuming we havent had substantial rain. we’ve had a bit of a dry spell prior to last week, so i was watering more consistently. I generally wait for the mulch do be nearly dry before watering again.


    There is the exact same Jacob’s Ladder like 3 feet away and it doing amazing well, and a not-varigated variety about 3 feet away on the other side as well that is thriving. It is just this one in the middle that suddenly started to die.


    I am considering giving it very light daily watering to see if that helps it. The issue started after a really hot day, eveyrthing else perked up, this one did not and has since begun to deteoriate.