A Bit of Luck after a Loss....

We all do it sometime dont we Spritzhenry? I lost a Viburnum davidii and found the roots were completly circular. Just think of 7 plants for 1 instead.

Prostantherea...is that the mint bush? mine has not been growing very much...perhaps I should have a look at its roots......Your fragaria sounds nice......ahem....are you looking for good homes for the extra plants????

Shame about your Prostanthera, Spritz, it looked lovely. Your little variegated plant looks lovely - just imagine being mother of sextuplets?

There you go Spritz- things happen for a reason,if you hadn't lost one plant you wouldn't have gained 7 (lucky for some) new ones lol. I don't like to tease roots out too much I usually snap a few off !!

Great to find your new plant already has babies. I am training that variegated fragaria along the front of a border as an edging - is that your plan?

I know it will grow in part-shade, Andrew, so yes - it's bound for the shady border!

Do you know the colour of the flowers ?

Yes - white! Only because I looked it up when I put it on my wish-list. I haven't ever seen the flowers 'for real'. I thought it would 'shine' out of a shady area, with the white markings and white flowers.

Lovely little carpet :)

didnt think to plant runners like this barbara, i just snip them off the plant, not this plant, and pop in a saucer of water and rooted in no time, so dont know if that would work for your, if you find you have to many , im willing to adopt :o)) lol

I did this with Fragaria 'Pink Panda' for Toto a while back, Sandra. I have to admit I haven't tried in water!

It sounds as if I need to make a list of people who'd like a baby one!

well if it works barbara thats all that matters, i just took a chance in water cause i didnt know what to do lol

I lost my Prostanthera cuneata aswell - drat ! It's a lovely little shrub. I still have my rotundifolia though. Were you able to get another one ?

pretty little plant Spritz, and what a lucky find for you :))

Well done for photographing those roots still pot-shaped...showing something that didn't go quite right....

Thanks for the reminder that roots might not be growing in quite the direction we might have hoped...

Good to see all those new plant runners looking healthy :o)

Any results of rooting in water, I would be pleased to have a photo for my Cuttings in Rainwater blog... Thanks.

What a bargain you got there....silver linings and all that!
I've seen them on TV being quite robust about teasing out roots rather than just tickling them round the edges. Is this the best way? Presumably it doesn't matter if some break off?

Sorry, Tt - not this time! Knowing that Fragaria root easily in compost, that's what I did.

I'd be interested in knowing what other people do about plants that turn out to be root-bound - I think I'll post a question!

Lily - what did they actually DO to the roots??

Hywel - what happened to your P. cuneata? When I went to buy my new one, I knew they stocked the P. rotundifolia, as well, so I checked in my RHS book and also asked the Nurseryman...both confirmed that yours is more tender! You've done well to keep it.

Barbara, They dug their fingers into the underneath and pulled the rootball out all the way round, rather roughly I thought but I can't remember who it was, think it must have been on GW. I usually just gently tease with a daisy grubber but I too would be interested in what others do. Sometimes things don't seem to recover from being rootbound (like yours) so maybe the 'robust' method is best?

Thanks, Lily. I will post a question - see what other people do. If being rough is the answer, then rough I shall have to be! I don't want to lose the new Prostanthera as well!

I've seen both extremes recommended on TV, from not disturbing the roots at all, to the really robust method which Lily describes.

Thanks, Tt. The first method wasn't the right one for my poor plant, was it?

I've just posted my question - let's see what other members do!

My P. rotundifolia was out in all the snow we had last winter and I always leave it out , although I do put it by a wall for some shelter. I've always thought of it as being quite tough.. lol

My P. cuneata was in one of my plastic plant-growing houses and it was by a sheltered wall of my garage. It was also covered with several sheets of newspaper and some fleece. It survived until about May although it looked very weak, and then suddenly shrivveled up and died. :o(( I don't know why .

That's what makes gardening such 'fun' Hywel. Always expect the unexpected! :o))
I'll keep a very interested eye on your question B.

My P. cuneata's death was sudden, too. However, I think the state of the rootball explains that. I'm amazed that your P. rotundifolia has proved to be so hardy, Hywel!
It only gets one star in my RHS book, as against two for the other one! I checked them both on the net, as well!

You've got the magic touch, obviously! LOL.

Sorry about your plant, but a great day at GC hope all your runners take.

Thanks, Carol - so do I!!

I've had the rotundifolia for many years so I must be doing something right :o)
It's about 4 feet tall aswell !

I cant find a reason for the cuneata dying. It had been repotted the year before and it wasn't really potbound. I just thought I'd give it fresh compost. - can't understand it .

Good luck with your new one :o)

Thank you, Hywel. :-) Having seen yours, I was very tempted to get the mauve one, but I resisted it!

Pitty . It's a lovely shade. You'd have liked it.

I know - but it seemed too tender, and I've already got several shrubs to fleece up if it's frosty!

I'll just have to look at yours!

OK then. I'll put more photos next year :o)

Yes please! What I'd also like to know is what temps. yours survives...I am still thinking about one! Thanks, Hywel!

I can't remember how low the temp went here last winter but it was much lower than usual. Must have been down to about - 8 or - 9 on several nights. I had the P.rotundifolia outside my conservatory door. It was covered in snow for days. I have a photo of it. If you go to my photo page and click on the tag for Prostanthera you can see it through the window covered in snow.

I think it must have had some protection from the wall but it was outside in all the snow and I do believe the soil froze in the pot aswell. I sometimes put it in the garage but even then it gets very cold.

If you do have one make sure it gets plenty of protection just incase.

Hmmm...very surprising, really, as it's not hardy! You must have a special one!

No, it's just the ordinary one. It fits the description exactly and it also sais so on the labell

I was joking - sorry! I remember the photo - it's very pretty, Hywel! ;-))

Sorry... lol - should be in a better mood :o)

It's OK - I didn't take offence! No probs - are you all right?

I'm all right I think.. lol.. just feeling very tired. I'm going to bed now. Good night Spritz. :o)

Thanks for the blog Spritz like your choice of the Correa pulchella. Trust you to look for and get a bargain. Well done.
As for the Pink Panda that you so kindly sent me. It is in flower at the moment but no runners yet.

It will, it will! My other bright pink one -
Fragaria 'Lipstick' has walked all round one bed!

Oh! I'm convinced that it will and am looking forward to it. Is it hardy enough to stay outside in the winter or should I protect it from frost in the greenhouse?

Completely hardy, Toto - no worries there. :-))

Thanks Spritz. That's good news because I'll use the space for something else.

barbara, i have just been weeding etc and one of my azalia`s i got this year is the same as your plant above and its roots are dying, pot shaped, the plant is still alive is there anything i can do to save it, ive popped it back in the ground till i get addvice, hoping you can help :o))

Yes - I followed Bulbaholic's advice on a question I posted on pot-bound plants.

1. Dig it up and soak the roots in a bucket of water.
2. Get a sharp thing like a daisy-grubber and tear at the rootball to tease it out - don't worry if a few pieces fall off!
3. Swish it round in the bucket of water.
4. Repeat 2/3
5. Wash the roots under the tap or hose.
6. Replant in a big hole with plenty of good compost (ericaceous for an Azalea)
7. Water it in.

I did my plant - the roots were pretty loose after all that, but it has much more chance of growing, now.

Good luck! :-)) Be ROUGH!!!

cheers for that barbara, i will get that done while its still light, its so cold here today and that wind, grrrrr, lol :o)

I have seen this rootbound problem many times during my gardening career. I have to say I'm pretty rough with the rootballs,even using a knife on potbound plants.

That's the 'new buzzword' on GOY, Robert! ROUGH!! (only on plant rootballs, though - LOL)

Teasing out the roots may be good on smaller plants, but I take a knife or secateurs and cut up 4 sides of root bound plants, and sometimes snip off the bottom roots if need be. Cutting rather than ripping seems to promote more new root growth. Drenching with a transplant fertilizer after putting in the ground also helps new rootlets take off. Good luck: so pretty.

I've never heard of 'transplant fertiliser', Orgratis - I wonder if it's obtainable over here in the UK?

I don't want to show my ignorance, but I do want to learn. So can you tell me what is a daisy grubber. Sorry about your plant but after a while when you have got your other new plants rooted you will have had the better deal.
Bye for now Franf

Root stimulator, Spritz? Probably has more phosphorus, enzymes, hormones etc to reduce transplant shock & get roots going. Have no idea what's available in UK but there's probably something similar. As I recall, use diluted w/ water.

Thanks, Orgratis. I might post a question to see if it's available over here. OR ask at the Garden Centre next time I go!!

Frank - it's a hand tool with a forked end which is slightly bent, so that you can poke it under a daisy plant (or other weeds) in the lawn and 'hoick' them out in one movement!

Thank's for that explanation Spritz. Ive just noticed how long ago you answered the Q. I'm still trying to find my way around on here or I would have answered earlier. Frank

That's OK, Frank! Nice to hear from you! You've found the way here...tip! Keep an eye on your 'news' link on your home page.

i have 3 Alpine Mints in my garden planted this year. I can't believe that a plant can survive for 3 years and not send out any new roots to the surrounding soil. I could understand a fatality after one season, but 3?!
I think I will need to dig mine up in the warmer months and check to see if the root ball is compact. i don't recall it being like that when I planted it, but i put so much stuff in this year my head is spinning!!
I am going to try some Correa next year. I am working full time now and I need someone to look after my garden!

Hmmm. Not sure you'll like that, Andrea! I hope you find someone who knows a dandelion from a paeony. LOL.

I was amazed, as well, by the way. I suppose that in a Nursery plants might well sit in their pots for years unbought and just watered occasionally, too.