I've got lots of them drying up for no apparent reason. The plants are still healthy and I am deadheading the bloom ladden plants once a week. Still the problem is aggravating. Help!
They are drying up in the bud stage before the blooms open? Have you checked them for signs of any insect that might be boring in and infesting them or sucking the life out of them? Any chance of photos?
I have never had any of these buds dry up. I am not sure what it could be, they are generally pretty pest free and disease resistant. As Toni asked,can you post a picture of them, or inspect them closely for insects sucking on them. the only pest I have seen on them is Japanese Beetles and they chew the flowers all up.
Ok, I took some snaps this evening. ( photo / image / picture from oubee's Garden ) Dunno which citrus tree is growing alongside my marigold. ( photo / image / picture from oubee's Garden ) Only last week I deadheaded my plants and the black buds are far from stopping ( photo / image / picture from oubee's Garden )
Every time I have tried to grow Marigolds that has happened to mine. I figured I just had a black thumb when it came to growing Marigolds. It will be interesting to see if anyone knows what the problem is and has a solution.
Is there a possibility, seeing that this is a container grown plant, that you are letting it get too dry and it is aborting the buds. It looks pretty scraggly, not lush and green like a plant growing in the ground with copious amounts of moisture available. Can you try giving it more water and don't forget some fertilizer, too. after a while the soil doesn't have much in it to offer to the plant. You might try some moisture crystals (if you have them available) or even a disposable diaper (torn apart and the lining used) to add moisture holding capability for the plant.
Is it maybe root/pot bound? That happened to mine after half a season when they grow too big for the container. I've only had good luck with them in the ground - they just wanna take off. Looking at the pics again, from the angle it seems like a pretty big/tall plant for the pot it's in...?
@ Toni, so you altogether stopped growing marigolds? @ Caro: given this is on my roof, I concede the soil does get dry sometimes. But I do water in the evenings and daily so. I do fertilise too and there are 4 of marigold plants in that container. So Toadin might have a point there. I'll move three of them in another pot and watch out for progress Sounds simple and yet, I never thought of overstuffing them.
Oubee, When you divide these, cut the foliage part back, too. That way, when you divide and disturb the roots you will not stress the plant as much. I hope this solves your problem, which I suspect it will.
Moved two of the plants into another container this morning. Found 3 citrus plants and moved them too. Hope this solves the black head problem!
Oubee, when you pinch back or cut back the plant size , yes, cut the whole plant at the main stem, not each leaf, that would be too much work and your plant will come back much nicer after it starts growing new roots. Then it will be able to support the foliage and flowers much better. Hope this is the solution to the problem with your plants.
