Lobster Claw
- To: m*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: Lobster Claw
- From: d*@ilsham.demon.co.uk
- Date: Fri, 09 Apr 1999 01:49:38 GMT
I've got a 3 year old Clianthus puniceus which is about 8ft across and
has been flowering superbly since January. I decide to tidy it up
today - removing the dried on flowers which tend to make it look messy
as it goes over and noticed that several branches appear to be dying
back. There is no obvious damage or fungal infection and the stems
seem perfectly sound. However the new shoots are just drying up and
dying as though they have been blasted with frost or a freezing wind.
It is in a wind sheltered spot so cold blasts can be ruled out. Also,
we've not had any frost for over 7 weeks (and then at 31F. it was
barely below freezing) and for the past 10 days at least, night
temperatures have not fallen below 55. As a precaution, I cut the
affected branches out at the base, although there does not seem to be
any disease whatsoever. This has me puzzled, I've never seen this
before, even on plants in more exposed spots. Any ideas anyone?
Tony, Moira - does this happen in New Zealand?
Dave Poole
TORQUAY UK
