Liatris root rot?

Hi -

I have a problem with my Liatris. They have been beautiful for a few years now. Last year I moved them in the springand they bloomed and were happy. This year everything was going well - nice leafy growth and flower buds forming. I was looking forward to blooms in a few weeks.

A day or two ago I noticed one of the stalks of one clump of plants lying down as if someone had walked through them. Of course, I lectured my four year old about staying out of Mommy's plants but now I think I may have lectured too soon. I noticed this morning the stalks were are getting brown so I went to pull one out and it came out so easily I was surprised. I pulled more and saw that the stalk just under the ground and were is becomes part of the rhizome was all mushy. The first thing I thought was too much water! But, we've had a drought and I know these guys don't need much so I don't water them. In fact, I've only been watering newly planted plants - so I don;t htink its a case of overwatering.

DO they have some sort of root rot disease? From looking quickly at web pages - they seem to be susceptible. This clump is obviously done for, but I have two more clumps so far doing all right. What should I do ? Is it spreadable?
Any information, advice, etc?

Thanks,
Sharon
Medford, MA (Zone 5/6)

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS

Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index