Re: Monarda questions

At 09:09 AM 6/16/99 -0500, Leslie wrote:
>Is it possible that you are over watering your monarda?  They do like to be
>dry once they're established and different varieties will respond slightly
>differently to the same treatment.  Monarda is an excellent plant for a
>xeriscape garden. >
>I'd try letting them dry out between waterings and see what happens.>>>


Thanks for your suggestion. I have gone to our two best reference books
(Rodale Illus. Encyclopedia of Perennials, and The Well-Tended Perennial
Garden) and found in both cases, they say "plants must never be allowed to
dry out", and "avoid overly dry soil". Yesterday they were beginning to
droop a little due to heat and no outside watering for almost a week (and
no rain to speak of). We watered them with a watering can, one full can for
each group of 3 plants, and they perked right up but this morning the
stalks had broken off at ground level on 2 of 3 plants in the same area.
The other grouping was fine.  We have not pinched them back at all since we
got them in the ground in May, and the ones which are losing the stalks are
taller and less full in habit than the other grouping.  Should we be
pinching or pruning them?  This is suggested in the reference books to make
for a more compact plant.  There is new growth all around the crowns on both. 

We would really like to see them flourish, as both colors had been highly
recommended.  There are very few gardens in our neighborhood (mostly
professionally tended landscaped homes) and we have never actually seen
monarda in bloom anywhere.  Hope it is worth all our worry .....

Another suggestion....slugs......is possible, but we see no visible signs
of them, and there are many other plants in the same area which are
thriving.  Again, thanks for the help.  Will let you know if we find a
solution! And we welcome any more ideas :-))))


Bob & Georgia Parker
a*@ici.net
Foxborough MA

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