Re: Monarda questions





Valerie Lowery@ZEON
06/16/99 02:16 PM

Bob,

I've been thinking about your monarda problem, as I grow several varieties
and I've experienced this problem once.  I will tell you that myy rule of
thumb is that the "fittest will survive" in my garden.  I pretty much leave
things alone -- no spraying or extra pampering.  Having said this, my
monarda has been thriving, and in the case of a particularly rampant dark
purple variety, has been thriving too well.  I will water in the case of an
extended drought period (over a week without rain -- I got tired of losing
plants!), but other than a good mulching, that's it.  In Kentucky, we have
very humid and hot summers due to the Ohio Valley effect.

The only thing I can think of is that you may have some weak stems because
of the stretching your plant may be doing to reach the sunlight.  I believe
this is what happened to me and the stems on the outside of my clump fell
over.  These stems had sparse foliage, too.  None on the lower halves of
the stems and some had yellowing leaves.   I have all of mine in full to
slightly shaded sun now.  Thanks to "The Well-Tended Perennial Garden", I
pinch back the front half of my clumps, leaving the backs to bloom first
and the front to take over later.  This results in shorter, sturdier stems.
It doesn't affect the quantity of blooms and actually improves the health
of the plant because I get lusher foliage that doesn't get as ratty-looking
as the unpinched stems.  I tried this method last year and was extremely
pleased.  The plants this year are responding the same way.

I'd put a support ring around your clump this year and next year remember
to start pinching your plants when they get about a foot tall in the
spring.  Good luck!

Val in KY
zone 6a


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