Poor Echiums
16 September 2009 17:58:01
'It' from the Adams Family
I grew echium 'snow towers' from seed this year. I got seven plants in total from my labours. The plants are large now - about 2-3ft - and were planted in the borders some time back.
As echiums can be a bit tender, I decided to hedge my bets this winter. I understand that if you can get your echiums through the first winter so that they flower and set seed, you will have them forever more in your garden. The trick is to get them through the first winter.
I decided to dig up three of my echiums, pot them up and move them into the greenhouse for the winter. There would still be four in the garden but, this way, I would have an insurance policy.
Yesterday I dug three of these large plants up. They didn't have very extensive root systems and I did tear some roots but I potted them on in good compost and watered them well. In fact I took a photo of them in the greenhouse which you can see in my 'greenhouse' album.
All seemed well for about an hour. Then the plants started to droop big time. I associate this kind of behaviour with plants that I've forgotten to water. However, the echiums were well watered. Maybe the wilting is as a result of the root damage I did and the fact that the plants are having difficulty using their remaining roots sufficiently!
Anyway, at the minute my poor echiums look exactly like "It" from the Adams Family programmes!!! I hope they will come round and forgive me.