Flower Gardens

» Cottage_Garden - Parthenocissus Problems

What a mystery!! How frustrating.

First things first, as long as the roots are okay, this is a VERY tough plant and I would expect it to recover.

I checked your weather thinking maybe there had been a freak freeze, but that doesn't seem to have happened.

Check the main stem and see if there is damage to it at the base, that would stop water circulating through the plant and cause it to wilt all over immediately. IF this happened, it will regrow from the roots and it will regrow faster than it grew the first time around.

Also check the root area, did something dig in there and damage the roots -- a vole maybe? If there is root damage, you may be able to salvage it by filling in the hole, watering deeply once, topdress with compost, mulch, hope for the best, keep soil evenly moist but not sopping wet. Hope for new growth from the roots -- could take a while though.

Think back, did anyone use an herbicide near your plant in the past few weeks? Could there be accidental spray drift or could a rotary spreader have flung granules on it? That could cause defoliation, and might kill it -- although at this time of year I think it would just knock it back rather than kill it completely. IF this happened, topdress with compost and keep the soil moist as above. Rinse it off the plant with water from the garden hose if it hasn't rained in the interim -- most are contact herbicides.

Did you do something to it? As in overfertilize it, spray it with something? Accidently use a weed/feed sprayer to fertilize it? I *have* to ask this, sometimes it happens.

And, is it possible a neighbor or gardener mistook it for poison ivy and sprayed it for you while you were not home? (It happens.)

Next possibility, do you have a water leak?? Flooding can cause root damage that shows up as wilting foliage. Fix leak, hope it recovers.

Moving into pest and disease territory now. Examine it up close. Look for any sign of unusual spots, chewing, webbing, any oddity. ??? Check stems, leaves, undersides, top sides, all over the plant. This plant is so pest and disease resistant but that is not to say it is problem proof.

Next on my list, check with your TAMU county extension and see if they are aware of anything unusual happening with this plant in the Dallas area this year.

I sure wish I could see your plant and check it up close but my list of 20 questions is the best I can do. I hope you can figure this out. If you do, please let me know what caused this!!!!

-- posted by Cottage_Garden