Crown Imperial
Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter
I have three crowm imperial corms which have been in the ground for 3 years. Each year they grow to about 18'' and then wilt and dissappear! any ideas? Also some nectaroscordium that came up the first year but not a l;ot since. Soil is sandy.
Ali.M
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oldherbaceous
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Hello Ali.M and a warm welcome to the forum.
I'm wondering if the problem could be your sandy soil, I know Crown imperials like a free draining soil but they also like it fertile with some moisture. I think they may be drying out.
The only things they really suffer from is slugs and lily beetle, but it doesn't sound either of these if the are reaching 18" tall and then just wilting.
Also with your Nectaroscordium, as some of these are from damp woodland it might be the same problem. These plants are normaly pretty pest and disease free.
You could try giving both plants a good mulch with compost and see if this helps.
I'm wondering if the problem could be your sandy soil, I know Crown imperials like a free draining soil but they also like it fertile with some moisture. I think they may be drying out.
The only things they really suffer from is slugs and lily beetle, but it doesn't sound either of these if the are reaching 18" tall and then just wilting.
Also with your Nectaroscordium, as some of these are from damp woodland it might be the same problem. These plants are normaly pretty pest and disease free.
You could try giving both plants a good mulch with compost and see if this helps.
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.
There's no fool like an old fool.
There's no fool like an old fool.
Hi Ali,
I have just consulted a person who is and expert in Fritillarias and Other Liliaceous plants (Commercially).
His advice is to dig you Crown Imperials up because he thinks that the wilting is generally where the main bulb has rotted and all that are appearing is immature foliage of the odd scale. These scales are really still reliant on the main plant which he maintains is no longer functioning hence the wilt.
According to him Fritillarias are famous for it!
If you do decide to dig them up please report back to us with your findings.
JB.
I have just consulted a person who is and expert in Fritillarias and Other Liliaceous plants (Commercially).
His advice is to dig you Crown Imperials up because he thinks that the wilting is generally where the main bulb has rotted and all that are appearing is immature foliage of the odd scale. These scales are really still reliant on the main plant which he maintains is no longer functioning hence the wilt.
According to him Fritillarias are famous for it!
If you do decide to dig them up please report back to us with your findings.
JB.
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oldherbaceous
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Thats very interesting Johnboy, i'll also be interested if Ali does dig them up, as i will know what the problem is if i come across it again.
Johnboy do you know if this rotting is down to the disease called grey bulb rot.
Johnboy do you know if this rotting is down to the disease called grey bulb rot.
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.
There's no fool like an old fool.
There's no fool like an old fool.
Thanks for your help. Actually I have already dug them up to see myself if they had rotted at all. They were fine (all 3 of them!) I think probably dryness may be the problem, I did feed and mulch them well this year. I think I may pot them for this next year and see if this is any good!!! Lily beetles ar a permanent problem but I do a nightly 'lily beetle patrol' during the summer and all my lilies were brilliant!!! didnt get many of the disgusting larvae either!!!
Ali.M