Vabascum flower stems drooping

Hi all,

Not posted for a long time!

Everything is growing very fast, but my vabascums are not happy again, they grow well but the flower stems are flooping over during the day, the flowers wilt, but do recover when the sun goes.

Reading up, they love sun, free draining soil, poor soil, drought tolerant.

Maybe my soils too rich?

I can't seem to find what they need to have straight tall healthy flowering stems?

Will get some photos tomorrow, morning, day and late, if I remember.

Thanks in advance

 

Two related answers:
1) If the soil is too rich in nitrogen, then the plants will have a lot of soft, sappy top growth. When the sun is hot, the roots have trouble sustaining the water (turgidity) in the leaves and soft stems.
2) The soil may be rich, but unbalanced. Scrophs. such as Verbascum like a lot of potash. The growth may be too soft because the soil is low in potash/potassium. Use potassium sulphate (NPK ratio of 0:0:51) to help the top growth mature and harden.

 

If the flower spikes droop during the day but recover later in the day it's likely that there's not enough water at the roots.
So when the sun is out they can't get sufficient water to the top of the plant, so it droops.
As temps drop, less water is needed, so they perk up again.
Happens with several of my plants at this time of year too.
Just give it a good watering

 

Morning and now photos attached. They will be ok tomorrow again.

I've tried more water, less water....

Not really sure why they are doing it?

Any help appreciated as they look really sad as soon as the sun comes out.

 

Will get some of this tomorrow!

 

You'd think if drought tolerant they'd do a bit better.

I'll get some potash on them and a bit more water and see what happens.

Thanks all, will report back in a week or so, should either see an improvement or not in that time.

 

The curled-over tops to the flower spikes look normal to me. Mind you I have free-draining sandy soil so maybe they've never grown "properly" here

 

All the photos I see all straight. They say poor soil, so you'd think your soil is ok.

I wouldn't mind curly, just not shriveled up flowers lol

 

Well I'd say the stems are a bit more straight now in the hotter weather, but the flowers still wilt quite a bit, so seems to be starting to improve.

But we've just had lots of rain and wind, so most of the flowers have been taken off now!