Aubrieta

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Jack Sparrow, Apr 28, 2019.

  1. Jack Sparrow

    Jack Sparrow Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2017
    Messages:
    2,604
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Peterborough
    Ratings:
    +5,414
    20190428_184405.jpg
    I bought these aubrieta pots knowing that they weren't the best specimens. A couple of weeks on and they look like this. They are flowering well but there is still a lot of brown. Will this eventually grow out or is this how it's going to be? Will these plants survive long term? If I'm wasting my time I would rather start again.

    G.
     
  2. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2005
    Messages:
    47,698
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Mid Kent
    Ratings:
    +84,318
    After flowering I'd plant them out and cut them back fairly hard.
     
  3. Verdun

    Verdun Passionate gardener

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2012
    Messages:
    7,475
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    West Cornwall
    Ratings:
    +17,486
    No problems at all Gary....they do tend to do that after flowering. Cut back hard if you want a mound or cut back less hard if you want them to cascade a little more. Aubretia foliage “sulks” a little after flowering and after cutting back but new growth takes over from mid summer.
    So, yes. They will be, and are, long term. No, you are not wasting your time. Avoid watering them too....they do best when on the dry side.
    Far better in the ground rather than in pots too:)
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Informative Informative x 1
    • Jack Sparrow

      Jack Sparrow Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Jul 24, 2017
      Messages:
      2,604
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Peterborough
      Ratings:
      +5,414
      Thanks for the info. I detailed my plans for them in the thread I called "Front yard tidy up". I have a place in the ground for them but I want them to beef up first. That way, they will be stronger plants and I will have had time to move other things around to accommodate them.

      I take it then that I need to cut back after flowering. The new green foliage will grow through. By late summer/autumn I will have 3 strong healthy plants to plant out. Sound good to me.

      G.
       
    • Mike Allen

      Mike Allen Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Jan 4, 2014
      Messages:
      2,861
      Gender:
      Male
      Occupation:
      Retired. Plant Pathologist.
      Location:
      Eltham. SE. London
      Ratings:
      +6,097
      Adding to what's been suggested. I notice a fair amount of space in those pots quoting past experience, gently pressing the faded stems down onto the compost then adding fresh compost, thus covering the faded stems,the latter will often send out roots. This is a practice often used with many plants, including lavender.
       
      • Like Like x 1
      • KFF

        KFF Total Gardener

        Joined:
        May 30, 2017
        Messages:
        3,741
        Gender:
        Male
        Location:
        Worcestershire
        Ratings:
        +5,890
        Hi @Jack Sparrow , If I was you I would get them in the ground as soon as possible. They will flourish better and get established qùcker over the warmer Summer months.

        Any plant of the size you have bought will grow much better in the open ground than in a plant pot. It's only worth keeping plants like this growing in pots if the pot size is under 3 inches.

        Any straggly stems you can cut off after flowering. You can use the last inch or so ( along with the growing tip ) as cuttings, they will root within a couple of weeks, thus giving you more plants. As well as this if you lay the brown stems over the ground ( or make a little groove in the soil ) and put compost over them they will root and send up more growths and roots.

        Also, you can save the seeds and sow them next Spring. They will give you more plants and more than likely in slightly different shades of purple, pink, rose, mauve and lavender.
         
        • Like Like x 2
        • Verdun

          Verdun Passionate gardener

          Joined:
          Oct 16, 2012
          Messages:
          7,475
          Gender:
          Male
          Location:
          West Cornwall
          Ratings:
          +17,486
          Sounds good Gary...yes, cut back after flowering :)
          Mike is correct....aubretia will root and spread if treated as he suggests:)
           
          • Like Like x 1
          • Agree Agree x 1
          • Funny Funny x 1
          • KFF

            KFF Total Gardener

            Joined:
            May 30, 2017
            Messages:
            3,741
            Gender:
            Male
            Location:
            Worcestershire
            Ratings:
            +5,890
            Qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnm ? ? ?
             
            • Funny Funny x 1
            • Sheal

              Sheal Total Gardener

              Joined:
              Feb 2, 2011
              Messages:
              35,545
              Gender:
              Female
              Location:
              Beauly, Inverness-shire. Zone 9a
              Ratings:
              +52,310
              Oh, your keyboard is working well @KFF :biggrin:

              From my own experience I think they would be better in the ground too. They will soon spread and hide the die back, or the stems can be cut off when they've established.
               
              • Funny Funny x 1
              • KFF

                KFF Total Gardener

                Joined:
                May 30, 2017
                Messages:
                3,741
                Gender:
                Male
                Location:
                Worcestershire
                Ratings:
                +5,890
                Sorry, I was just seeing if my posts were visible :)

                Must just be that I'm being blanked out by a certain person from Cornwall I guess.
                 
              • Mike Allen

                Mike Allen Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Jan 4, 2014
                Messages:
                2,861
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Retired. Plant Pathologist.
                Location:
                Eltham. SE. London
                Ratings:
                +6,097
                KFF matey, I have a keyboard the same as that. Believe I can type, I press all the keys but the letters often come out in the wrong order. Enjoy youre day.
                 
                • Friendly Friendly x 1
                Loading...

                Share This Page

                1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                  By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                  Dismiss Notice