Lupin help please

Hi. Can anyone tell me what is wrong with this lupin. The buds are odd? Thank you.

 

Are there greenfly on them?

 

No greenfly and the buds are square like spades.

 

Doesn' look like any signs of snails etc on the foliage so I don't think this is a pest problem. No sign of lupin aphid either.

Jupes, I think your lupin is a little chlorotic. You are growing dianthus there too that thrives in alkaline soils ....lupins do not like too much lime. I would spray with epsom salts..... a tablespoon diluted in 5 litres of water and repeated a few days later.

My own soil is neutral and I can grow lupins pretty well but occasionally some lupins in certain parts of the garden suffer from chlorosis......a couple of epsom salt sprays does the job. (I find the odd lily looking chlorotic too and get the same treatment)

Try it Jupes....epsom salts is cheap and available in most stores

 

Thanks. The dianthus I had just moved from another bed this morning and noticed the lupins. They have been in for about 5 years and have always flowered beautifully. However, they are only about half the size they should be. It may be chlorosis, the leaves are a lighter green than they should be.

 

Often the lupins will develop chlorosis after 2 or 3 years in neutral/alkaline soil. Instead of being smaller they should be bigger now Jupes. Lupins dont last forever though

 

Yes they have grown each year but not this year :(

 

So now I feel a right twit! The lupin in the original photo is not the one I thought it was. It was new last year and placed a foot from the one I’ve had for years. Attached is a photo of both. The original (old) lupin is doing great, it’s the new one that isn’t and under the same conditions?

 

Wot u like Jupes???

I would spray with epsom salts, give it a slow release fertiliser and cut off the existing flowers. Cut back to the next lot of shoots/buds.....new flowers will come, dont worry, and hopefully they will be much better.

Let us know how you get on

 

Hi @Jupes the buds look flattened in shape. That is something called fasciation and can happen if the plant was damaged eg by insects. Doesn't normally affect after the current year.

 

Interesting. Thank you.

 

Cut off the affected flower spikes Jupes, spray with epsom salts and await replacement flowers in a couple of weeks or so! You may even see the beginnings of more flower spikes now if you look into the foliage