What happened to my Helenium?

Ok I got this Helenium- Autumnale earlier in the year as a small plant just sprouting. I planted it up in a largish pot, using miracle grow compost (the one with 6months of feed), and it seemed to do really well. It got quite bushy and at least a metre tall. I noticed in the really hot weather it was starting to dry out quite drastically. On occasion I would leave it a couple of days and by the time I got to water it it would take longer and longer to perk back up again. So I moved it from the more exposed spot at the top of the patio to the relative shade at the side of the chair swing. Although it helped it to retain moisture for longer, some of the leaves were starting to brown and curl at the edges and it was looking limper and duller by the day. So I figured I'd go for a much larger pot, planting in normal multi purpose (thinking the feed in the other compost could have messed it up somehow). It seemed to maintain it's moisture, but within a couple of weeks was drying out as normal. the roots seem to have totally filled the pot, to the point where they're visible on the surface, and the the compost coming away from the edges. Anyway I gave up on it in the end. SOME flowers opened, maybe half a dozen and they were pretty sorry looking. Came back after the hol, and the whole thing had completely died off. Looking down at the crown of the plants there's plenty of new growth. Would anyone know what I should do with it now? And perhaps advice on re-potting and/or suitable compost?

The OH's mum has one in a pot and it's been fine for the past few years. She used compost with feed, and the pot was roughly the same size so I figured i couldn't go wrong. How wrong I was :wallbang:

There's a pic below (it seemed clearer when I took it )....

 

Think I must have talked myself out of a reply :( lol

 

Hello CG

You've got lots of nice new growth coming up there so I wouldn't worry too much. The plant is obviously alive and ready to put on a show which is hopefully a little better next year. I potted up some shasta daisies (great plants, by the way, and very easy to grow) earlier in the year and they did exactly the same thing - the top growth died but they quickly started to send up new shoots. I think the die-back is a response to stress. If the roots are still filling the new pot and drying out too quickly, then the only solution is a larger pot still, or alternatively you could try breaking up your clump into several plants and potting them on individually. I should wait until next season to do this - leave well alone for a bit and see how your plant does. By the way, slugs and snails love the new growth of heleniums, so be ready to wage war!

 

Only a little to add tottaly agree with Clara lou lack of water stoped them flowering , I have used in the past a 50 50 mix of multi purpose with John innes no 3 it wont dry out so quicky mine looks like yours I would trim the old growth away about 2 inches from the new growth , I agrree leave till the spring to split them up if you want .

Watch out for slugs !!!!

Spruce

 

Thanks for the help claralou, spruce. I got to the point where I couldn't be there enough to water it, probs about twice a day was needed. I will prob divide it into three come next year. Funny as I was given a tiny little plug from the OH's mum and it's done really well on relatively poor soil....least it was a good back up. I will get some pellets down tomorrow and give it a cut back...looks pretty ugly anyway to be honest. Their was a real mix of colours, so hope I can nurse it well for next year I didn't know plants shut down to that extent when they get stressed, I will be more attentive with that one come next summer.

Is there any reason you could think why the new growth is coming through even though I havent watered it for days? The leaves are strong and healthy.

 

Probably because the new growth is still compact and doesn't require much water to support it ... yet!

 

Yeah that makes sense Will keep an eye on it .