Buddleja's dying

I bought three plug plants last year and was given another Buddleja cutting. All four have grown on in pots and looked strong, healthy plants. However, now two of them have been planted into the garden they have died . I did think Buddleja was generally quite tough so I've no idea why this has happened. Any advice please?

 

Hiya Lucious
How small were they when you planted them out? Although buddleias are as tough as old boots, young plants could still struggle outside.
I always grow plants into at least 1 litre or 2 litre pots before planting out. Hopefully the remaining 2 plants, still in pots, will grow away well. I would pot on once more before planting those out.

 

Hiya Verdun

They were 2ft tall and quite bushy. I did put them into 2 different size pots before planting out. The pots were put out the front summer last year so they could continue to grow on and acclimate. They spent the winter out there and I have sheltered the pots whenever we have had storms. I'm wondering if the hot dry weather last year and the dry year we've had so far has weakened them maybe. Although we've had rain it's below average. Do you think I should repot the remaining two into even larger containers before trying again? The pots they are in are half whiskey barrel size.

 

2’ is more than fine lucious
The only thing I can think of, paradoxically (since you talk of dry weather) is that the soil is over wet or waterlogged. Is that possible?

 

I don't think the soil is wet where I planted them. I'm wondering if it could be too rich. The ones in pots have g/p compost and have done well in the pots. I didn't add any compost to the holes when I planted out as the soil already has compost and manure added to it.

 

Maybe Lucious but buddleias are pretty tough....could it be pest damage? Slugs, snails ??

 

No slug or snail damage, just leaves turned brown and withered up and dying. There is some clay in the soil, so maybe the clay is holding too much moisture??. I will pull it up later and have a look at soil and roots.

 

Could well be the clay soil Lucious ......buddleias really like it dry, warm and poor impoverished soil

 

I pulled it up and the soil underneath was a bit damp , but I did water the day before yesterday and very small amount of rainfall last night. Certainly not waterlogged. The area I planted it was made by myself and contains, gravel, ordinary soil, compost, well rotted manure and a little bit of clay. I would have liked a white Buddleja but it's not that big a deal. Thank you for trying to help though

 

Good questions by Verdun. My general practice where a shrub or tree appears to be dying is to reduce the strain and demand on the plants system. Where possible cut back, never mind the right or wrong time to prune. Do a quick visual test. Close to ground level, carefully scrape away a small portion of bark. If the exposed surface is greenish, then the plant is alive. Now gradually descend cutting away the deadwood. Lightly loosen the soil around the base. DON'T FEED. Keep a gentle supply of water to the base and if needed frequent sprays to the upper growth. Don't let the soil dry out or become flooded.

 

Sorry to hijack this thread but I can't find how to start a new one.
This buddleia has been really happy over the years but this year it looks really weedy and had minute flowers. i don''t think I have done anything different (under/over watering) and it has been fed.
Any ideas why it looks so poorly? Thanks in advance

 

Yes fuchsialady, I think it simply needs repotting....or ideally planting out in the garden.
If you repot use a John innes compost.
Check the roots....I expect they will be congested .....loosen them and soak the rootball before replanting.
Have you pruned it?
Prune it back when you pot on or replant

 

@fuchsialady Agree with Verdun, looks like it needs repotting. Especially if a dwarf cultivar I would simply plant out, they do much better in the ground and eventual height and width won't be much, typically around 5ft if it does really well. If you have clay soil or heavy clay you will hardly ever need to water again, too!

Nick

 

Thank you both. I didn't consider it needed re-potting as I'd transferred it to a much bigger pot only a couple of years ago. i was rather hoping to keep it in a pot as I'd deliberately bought a dwarf so I could have it near my patio. The thought of having to remove it from its (quite large) pot and buying one the size of a small dustbin (!) doesn't fill me with much cheer. I shall have to have a serious think.......