Delphiniums are perennials grown for their showy spikes of colorful summer flowers in gorgeous shades of blue, pink, white, and purple. They are popular in cottage-style gardens and cutting gardens.
Delphiniums are a favorite of many gardeners, but can sometimes be a challenge. They prefer moist, cool summers and do not fare well in hot, dry weather. The plants also dislike sudden wind or rain.
Except for the dwarf perennials, most delphiniums need staking.
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I have a couple of delphinium
I have a couple of delphinium plants that have been consistently pathetic looking. They don't grow, never bloom and just take up space. I finally read somewhere that they like an alkaline environment, so I put some lime around each one. Well they are both putting up new sprigs. I wish I knew this earlier.
It's mid July in Illinois and
It's mid July in Illinois and I planted my delphinium about one month back. It gets full afternoon sun and the summer has been very hot and humid this year. All my flowers have fallen off and the stalks and leaves are turning brown. I water the plant about three times a week and it has a nice layer of mushroom compost on top of the soil. I have not cut anything back yet.
What am I doing wrong?
Since the leaves are turning
Since the leaves are turning brown after just a month, in addition to the flowers (which might fade just as part of their life cycle), it might be the heat. If the temperatures have been very hot (around 90F or above), with the full afternoon sun on them, it could stress the plant enough to dry it out. Provide partial shade during the afternoon hours. Another season, if hot temps are frequent in your area, you might try planting your delphiniums where they would get morning, rather than afternoon, sun. You might also try heat-tolerant varieties. Mulch is great, and will help to keep the soil cooler.
Also check your watering. Over- or underwatering can cause browning foliage. Water deeply and provide about 1 inch per week, adjusting for any rain or hot weather you might have; during hot spells, increase to every other day. Don't let the soil dry out, but don't let the soil get soggy either.
Bugs - many bugs! I started
Bugs - many bugs!
I started my delphiniums about 6 years ago & they have done amazingly until this year. Their growth was stunted & some of the leaves looked heavy, shiny & sticky. There was a "bazillion bugs under the leaves! The double white never made it through the Winter (zone 3) & the other 3 were so infested I cut them back completely. Husband asked if they were gnats. I have no clue - anybody have an idea?
We're not sure, Melissa, but
We're not sure, Melissa, but here are two coop ext site in which you might find a match with your plants' conditions:
• http://extension.psu.edu/pests...
• http://www.gardening.cornell.e...
We hope this helps.
Hi, My name is Marilene I am
Hi, My name is Marilene I am in Ireland and I planted my little purple beauty three weeks ago. Delphinium 'Blue Fountains' We are having lots of unusualy long hot sunny days and she has turned brown andlooks like she is struggling allot.
Today I did something terrible and cut her back completely. I thought maybe it would be better for the roots to give them time to relax in the soil without worrying about having to think about keeping its actual foliage and flowers happy.
Please tell me I have not killed her forever.
If your beautiful Blue has
If your beautiful Blue has flowered once this season, you may have done a perfectly good thing; it may bloom again. We can't promise but cutting back after first bloom is frequently recommended. Fertilize her once again.
BTW, how far did you cut back: what do you mean by "completely"? It is advisable to cut only the flower stalk for reblooming.
My delphiniums break off at
My delphiniums break off at the top whenever they flower. They look bad. Should I be planting them closer to the house or a similar wall for protection? Or do I need to plant them I clusters so they have each other to be more protected from the wind? They look beautiful, but grow very tall and then flower and then snap off just as soon as they are beautiful....I love the plant but feel like I'm doing something wrong....help?
This is usually an indication
This is usually an indication that the plant/s need to be staked. See here for advice and options for doing that:
http://extension.psu.edu/plant...
I am so sad! I was so
I am so sad! I was so excited to get my little Delphiniums home and planted to add a gorgeous blue to my little flowerbed. I wish I had read more on them though...I have a bazillion and one snails and they ate everything down to nubs! :( I now hate snails even more....is there a way to revive my poor Delphi-nubs?
First of all you need to get
First of all you need to get rid of your snail problem. You can buy snail and slug bait with iron phosphate, which is usually successful. Go to our slugs/snails page at http://www.almanac.com/content/slugs for more information about getting rid of snails.
If the roots are OK the delphinium will grow new leaves.
Great!! Thanks so much!
Great!! Thanks so much!
I have the same problem with
I have the same problem with slugs. Sluggo works great for getting rid of slugs and it says it works for snails also.
I just read about the green
I just read about the green looper worms and delphinium. They strip mine almost every year. Sevin ant dust works, but I know it will kill the butterflies and bees. What else could I use? They truly will destroy it in a few hours, and start with the almost-blooms most years. ps I live in Wyoming.
Hi, LuAnn, These are nasty!
Hi, LuAnn,
These are nasty! But there is not much you/we can do. We mention handpicking and Sevin below. Here's a little more:
Our bast solution is actually a few we've researched. The University of California has several suggestions: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG...
This Colorado State pdf has several interesting pics and offers an array of deterents and worse for loopers on page 24 (the cabbage looper appears on p 15): http://webdoc.agsci.colostate....
A third solution seems to be self inspection and removal by hand, and explained here are neem (it stops them from feeding and so eventually they die), and suggests natural enemies: http://www.extension.umn.edu/g...
If you happen on any additional or new sure-fire methods/ideas, please share!
I'm so disappointed in the
I'm so disappointed in the three Delphinium Grandiflorum "Summer Cloud". We live in Zone 9 according to another well respected site focused on Perennials only (Tampa, FL). When we purchased these at a large retailer, they were selling quickly so we snapped them up after being told it would be ok to leave in the pots as long as we kept the soil moist. About 2 weeks ago when we were finally able to plant in our flower bed all of the flowers had already fallen off. The plant instructions on this plant says "full sun", My flowerbed faces northeast and this plant gets full sun until approximately 1:00 pm (due to a bush planted approx. 2 feet behind it.
Of course because we had just planted at first the soil was kept very moist and we used a moderately priced, nutrient enriched potting soil. This time of year is known for afternoon summer rain and I'm afraid the soil hasn't had the opportunity to dry out enough for it's taste.
We've also experienced a change in color of the leaves to a light green, which was previously deep green.
We planted at least 12" apart and away from other plants in our flower bed.
It's been a while since the flowers fell off so I feel like an idiot when u refer to cutting off flower spikes. What does that mean? The whole stick? I don't know what I'm looking for & I do not want to cut the wrong piece. If it needs more prolonged sun exposure trimming the bush back isn't a problem but the actual plant is shock and although the soil has been pretty damp due to rain, it feels a little on the dry side. I'm puzzled. Can you help me to save this beautiful plant? As you can see I've tried to provide as much detail as possible. Thank you
Keep the soil moist but not
Keep the soil moist but not too wet and most delphiniums will grow well in full sun or light shade, so there is not need to trim your bush back. Cut the entire spent flower spike (stalk) back to where you see small side shoots.
Do you know where delphiniums
Do you know where delphiniums are from?
Hi, May, The modern delph is
Hi, May, The modern delph is the result of hybridization of species from around the world.
The word delphinium comes from the ancient Greeks whose word meaning dolphin (delphis) is a reference to the flower buds, suggesting that the buds resemble dophins.
I have about 20 delphinium
I have about 20 delphinium plants grown from seed in 9 inch pots in my greenhouse. Can I plant them out now oct5th or should I overwinter them in my greenhouse with a little heat and cover them with fleece to protect them from frost. Your advice would be gratefully appreciated.
We are not clear where you
We are not clear where you live. In temperature climates: If you set out your transplants in October, they will flower in late spring to early summer bloom. In areas with cold winters, you would seed in April or May. Protect from frost by loosly covering with pine branches.
I live in worsley Manchester,
I live in worsley Manchester, england
Love the Almanac, wait for it
Love the Almanac, wait for it to come out every year. I have two tall delphiniums that are about 15 years old. They always bloom late September, is there a way to speed this up?
Delphinium can be divas. A
Delphinium can be divas. A September bloom is normal for some varieties, however, if you want to improve the odds, here are tips from local cooperative extensions:
1. They like to eat a lot! Give them constant feedings with compost-enriched soil and fertilize regularly.
2. Never let them dry out. You can keep the soil evenly moist and the roots cool by mulching to a depth of 3" or 4", either with a good organic mulch or with that compost. Water well during periods of growth (in spring and after it begins its second season's growth).
3. Plant it in areas where it gets some shade during summer afternoons.
4. Over the winter, cover them with branches or mulch to protect the roots from frost heaving.
5. We aren't sure where you live, but if you get extreme colds, pick varieties that can cope well.
Hi it is the first summer
Hi it is the first summer having delphiniums in my garden in the uk, i planted late spring which maybe a little too late in the year. They did great but now in September have wilted and doubled over appearing dead. With next summer in mind do I cut back the delphiniums to just beyond the soil level and wit for summer growth next year ?? Your help would be great. Thanks
Hi, Matthew! You have not
Hi, Matthew!
You have not been waiting for a response since September, surely, have you? We check our pages frequently. Well, let's get on with it, in any case!
Our sources suggest removing the flower spike just below the lowest flower and leaving the foliage for future blooms. Smaller spikes may form near the base of the plant. Treat them the same way. Hope your dephs are dazzling!
For many years, I had
For many years, I had beautiful flowers; for about the last ten, I have an ongoing war with small green worms that eat the heart of the flower stalk before it has a chance to mature. If I sprinkle flour onto the stems, I can stop the damage up to a point; however, when it rains, the flour is gone. Does the butterfly/moth that lays the minute black eggs, do so in the fall or in the early spring? What can I do to prevent this?
This sounds like a type of
This sounds like a type of looper moth. You can do this:
Hand pick.
Control with sprays containing Sevin.
If larvae are under one inch, control with safer B.T. sprays such as Dipel or Thuricide.
Hi I have had this plant for
Hi I have had this plant for 6 yrs and it blooms beautifully and this year Calgary alberta has had aot of rain in june n july but it has been hot so far in august and now I see the leaves are brown so should I cut it down? I make sure its fertilized and not dry. should I let it keep growing as iv done for all these years or remove it
There are several reasons for
There are several reasons for brown foliage on delphiniums.
Sometimes it's overwatering.
Sometimes it's lack of nutrients; delphiniums are heavy feeders and appreciate compost and fertilizer.
Towards the end of their cycle, the foliage simply turns brown as it dies down naturally.
If you are late in the season and the brown bothers you, you can cut them down at ground level.
You don't, however, really want to cut them down if the plant is still green as this will shorten the life of the plant.
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