posted
Hi. New here with a question. I have several lupines that are over five feet tall. I have NEVER seen lupines this tall and am wondering if anyone else has ever grown them like this. I planted them by seed in a wildflower mixture last year. They didn't bloom last year but they stayed green and grew all winter (which are mild here). They bloomed all spring and were absolutely beautiful!
Recently, two of my "bushes" began to wilt even though I keep them moist (not wet) and free of aphids. I know that it isn't the heat because I have three others that aren't bothered. The earwigs are really thick this year, but I try to control them and have not really noticed them on the lupines. Anyway, I couldn't save the two plants and am afraid that the others are going to be affected and I don't want to lose all of them. Help!
posted
Hi Charley...welcome to the forum. Sounds like you have Lupines on steroids. Could you post a couple of pictures, particularly of the "sick" plants. They might help someone ID what is going on. I've never had the pleasure of growing Lupine but after doing some Googling, I may give it a shot. I had always been told our summers were too hot for them to survive.
Post back to this thread with pictures if you can.
* * * * Rosie z7a Plants: 745 | From: Tulsa OK | Registered: Oct 2005
| Seeded: 68.14.167.179
Lupines are just a spring plant.. They bloom and die off quite quickly, and come back with new foilage , soon.....Mine got reall ugly and I clipped them back.. They are looking nicely now.
dodge
* * * * ''''Those who live in the Lord Never See Each Other For The Last Time!'''' Plants: 3279 | From: Rural - Western Pennsylvania | Registered: Oct 2005
| Seeded: 204.11.80.100
posted
Hey, TulsaRose, my digital camera is having problems but I do want to post pictures and will as soon as I can.
Dodge: I've seen lupine in the wild but have never grown any in my garden. Mine bloomed into late June and then stopped. I understand that they will die back, but I had two plants actually die. Unfortunately, I have no photos of them to show. Thanks for the help.
posted
As requested...pictures of my lupines on steroids.
My oldest daughter is 5'11" and my other daughter in the pictures (the blondie) is 4'0", just to give you some reference.
Not lupine-related picture, but kind of cute, anyhow. These are my boy/girl planters that my wife got for me. Plants: 17 | From: Southern Oregon | Registered: Jul 2006
| Seeded: 24.216.254.202
posted
Wow !!that is awesome!!! I have tried and tried to grow lupines from seed they get about 5" high then die off this is my third attempt!! they are now 5" high again and look sickly Again!!! What is happening with them??? I think maybe I guess have to referance your picture when I want to enjoy Lupines
posted
Thanks weezie! To answer your questions, I fertilized them in the spring with ferti-lome flower grower and have not fed them since. The soil is 12 inches of top soil and mulch with hard packed clay underneath. Honestly, I have no idea why they have grown so big. But, I like it!
I tried growing some from seeds this year, also, but, they never grew after putting them in the ground. I lost most of them and the ones that remain are struggling. I will let the tall ones I have reseed themselves and see what I get next year.
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![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Could you post a couple of pictures, particularly of the "sick" plants. They might help someone ID what is going on. I've never had the pleasure of growing Lupine but after doing some Googling, I may give it a shot. I had always been told our summers were too hot for them to survive.
![[thumb]](graemlins/thumb.gif)
![[flower]](graemlins/flower.gif)
...![[tears]](graemlins/crying.gif)
this is my third attempt!! they are now 5" high again and look sickly Again!!! What is happening with them???![[Cool]](cool.gif)
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