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Gardening

Dying Busy Lizzies

(13 Posts)
shysal Wed 17-Aug-11 09:15:07

I have just read about Busy Lizzies this year being badly affected by powdery mildew. I thought I had been doing something wrong. Only in some planters, the flowers and leaves have dropped off leaving skeleton plants. Apparently it may devastate them for years to come, so shall have to find an alternative next year. Only the growers have a temporary control substance, which we commoners are not allowed to use. Note to self - must burn the remnants, not compost.sad

janreb Wed 17-Aug-11 09:18:47

Have had the same problem shysal. Don't ususally grow them but a neighbour gave them to me. Will have to have something different next year.

jangly Wed 17-Aug-11 09:18:57

Its so sad! They are always such a good last minute splash of colour when a gap appears. And they even go well in shade.

I suppose begonias are the only alternative.

greenmossgiel Wed 17-Aug-11 09:21:30

We've had the same problem here. Thought at first it was the wet weather, but it seems as if it's the same story everywhere. Begonias seem to have done well, though.

kittylester Wed 17-Aug-11 16:06:41

The ones in pots in the back garden all died but the ones by the front door (bought at the same time) are flourishing! I love Busy Lizzies - they are so easy - I don't like begonias but it might come to it although the geraniums and petunias have been ok too!

glammanana Wed 17-Aug-11 20:56:11

My Busy Lizzies have gone all skeletol as well,do you have to remove them from the tub's and replant with something else,I am not to up on gardening
but this is the third year I have had Lizzies and the first time they have gone all ropey on me,my hanging baskets are glorious and the other bedding
plant's have come on nicely.

Notsogrand Wed 17-Aug-11 22:42:27

My Busy Lizzies have been eaten by slugs this year. It's the first time it's happened and I'm really annoyed about it. They're usually such a trouble free and reliable source of summer/early autumn colour.

glammanana Wed 17-Aug-11 23:04:16

Me think's plastic one's from poundland that will save on the watering as well

shysal Thu 18-Aug-11 08:44:07

notsogrand - are you sure they were eaten by slugs? I thought that was my problem until I read about the powdery mildew ( several write-ups online). Busy Lizzies have always flowered for me until the first frost. The recommendation is to remove affected plants and burn if possible, definitely don't put for compost. Pots must be disinfected, open beds not to be re-planted with BLs for 2-3 years.sad

Christabel Thu 18-Aug-11 15:33:32

We have Busy Lizzies from different suppliers and there is a real difference in each group. One container is doing fine but the other container has a skeleton of branches and all the leaves have dropped off. This definitely isn't slug damage so it appears that some strains of Buzy Lizzie are more able to resist disease although this doesn't seem to be any kind of mildew.

Woody Thu 18-Aug-11 16:09:25

We paid about £30 in the spring to fill the front garden and every one of them has died! We had the same problem a couple of years ago but last year was o.k. then I read in Daily Telegraph last Saturday about the powdery mildew was back again and that it looks like the end of BL's. Like other people we will have to think again for next year.

Hattie64 Sun 21-Aug-11 18:36:34

I wondered what had happened to mine. I just have a few in a pot, and they all died. Now I know.

glammanana Sun 21-Aug-11 23:43:31

Definatley plastic next year !!!