Micro-mini coral bells...so here's a mystery that has me stumped. Some of my coral bells are growing smaller every year! Like 'Prince' here...
...and this one, 'Stormy Seas'...more like "Stormy Mud Puddle"! In trying to figure out what's wrong, I feel certain it's not over-crowding or competition...
....cuz' look how well this one is growing! This is 'Eco-Magnifolia', crowded in with geranium 'Sambor', a daylily, and plenty of weeds! 
Thus far, my solution has been to pot up the "mini's", and after a season or two...
...they get bigger in the pots, until I feel they're large enough to go back "out into the world"...
...like this one. Planted out but not crowded, this coral bell, 'Patricia Louise', was a former "refugee" in a pot, and now looks great! Anybody else have a similar experience? I'm glad to have come up with an answer, but I'd still like to know what the question was!
6 comments:
How delightful to see your coral bells....are they some type of Heuchera, been trying to locate one with the really intense pink flowers but i'm not having much luck. My neighbour has some and has promised me some cuttings though, they are really stunning.
Yep, heuchera is the botanical name-I just use the common name since that's what my mom always called them. 'Patricia Louise' does have really nice, pink flowers that go on and on...might be a good one for you. Thanks for stopping by!
Hey Lisa, sorry to hear about you heucheras. They sometimes can be fickle plants. In my area the main plant stalk tends to grow upward so every other year I replant them lower and mulch a lot. That seems to keep them vigorous, and they sometimes reseed (which is great, all these new morphed hybrids). If your big fan of Heucheras and Heucherellas, Timber press has the most amazing book on them. It's really the bible for these plants.
from one crazy gardener to another Bob
Bob-hey thanks for the advice! I bet that would help, I notice mine growing upward like that, too. You'd think they'd have "sense" enough not to expose themselves to their own detriment that way...except for the lack of cognitive reasoning! I will absolutely check out that book, too!
Lisa, I was going to say what Bob said. :) I actually keep sifting some compost and then Sweet Peet (which I use as mulch) right over the entire plant each spring so they stay low enough and I don't have to replant. Just thought I'd chime in with that if you wanted a lazier option. *grin*
Thanks Kim! You absolutely have me pegged...the easier the solution, the better! Thanks!!
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