Dying Asters-- Help!
I have never had a lot of luck with Asters, years ago we had too much rain and lately it has been way too little rain. Little info about asters: One common ailment of asters is the formation of a white, powdery mildew. This disease does not actually kill the plant, but when people see it forming on their asters they commonly believe that it will. Mildew is caused by excess humidity, and moisture is often found on the leaves of aster plants. To remove the mildew and prevent it from spreading to the other plants, remove the affected leaves. If the mildew has spread to most of the plants, use a chemical treatment to resolve the issue. It is common for leaves on aster plants to die off throughout the summer. When people see dead leaves on their plants, they automatically assume the entire plant is dying, which isn’t necessarily the case. However, by pruning off dead leaves and stems you make room for new growth. Whenever you see dry, dead leaves, pluck them off to facilitate growth. Asters are perennial flowers that thrive best when planted in an area that receives at least six hours of sunlight per day. They can tolerate slightly shaded areas, but they grow best when they are in the sun. If you notice your plants are wilting and dying off, it could be due to their location. Keep an eye on the plants to see that they are getting enough sunlight to keep them alive; if not, you will have to replant the asters in a sunnier location to help them grow.
marjgreen
in Garden 11 years and 8 months ago
4
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wannabebrownstoner | 11 years and 9 months ago
Was hoping some gardening expert here could help me out. I planted these enormous asters in terracotta planters a couple weeks ago, and although I kept them watered (once a week or so) and the leaves seem healthy, the flowers are all brown, and the proportion of dead:live flowers doesn’t seem right. What am I doing wrong? Any advice? Thanks!
marie-helene | 11 years and 9 months ago
If the leaves are healthy, your plant is doing very well according to nature. Asters bloom only a few weeks, so assuming you bought it in full bloom from the store, you are seeing the natural, normal end of the season for your plants. Asters are a bit like chrysanthemums: they look glorious for about 2-3 weeks, and not that exciting at all for about 10-11 months. For that reason, they’re better in mixed borders, as companion plants to glorious spring and summer bloomers that are done by the end of August. In my garden, I have chrysanthemums right by some garden sage (nice soft purple flowers in the spring, pretty silver foliage year-round), and herbaceous peonies (gorgeous in early spring, often dormant after the first heatwave of summer.) The good news is that if your asters are enormous, they can be divided. Cut them with a hacksaw in 2 or 4 clumps, and plant a foot apart in a sunny spot in your garden. For your planters, you should either mix a few complementary plants or something with a year-round presence. If you tell me how much sun these planters get per day, I can recommend something.
wannabebrownstoner | 11 years and 9 months ago
Thank you! I feel like such an idiot, I remember them growing in the wild until the frost, and I just assumed it was the same plant reblooming… Are mums the same way? We’ve grown them before on our North facing stoop and I don’t remember if they bloom for long or not. Should I buy those as a replacement? Or will they also dye out in 2 weeks if I buy in full bloom? Thanks for the help!
marie-helene | 11 years and 9 months ago
Yes mums are the same way. They’re also not likely to bloom again if not in a sunny spot, so you you would have another short-lived annual. You can mix a coral bell (heuchera), a japanese anemone and creeping jenny in one planter. They’ll do well in the shade, and give you something to look at year-round. You can always dress up with some pansies for seasonal bright colors.