Knowledgebase
Flower in bloom that just rotted #402498
Asked May 26, 2017, 2:03 AM EDT
I planted 2 yrs ago some flowers (I cannot remember their name, I attached a picture). This year they were just gorgeous. I noticed today that many leaves at the bottom were dead and I wanted to remove them, when I noticed that they were rotting at the bottom of the stems, with the rotten part moving upwards. As soon as touched all the branches fell off and the whole plant just broke off from the roots in the ground. I am wondering what might have caused this to happen to what appeared to be a perfectly health plant not so long ago. We live in Cedar Mill. We didn't have rain for about 10 days and I did not water. The soil is dried out (there is a layer of decent soil over clay). I have a few more of these flowers that appear to be still healthy and I would like to save them. Thanks in advance for your help
Washington County Oregon
Expert Response
Your lovely plant looks like a Lewisia, like this one, Lewisia: Rainbow of Flower Colors. Lewisias were discovered by and named after Lewis of Lewis and Clark. They're alpine flowers, adapted to rocky, cold but dry conditions. The main concern with lewisia is drainage. They require sharp drainage and protection from winter wet conditions. You might want to add up to a quarter quarter-ten or pea gravel to the soil where they are growing, and mound up the soil - anything to improve drainage and keep the crown out of wet conditions. You can also grow them in containers, again with excellent drainage. This winter was a Lewisia nightmare - cold and very wet, plus it never got a chance to dry out. For any plants you still have, repot them in fresh, well-drained soil. You might try cactus soil.
