Echium pininana sudden death, what's going on?

Hi I don't mean to state the obvious but you are aware of the fact that echium pininana are bienniel and that they are meant to keel over and die in the second year, which is why they are so good at seeding themselves throughout people's gardens to such an extent that they become like a weed.

I hope this helped.

Thanks, but the plant in question is less than one year old. It hasn't flowered yet. It has just keeled over before it's time! I really don't know what's going on. The same thing happened last year. Any ideas?

Well before you start throwing your money at the problem by buying remidies and fertilisers and god knows what else, go through the fundementals, research the optimum growing conditions of Echium pininana, see if these growing conditions correspond to what you are subjeting it too. Assess the the soil, light, moisture content, wind exposure etc.

Ok let me know how you get on, I'm sure we can figure this out.

They are very top-heavey plants. Wind rock might be damageing the roots.

is the stem soft?

Echium Pininana.

I have had the same problem one or two just die. I have checked for vine werill in the soil or pots but nothing. some of my plants have large bites out of them and i have found at night one or two large long grey catipillars but not many to weaken the plant. i have also noted only one out of a group die and this is very quick maybe over to days . Any answers would be welcome

i have the odd one die off. i don't understand either...