Centaurea update and peony too...
By Llew
Lincolnshire,
United Kingdom 
Right, I'm seriously worried about this plant now. It's looking absolutely dreadful, getting worse and I can't see how it's going to survive.
I also noticed, but never really thought about it before, that a peony I'd planted next to it seemed to have stopped growing a week or so ago. My friend sent me a cutting with a small shoot on. Anyway, it grew and sprouted another shoot. It's about 3 inches high now. I noticed a third shoot, but this morning when I went out to check, that shoot just came away in my hand (no sign of slugs/snails, it's laying on the ground in the pic) and the centaurea is really sick.
Is there anything I can do? I could lift the centaurea after all and check the roots and put compost (would have to be potting compost) in the hole, but the peony isn't going to like being lifted is it? Now, I'm worried that the rest of the plants in the bed won't do well either.
You can see the peony to the right of the centaurea.
Apologies to organic gardeners, but I do use slug pellets.
We have had nasty wind and some rain but no sun for about a week now.
When I got this bed ready, I did dig it over, got rid of all big weeds and applied fish, blood and bone to it.
6 May, 2009
Answers
I agree with Cammomile Centaureas hate being moved, and although they do seed they pull up easy if you dont want them, I have a Peony that i've had for at least 10 years and this year is the best its been with 7 flowers on it, they seem to take a long time to settle and also hate being moved, i'd give them a bit longer before i did anything i think.
6 May, 2009
I too still use slug pellets for some plants - they wouldn't survive otherwise. I just put half a dozen under a piece of tile, check them every couple of days and remove any dead slugs to the bin so birds can't get them.
6 May, 2009
Ooooh, good luck Llew! Just keep watering them and "talk" to them too, tell them to behave! Lol!! Fingers crossed, I'm getting a free tree peony, can't wait!
6 May, 2009
Well, I gave it a good talking to this afternoon after it had had its foliar feed, lol.
OK, peeps. I'll leave it alone and hope for the best then. :o)
Honestly, you'd think my life revolved round this darned plant, lol.
Must be boring you now. <wink>.
6 May, 2009
Nooooooo, Llew, never!!! Keep up the "chats" Lol!!
6 May, 2009
What..to you or the plants? lol.
You wouldn't want to hear what I said to this thing today, pmsl.
I even put this pic in my blog today. Obsessed or what????? ha, ha.
6 May, 2009
Hehehe!!! Well, it would be interesting to know what Prince Charles says to his plants! That's how I know "One should "talk" to one's plants!" Mwah!
6 May, 2009
Hey! Who do you think taught Charlie boy, eh?
Yep, you got it. HA, HA, HA.
6 May, 2009
I'm no expert but I think your centaurea (or cornflower as I know it) will be fine. They do tend to wilt a bit when planted or moved, but you will be cursing the day you put it in the ground in a few years time as it spreads by seed like crazy. However they are a beautiful colour. When they get leggy I chop the flowers right down and more flowers appear. As for the peony, they hate being planted too deeply and take a while to recover, but I think that too should be ok.
6 May, 2009