Q. My friend has a lantana plant and the leaves look good
from the top to about the bottom few inches and then they turn yellow. What
might be the cause of this condition? My lantanas are getting very thin and
“leggy”. Do you think I should wait until December to cut them to the
ground as some say?
from the top to about the bottom few inches and then they turn yellow. What
might be the cause of this condition? My lantanas are getting very thin and
“leggy”. Do you think I should wait until December to cut them to the
ground as some say?
A. These plants originate from wetter climates and richer
soils. As these plants get older and woodier at the base, they tend to lose
their leaves toward the bottom and keep the leaves on the more succulent stems
and new growth.
soils. As these plants get older and woodier at the base, they tend to lose
their leaves toward the bottom and keep the leaves on the more succulent stems
and new growth.
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| Different Lantanas for home landscaping in the desert |
This is worse if the plant is not
in full sun or if it is very dense. Regular applications of fertilizer helps along
with correctly pruning the plant. Prune these plants to within an inch or two
of the soil surface in February if they are leggy. They also need plenty of
water so if water is being restricted they will also look pretty bad.
in full sun or if it is very dense. Regular applications of fertilizer helps along
with correctly pruning the plant. Prune these plants to within an inch or two
of the soil surface in February if they are leggy. They also need plenty of
water so if water is being restricted they will also look pretty bad.
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| Pruned Lantana 2 to 3 inches high in February if there is cold damage or it has become leggy |
Lantana loves full sun and do very
well provided the soil has been enriched and it is receiving fertilizer. If
planted in rock mulch the soil will become mineralized or lose its organic
matter content over time and the plant then does poorly.
well provided the soil has been enriched and it is receiving fertilizer. If
planted in rock mulch the soil will become mineralized or lose its organic
matter content over time and the plant then does poorly.
Get lantana on a schedule every
couple of months with a decent fertilizer for flowering plants. In the spring
apply compost or composted chicken manure or something similar around the plant
and water it in thoroughly with a hose. You want to re-build some organic
matter back in that soil again.
couple of months with a decent fertilizer for flowering plants. In the spring
apply compost or composted chicken manure or something similar around the plant
and water it in thoroughly with a hose. You want to re-build some organic
matter back in that soil again.
I had several reports of grubs
feeding on the roots of these plants. When this happens, the plant begins to
decline. It might not be obvious to you unless you dug the plant up and
examined the soil.
feeding on the roots of these plants. When this happens, the plant begins to
decline. It might not be obvious to you unless you dug the plant up and
examined the soil.
If you believe this could be a
problem, you would apply a granular insecticide or a liquid drench around the
outside perimeter of the plant. Granular organic insecticides containing
rosemary and thyme oil work as well as conventional insecticides containing
imidicloprid.
problem, you would apply a granular insecticide or a liquid drench around the
outside perimeter of the plant. Granular organic insecticides containing
rosemary and thyme oil work as well as conventional insecticides containing
imidicloprid.