Why is my periwinkle dying

You should do a good job preparing the whole bed prior to planting. Turn to a depth of 8 inches and spread 2 to 4 inches of compost over the bed. Sprinkle a light application of fertilizer, and then thoroughly incorporate everything. Rake the bed smooth and then plant.

A raised bed is generally preferred for periwinkles to help provide the excellent drainage they need. While vincas have few problems, occasionally they will suddenly wilt and die. According to the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station and Clemson University Extension, there are several diseases and fungus that can cause vincas to wilt, including phytophthora stem blight and root rot, pythium root rot, rhizoctonia stem and root rot, gray mold and the tomato spotted wilt virus.

Symptoms of these diseases and fungus include dark colored lesions on the stems and branches, yellowing leaves with stunted growth, spots on the foliage, gray mold on the plant or black concentric rings on the leaves. Many of these diseases and fungus are prevalent in soil that has poor drainage or gardens that have been watered incorrectly. Planting in moist, humus-rich soils will help with water conservation. Madagascar periwinkle requires water if it is drooping.

Sarah Moore has been a writer, editor and blogger since She holds a master's degree in journalism. By Sarah Moore. Related Articles. Periwinkle Identification Periwinkles are cheerful groundcovers with flowers in a variety of hues, depending on species. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

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