I have the following seedlings/starts.


1)Agastache 'Blue Boa" 5" tall. not stretched, has first flower!

2) Agastache 'Blue Fortune' 2" tall

3) Agastache 'Black Adder' was 4" tall, leaves mottled and discolored (reddish) and fell off, basal leaves seem fine

4)Agastache rupestris 5" tall, not stretched

Which ones can I cut back? They will need to stay indoors about t2-3 weeks until warmer than upper 40s nite and low 60s day. Have not been hardened off...zone 7b.

Any ideas what happened to Black Adder? All flats kept in same location and treated same (light, water, 60 - 70 degrees)


Pic 1 'blue Fortune. Black Adder in middle, and rupestris



Pic 2 Day two of Black Adder leaf fall



Pic 3 & 4 day 5, what is left of Black Adder. Will they come back?









Should I cut off main stalk?
Thanks for any advice.
Judy

I wonder whether they are getting enough light or too much water? Why are you waiting until the weather warms up? Highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s seems like good weather for hardening off as long as the wind isn't blowing. If it was me I would find a sheltered spot out of the direct sun and start exposing the plants to outdoor conditions.

@WardDas all good advice. Well stated.

@FBTS since you grow and sell Agastaches, can you offer some advice also?

I bow to Ward's expertise here. Most all of the Agastache we grow are clones, not seedlings.

Thanks all! Here is the response I got from the grower of my plugs:

"The Agastache Black Adder is from a vernalized crop. The leaves that you are seeing are older leaves and they can be cut back if you wish. The crop has great buds and roots and will be pushing new growth soon. It depends how you are treating the material as to how quickly it will break dormancy and reflush with new growth. The other Agastache that you received were from other crops so they have a different appearance. If the plugs are appropriately and well cared for, every plug should provide you with a nice plant."

Makes sense and points me in rhe right direction. Phew. Can't wait for all the Skippers and other butterflies these lovelies will draw in this summer!

So they are plugs, it wasn't clear to me. I wondered how you were able to grow some of those hybrids from seed or if Black Adder even set seed. Wow, you are going to have one hell of an agastache garden. Skippers are fun aren't they? I have to admit I find them more than a bit confusing. Do you grow native grasses for the caterpillars or is there enough naturally occurring grasses in the area to fill that need?

Kermit, I don't think you should bow to anyone let alone me.

Yes, only the rupestris was seed grown and the rest were clones. All four were ones that were hardy for me in the ground and in containers over the last 2 winters and were pollinator super stores while in bloom and whose blooms combined for a very long season of nectar availability.

I'm in 7b and near the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis. My yard is mostly shade from tall old oaks = lots of leaves, so I just rake three or four big piles, along a fence, back of house, etc and bury my containers in leaves. May try your bag o leaves next winter but enjoy for now removing a layer of leaves at a time as weather warms. Shredded oak leaves are the best!
Sun behind house (agastache here)

Shade area along fence

Sunniest area, my hoop house with out hoop or house, in borrowed garden space from neighbor across the street


LOL, most of the 288 plugs of agastache are not for me! Along with 400 Milkweeds, late blooming Asters, Goldenrods, Phlox, Monarda, Joe Pye, Mountaian Mint etc they are the plants for about 40 Monarch Waystations being planned along my paper route which is a peninsula on The Bay that sees a lot of Monarchs migrating back to Mexico. My customers are eager to re establish the rich diverse habitat for Monarchs, Hummers, pollinators, their grandkids and their families and I get to help!
(Well, I have been talking it up for years now and getting various ones to help raise cats I find or giving out chryssilises to watch eclosure and release. Seems it takes awhile to overcome the idea that many 'weeds ewww' are contrary to keeping up appearances. The community Association is investigating becoming certified as a Monarch Habitat Community as why it is neat to live there!

My latest broken record phrase is..."You want to see these plants eaten, with big chunks out of their leaves ! Otherwise we're not doing our part for the Monarchs!"

Any how, thanks for letting me chat on.

Judy

Oh no, I am highly in favor of working in the public sphere on issues like this. It is good to know there are fellow travelers doing good work. You are far from alone these days and we all need to encourage each other and share what we are doing and what we know. Up here in New Jersey shore communities have some of the most disturbed habitats and are most in need of help. A close friend of mine is working hard up here and you might want to check out her website. Searching Pat Sutton should help you find it.

In any case, talk about these issues all you want.

Good to know where you are from Ward, helps alot. Thanks