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Jun 15, 2016 1:59 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Kings park New York

the branches/stalks of my butterfly bush seem to be coming out at the base of each stalk at the center of the plant. they look healthy but are breaking off at the base. i did notice a few holes in some of the leaves but did not see anything eating at the bush. What do you think is wrong with the bush as i am loosing green healthy looking branch/stalks daily. How do i treat this problem? Thank you for your help.
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Jun 15, 2016 2:22 PM CST
Name: Jean
Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a)
Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier The WITWIT Badge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Sages
Hi @happygardener1 Welcome! to NGA

Two requests please. Can you post pictures of the bush illustrating the damage and a picture of the whole plant? Secondly, can you list your general area (city/state/country) to help determine what pests and possible causes could be affecting your plant.
Avatar for 1happygardener
Jun 19, 2016 6:58 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Kings park New York

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We live in Kings park New York 11754 USA. According to the zone map on this site we are in zone 6B. I've attached the two pictures as requested. Thank you so much I look forward to your reply.
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Jun 19, 2016 7:49 AM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Your plant does look very nice and healthy, but that IS a lot of lush new growth from the base of the plant. I wonder if your weather suddenly warmed up, as I think you had a pretty long, cool spring this year, didn't you? All that new growth will be very brittle and weak for a while until it gets hardened.

Are you watering that plant every day? Again this promotes fast, weak stems to grow. See if you can ease back on the water and let the plant harden a bit. Don't let it wilt on hot sunny days, but if there's a cloudy day don't water. Watch your weather forecast, and water in the morning if the day is going to be hot, but don't water at all if it will be cloudy and cooler.

Also check if maybe someone is dragging a hose by there when maintaining the pool or something? That would break off the weak stems pretty quickly. Do you have a dog? They can be clumsy and step or bump those stems, too. If this is the case, some stakes around the edges of the planting area might help a lot.

Btw, you can enter your location into your personal profile so that it will appear in all your posts - see mine in the upper right corner? This really helps if you have questions in future.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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