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Vincas, or periwinkles, can be infected with a fungal disease called aerial phytophthora. The disease spreads when the fungal spores in the soil are splashed on the plants when you water or when it rains. If rains or overwatering continues, the fungus can spread to the base of the plant and it can die.
How do you revive a vinca plant?
Sick Vinca in a growing bed Stop watering regularly. If you have a thick layer of mulch, remove it to let soil dry out faster. Increase drainage by aerating the soil: sink a steel bar or tomato stake a foot deep and pull it out. Remove infected plants.
What is killing my vinca?
Insect attacks on this plant are few but can happen on occasion. Some of the more commonly seen pests on annual vinca plants include aphids, spider mites, scale, and whiteflies. Generally, most of these pests can be controlled with beneficial insects that feed on them or with the use of insecticidal soap or neem oil.
How often do you water vinca plants?
Water every other week, or if the top 2 inches of soil feel dry to the touch. Vinca is very drought tolerant and prefers its soil to be on the dry side of moist. Do not wait too long to water, though. If a vinca starts to wilt, it will likely die; is very difficult to nurse a wilted vinca back to life with water.
Why are my vincas turning yellow and dying?
Nutrients. Vincas with yellowing leaves are often reacting to a lack of iron, which is a common problem in alkaline soil. A lack of nitrogen in the soil can also cause yellowing leaves. Use of a fertilizer containing nitrogen, iron and sulfur helps to replace the nutrients while balancing the pH.
Why are my vincas shriveling up?
Vincas, or periwinkles, can be infected with a fungal disease called aerial phytophthora. Some varieties seem more prone to this common fungus than others. Symptoms of aerial phytophthora include dull, gray, shriveled foliage and deterioration of the upper stems.
Why are my vincas drooping?
A very common cause of a drooping vinca plant is a lack of water. These plants can dry out quite easily, and when they do, they will let you know they are thirsty by drooping quite dramatically.
Do vincas need full sun?
Vinca needs little maintenance, and deadheading isn’t required. They do well in full sun to part shade, and can tolerate some drought, although they flower best with regular watering. Check out the top 15 easy flowers anyone can grow.
Why is my vinca turning brown?
Aerial stem blight and root rot are caused by Phytophthora nicotianae and occasionally other species. Stem and branch blight frequently occurs without root rot, but root rot is involved in some cases. Dark brown to black lesions form on stems and branches, causing the portions above to wilt and die back.
How do you care for vinca pots?
Annual vinca is drought tolerant but does best if you water the plants whenever the top inch or so of the soil feels dry to the touch. Take care not to overwater this plant; it’s easily susceptible to root rot. Keep potted vinca blooming well by fertilizing regularly with any general-purpose garden fertilizer.
Do vincas like lots of water?
They love hot, humid weather and are fairly self-sufficient. Water the plants only when the top inch of soil is dry. Container plants will need water more often than those planted in beds, but it’s important to avoid over-watering both. Vinca typically needs no fertilization.
What is the best fertilizer for vinca?
Fertilize the plants once a month with a 10-10-10 nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium water-soluble fertilizer. Mix 1 teaspoon of fertilizer with 1 gallon of water, or according to the instructions on the package. Apply the fertilizer in place of a watering.
Should you pinch back vinca?
It is not necessary to pinch vinca plants, according to Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, because the plant branches off in all directions rather than just extending its length. It will not hurt this hardy plant. Although vinca does branch naturally, pinching may encourage bushier growth.
Why are the leaves on my vinca curling?
Vinca may normally curl up during hot, dry summer weather as part of an effort to conserve water. This should not be cause for alarm; the leaves will unfurl in the evening when temperatures drop and humidity increases.
Does vinca need fertilizer?
Annual vinca grows well in hot, sunny locations and blooms throughout the growing season. It can tolerate even relatively poor soils and dry conditions, but the National Garden Bureau recommends fertilizing once a month with water-soluble or granular fertilizer.
How long will vincas last?
Abundant flowers bloom continuously throughout the summer. Summer-flowering vinca is hardy in USDA zones 9 through 12, and is treated in lower hardiness zones as an annual.
What do you do with vinca in the fall?
Grown as Annuals To increase the odds of vinca survival where freezing is common, overwinter vinca in a protected place. Pot the plants in the fall before the ground hardens and move them to a greenhouse or indoors near a south-facing window.
Do vinca flowers come back?
Vinca is grown as an annual. It will often return in following summers from self-sown seed. Annual vinca is not the same as the perennial periwinkles (Vinca minor or V. major) that are grown as groundcovers.
