What’s going on with my alstroemeria?
Q I have had an alstroemeria plant for many years, which has flowered non-stop all summer each year. This year, however, after the first initial flush of flowers, no more stems have appeared. Do they have a limited life span? If not, is there something I can do to encourage new growth?
Sandra Partlett, Halstead, Essex
A I am sorry that your alstroemeria has failed and is no longer producing flowering stems.
Provided the soil drains freely and your plant is well established in a sunny patch, it should bloom and make robust growth for many years.
Slugs are menace, chewing stems and damaging growing tips. Have you noticed any silvery trails indicating their presence? Then again, some other pest may be responsible for your plant’s demise.