container care

Why is my wellwatered potted nemesia dying?

eLizabeth adey, by emaiL

Like all perennial nemesias, ‘Wisley Vanilla’ tends to bloom in flushes. When the flowers have dropped and the plant looks scruffy, give it a quick trim. Remove all the old stems but retain some leaves so it can photosynthesise and create energy to flower again. If established in the ground, these plants are resistant to drought; in pots make sure they don’t dry out. It’s likely that, standing on a patio table in your south-facing garden, it dried out at some point in the extreme summer heat.