Question of the Week 07/14/2018

Question if the week:

Q: The red hot poker in the back yard has developed lots of brown leaves (see photo). Is this normal? Is there something we can do?

A: After physically checking out your red hot poker (Kniphofia), it is suffering from crown rot - which can actually kill your plant.

To remedy this situation, your plant needs to dry out entirely. Do not give it any additional water. Since it is an already established and is a drought tolerant plant, it should do fine with just the occasional rain unless we hit another long dry spell; then supplemental water will be needed.