My Garden

What's been eating my Heuchera?

Last post 20-10-2009 5:08 PM by Greenfingers. 7 replies.

• 05/10/2009 03:05 PM

  Greenfingers Location: Wimbledon Joined on: 20 May 2009 Posts: 18

  Reply | Contact    Came back from holidays and something has been eating the roots of my heuchera from below.  The plant looks pretty normal and the soil around it undisturbed but I can just pick it up like a saucepan lid and there are no roots underneath.  This has also happened to plants I have had in small pots on the patio.  The heuchera is in a large planter with other plants which seem unaffected. Has anybody any ideas what could be happening with it?  Photo attached.

• 05/10/2009 03:17 PM

  In reply to

  NickR Location: Harrow, Middlesex Joined on: 05 Oct 2009 Posts: 26

  Reply | Contact Hello Greenfingers, Unfortunately I cannot see the photo which you attached, but from your description it sounds identical the the problem which I had with one of my heuchera plants.  I read up on problems that can affect heucheras, and found out that vine weevil larvae are partial to eating the roots! I lifted my plant out of the ground and to my disappointment there were no larvae, but I'm sure thats what was eating it, there were practically no roots left at all by that point! Maybe its vine weevil larvae that have destroyed the roots on your heuchera aswell, but I'm not sure how to prevent them from eating heucheras.  I hope that helps a little,  Nick :)

• 05/10/2009 04:04 PM	In reply to
  Shelley38 Location: Margate Joined on: 04 Oct 2009 Posts: 2	Reply | Contact  Could be slugs? They did the same to some of my spring pansies!

• 05/10/2009 04:10 PM	In reply to
  BB Location: Hereford Joined on: 12 May 2009 Posts: 573	Reply | Contact My money is on the evil weevil see link:- http://www.heucheraholics.co.uk/evil_weevils.html As the link explains you can save your Heuchera if you act quickly. BB

• 05/10/2009 04:15 PM	In reply to
  corryvreckan Location: norfolk Joined on: 05 Oct 2009 Posts: 2	Reply | Contact Definitely vine weevil. Bascially if your plants come out of the ground like a wig, all leaves above and no roots, then it's vine weevil larvae.

• 05/10/2009 04:28 PM	In reply to
  miranda Location: Oxfordshire Joined on: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 2,976	Reply | Contact That happened to my Heucheras as well and it was vine weevil larvae. They are also partial to Fucshia roots.  You can exact a certain revenge, however. If you have the time and the inclination, go through the compost and pick out all the grubs. Put them in a plant saucer and leave them for the birds - they'll be eaten up in next to no time.

• 05/10/2009 08:53 PM

  In reply to

  AlexS Location: Reading Joined on: 06 Sep 2009 Posts: 58

  Reply | Contact This has happened to my heucheras in previous years too. But you might still be able to save the heuchera, even if all the roots have been eaten. I treated them as cuttings, trimmed off all but two or three leaves, and put them in water on the kitchen windowsill, and hey presto, they grew new roots. Just be sure that there aren't any of the grubs left - once the little blighters have eaten the roots, they'll chew right up inside the stem. Alex

• 20/10/2009 05:08 PM	In reply to
  Greenfingers Location: Wimbledon Joined on: 20 May 2009 Posts: 18	Reply | Contact A belated thanks for the advice.  Unfortunately it was not the only heuchera to suffer and I have had to since take up another 2 plants!  Things are looking a bit bare.  I have drenched the soil in an anti-weevil solution and hope that that will solve the problem.  I did find lots of them munching away on what was left so it's definately the dreaded weevil.