I purchased a rooted cutting of honeysuckle at Lowe's (I know, I could have made my own cutting and rooted it, but it seemed like a good idea at the time) and planted it by my mailbox. All the leaves dried up and fell off.
I don't think it is a water problem--I have kept it moist, it is mulched with wood chips (none of which are anywhere near the stem), and it has even rained some.
Is it because the day after I planted it, it froze overnight (just a light frost)? It did not immediately wither up and die, but it has been in a slow decline.
Or is it transplant shock? I planted it with half compost, half native soil. The loose peat moss it was packed in fell away from the roots as I was planting it, but they seemed in good shape and I quickly covered them, tamped the soil lightly, and watered.
Or something else?
Or is it not dead? Maybe it will come back?? (Hope hope hope)
And what should I do differently next time, as I really want some honeysuckle there.
Well, honeysuckle is just about impossible to kill.
Cut it to the ground and give it a month. If nothing has shown up by then you have achieved the impossible lol.
The plant may have been in bad shape or poorly cared-for, plants from these big outfits or Wal-Mart often are. It's possible the frost was injurious to an already unhappy plant.
If it doesn't return, make your own cutting or go to a good-quality nursery.
Yeah, it almost certainly came from Lowe's with a problem. See if you can get your money back, and try again. Like beebop says, you almost can't kill the stuff.
If you already have honeysuckle, just take a few pieces and bury them... keep moist and they'll most likely grow! I find the stuff roots itself from little pieces very readily!
Once again, thank you all very much. I'll see if I can get my money back. Not sure it came with a guarantee. I know I should have waited and rooted my own cutting, but it seemed so easy and quick (and not very expensive) just to grab an already rooted cutting at the store. Silly me.
