QuestionI just planted a dutchmans pipe this year, it took off for awhile, but now the ends went brown and about 1 inch fell off, and the plant stopped growing, the rest of the leaves are nice and green, the nursery assured me it was good for zone 5, the plant is in about 4 hours of sun, I do not see and sun burnt leaves, any suggestions as to perk it back up?
AnswerHi Beth - First of all, congratulations on choosing a truly spectacular vine! It is one of my favorites, and I have just installed a pergola where I hope to grow one, if I can find a good specimen for planting this fall. Now, I am wondering which cultivar you might have - do you know whether you planted Aristolochia durior, or perhaps either Aristolochia tomentosa or A. fimbriata? It's a niggling point, but the fimbriata variety is NOT hardy in your zone and tends to be fussy about day vs. night temperatures. Assuming that your nursery sold you the right kind for Zone 5, however - and let's assume they did -- the browning of just some of the leaf tips is probably one of 3 things: a fungal disease, a soil pH issue, or a reaction to sun/heat. That said, Dutchman's Pipes are really NOT known for any particular vulnerability to either pests or diseases. What kind of soil is it planted in? Some elements in the soil (e.g. a high sulfur content) can result in foliage issues, so that might be worth checking out. You'll want a fairly neutral soil (e.g. 5 - 5.5 or so, neither too alkaline nor too acidic), and soil testing kits can be had at any garden nursery or hardware store. The most accurate readings come from County extension services, but many counties have cut back on testing because of funding problems. So, based on what you've told me, I am leaning towards a heat/sun issue. The fact that the rest of your leaves are doing ok is a good sign, and you shouldn't expect much in the way of flowers until the vine is well-established, which can take 2 -3 seasons. But stand back - that vine can be vigorous and it will tolerate hard pruning! Keep me posted....
