I recently just planted and hollyhock and the leaves started to wilt (rust) and some of the buds too. It looks like it affected the plant from top to bottom. There is some new growth,starting at the bottom. What can I do to promote new growth to the top of the plant?
This is the dreaded Hollyhock Rust disease.
This article will help you.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/hollyhock/hollyhock-rust-in-gardens.htm
Hi, I understand that Hollyhock plants can grow to 70 or so inches tall. I have a white flowering Hollyhock that is approx 132 inches tall. Is this unusual.? Sorry I have no idea how one uploads a photo although I have one. Jim Kennedy
It is not unheard of. Sometimes this can be natural, but most of the time it happens from a lack of light. This can be noted by large gaps between flowers.
If the flower spike has little to no gap between flowers, then you may have a really healthy, tall specimen.
This article will give you more information on the Hollyhock: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/hollyhock/tips-on-hollyhocks-growing-hollyhocks-successfully.htm
I have a large bed of hollyhocks and this year we had so much rain and I didn't remove enough plants this spring and they have rust, will this stay over winter in the soil. If I try to save the seeds to start again will they carry the rust over?I have so many beautiful colors and hoped if I remove the plants after I collect seeds will the rust stay with the soil. The nursery told me to use copper sulfate, but so far not working.
Many people recommend copper sulfate, but I have found a much more effective method. Wettable sulfur and dolomitic lime. Adding these together will kill off most tough infections. Keep in mind that hollyhocks are biennial. The first year is vegetative growth, and no flowers. The second year is a flowering spire. These will bear seeds which will start the process over. It is likely that the issue will resolve its self over a few years, but you can speed this up with the treatment mentioned.
This article will give you more information on the plant: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/hollyhock/tips-on-hollyhocks-growing-hollyhocks-successfully.htm
some treatment. I would rather treat that way than spray the entire plant.
There are many ways to go about this. Sprays will ensure that you kill the spores, which is how it spreads. Ground soaks can kill what is in the ground, but will not touch what is in, and on the plant unless there is something fto let the plants take it up. This can be an oil (coconut has several fats and oils that help plants take up nutrients and chemicals) or synthetic chemicals.
While there are many treatments, such as a ground application of DOLOMITIC LIME and WETTABLE SULFUR (This combo is wonderful, and what I use personally) or fungicides that contain copper (This should be a last resort thing) it may also be necessary to kill the spores of the visible "rust" on the leaves.
This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/using-fungicides-in-garden.htm
This article will give you information on the care of Hollyhocks: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/hollyhock/tips-on-hollyhocks-growing-hollyhocks-successfully.htm
I just bought this plant at a nursery. I live in a humid area of Southern New Jersey.
If the plant came in a pot from the nursery, then just slide the entire root/soil ball out of the container and place it in a hole with the top of the soil line from the pot at the same level as the surrounding soil grade, not too deep. Backfill around the outside of the container soil, tamp the soil lightly to settle and water deeply and thoroughly, muddy wet to settle the backfilled soil.
If it came in a loose package, just lift it out shake or let the loose soil fall off, but no need to remove all the soil. Plant with the soil grade at the level where the roots become stems, roots below soil grade, stems above. Water settle the backfill in the same way. Don't let the roots become exposed to the air for any length of time and dry out. Keep it wet until you are ready to plant, then plant and water right away.
I bought hollyhock seeds, not knowing that they were miniature and reg tall. These are all about 2-3 ' tall. The leaves are each different. pink blossoms on the "Oak" leaf shape and not yet bloomed, more rounded????
If you bought mixed varieties, the leaf shape could vary, or it may be a mutation. Usually hollyhock leaves are heart shaped and wavy edged, some deeper cut than others. Here is more on their care:
Sowed hollyhock seeds (old) but nothing came up.
Were they kept in a cool location or in the refrigerator? If not, they may not germinate after 2 years, but it never hurts to try.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/propagation/seeds/storing-seeds.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/propagation/seeds/does-freezing-kill-seeds.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/propagation/seeds/seed-organization-tips.htm