Complete Collapse Overnight

[GoDawgs]

This morning when I walked the garden, something seemed missing in one bed. Then I noticed that one of the two surviving Tithonias had collapsed over night! Wow. It had some yellow leaves at the very bottom yesterday that had been there a few days but they always get some of that every year. On the whole, last night the plant looked OK. Wow. I've never had one do that before.



I need to dig that out this evening and see what the roots look like. We had that 3" rain a couple days ago. Maybe it rotted but then the other should have been affected too. They do suck up a lot of water every day. Go figure.

[brownrexx]

I have had them break off in the Wind and look like that

[MissS]

They are so tall and top heavy that they fall over and break sometimes. I now give each one a couple of stakes to help support them. They sure are pretty and fun to grow.

[GoDawgs]

I checked it out last evening while watering the garden and yep, it had broken off. First time it ever happened.

@MissS , thanks for the suggestion about stakes. I didn't know these plants could do that so next year I'll put about three stakes around the plant and let it grow around them.

[worth1]

It fell victim to oscillation.
It's where the wind makes it go in a somewhat circle and snaps off.
I stake stops it.

[brownrexx]

This happened to my tithonia all of the time as they got large so 2 years ago I found a shorter variety that did better. I did not grow it this year and I no longer have the seed packet to tell you the variety name but it was shorter than the normal one.

[GoDawgs]

The butterflies and others really go for it. Yep... stakes next year.

[FatBeeFarm]

I have to stake mine too, or I'll lose one or two this way. Tithonia is my favorite plant after tomatoes. I plant many of them and they always bring loads of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It's how I make my bees so fat!

[Gardadore]

The Fiesta del Sol is the shortest one. I think I have grown them all at some point. Especially love the yellow ones like Yellow Torch. Seed Savers used to carry a different yellow one but have to check. Always stake! Sorry for your loss!

[GoDawgs]

I didn't grow any this year but will next year. @Gardadore , thanks for the varietal suggestion.