First, you must understand my fundamental requirements. I am a sun-worshipper; I crave at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight daily. If I am languishing in shade or partial shade, my stems become weak and floppy, and my flowering is pathetic. My roots are equally demanding; they despise sitting in wet, heavy soil. Soggy conditions quickly lead to root rot, a primary reason for my decline. I need well-draining, fertile soil that retains moisture without becoming waterlogged. Furthermore, I am a vigorous grower. If I have been in the same spot for three or four years, I may have exhausted the nutrients in the soil and become overcrowded, struggling to access the food and water I need.
Check my soil moisture immediately. Push your finger into the earth near my base. Is it bone dry and pulling away from the edges of the pot or garden bed? I am thirsty and need a deep, thorough watering to rehydrate my roots. Conversely, is the soil cold, soggy, and clumpy? You are drowning me. Cease watering and consider improving drainage around me. Next, inspect my foliage and stems. Look for signs of sap-sucking pests like aphids or spider mites, which can weaken me significantly. Also, check for powdery mildew or other fungal issues, often indicated by white, powdery spots on leaves, which thrive in humid conditions with poor air circulation.
If my above-ground growth looks truly pathetic—wilting, brown, and diseased—you must be ruthless. Prune me back hard. Cut my stems down to just a few inches above the soil level. This removes the burden of sustaining dying tissue and allows me to redirect all my energy into producing new, healthy growth from the crown and roots. If the problem is overcrowding or old age, the ultimate revival technique is to lift and divide me. Do this in early spring or after the hard prune. Carefully dig up my entire root clump and use a sharp spade or knife to divide it into several smaller, healthy sections, each with roots and shoots. Discard the old, woody center of the clump.
Whether you are replanting a division or me in my original location, prepare the soil meticulously. Amend the planting hole with plenty of compost or well-rotted manure to boost fertility and improve soil structure. Ensure the location is sunny and open. Place my roots in the hole, making sure the crown (where the stems meet the roots) is level with the soil surface. Backfill gently but firmly, and water me in deeply to settle the soil around my roots and eliminate air pockets. Applying a thin layer of mulch around my base will help retain moisture and suppress weeds, but keep it away from my stems to prevent rot.
