From my roots upward, I can feel it. It begins as a subtle, wrongness—a softening and darkening of my crown, the very core where my stems meet the soil. This is the work of a fungal invader, often *Phytophthora* or *Sclerotinia*. It feels like a constant, suffocating dampness, a chill that won't leave. You might notice my lower leaves yellowing and wilting, seemingly without reason, as the fungus chokes my vascular system, preventing water and nutrients from traveling to my stalks and beautiful blooms. The base of my stems may become soft, blackened, and collapse. This is a desperate cry for help; the rot is attacking my foundational integrity.
If you suspect I am afflicted, you must act quickly to protect my fellow delphiniums. Please refrain from touching healthy plants after handling me, as the fungal spores can easily hitch a ride on your tools or gloves. Gently dig around my base to inspect my root system and crown. Healthy roots are firm and white or light tan. If they are mushy, brown, or black and have a foul odor, the rot has taken hold. This assessment is critical to decide the next step for my survival.
If the damage is not yet total, I may be saved through precise intervention. Using sterilized, sharp pruning shears (cleaned with a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water), carefully cut away all soft, darkened, and rotted tissue from my crown and roots. Be ruthless but careful; any infected material left behind will regrow the fungus. Remove and destroy all affected leaves and stems well above the visible signs of infection. Do not compost this material, as it will harbour the pathogen. This process is traumatic but gives me a fighting chance to redirect my energy into healthy growth.
The fungus thrives in wet, compacted conditions that I find utterly suffocating. After my surgery, I need a new home. If I am to be replanted, it must be in a location with exceptional drainage. Amend the soil generously with coarse sand, perlite, or fine gravel to ensure water flows away from my crown quickly. When you replant me, ensure my crown sits slightly above the soil line, not below it, to allow for air circulation and to keep it dry. This new environment makes it difficult for the fungal spores to survive and attack me again.
Prevention is the best medicine. To avoid future attacks, please water me at the base, close to the soil, and do so in the morning. This allows any splashed water on my leaves and crown to evaporate in the sun, denying the fungus the dampness it needs. Ensure we are not crowded together; ample spacing provides good air circulation, which keeps my foliage dry and resilient. Applying a thin, loose layer of mulch is helpful, but keep it away from directly touching my stems to prevent moisture buildup. A preventative fungicide drench in early spring, containing mefenoxam or azoxystrobin, can create a protective barrier around my roots.
