Help with Crocosmia Lucifer

[waynesworld]

I have a crocosmia Lucifer and the leaves are turning brown even though it has started to flower.The soil as far as i am aware is as it should be and we have another that is doing well in another part of the garden.Any ideas. Cheers WW.

[ian digs]

Hi Waynesworld,
I'm not a flower expert but my first thought was about sunlight. Are your plants getting equal amounts, do they prefer shade, what is the ground conditions like, I have quite a small flower growing area, which is flat, but on one side it is very sandy and in full sun and the other side (about 30 feet away) is quite damp (sometimes water logged) and doesn't get the sun quite the same.
I hope this points you in the right direction.

i have just found this on another site hope it helps.

The dry weather has certainly contributed. Hot, dry conditions have favoured the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae). These creatures feed on plant tissues causing extensive damage in high populations. They feed on a variety of plants both indoors and out. Cut off and remove dead leaves and clear up plant debris to reduce overwintering sites. Water the plants well, they may not produce any more leaf this year, but mites do not like damp conditions. The plants should recover and grow next year. Look out for early signs of this pest next spring and early summer, treating with insecticidal soap spray if found.

[Shetty]

Don't worry!!!!!!!!
I find crocosmia can be hard to kill. My flower garden gets very little attention and everything has to fight for themselves. I was given a piece of crocosmia somebody had dug up 5 years ago and duly forgot all about it. After 3 years I found the bit lying upside down completely dried out and nothing growing on it. I could not even remember what it was. I stuck it in a part of the garden which gets the worst conditions possible, Waterlaogged in winter, dry in the summer and plenty of gales all year. Last year it struggled to life, but similar to yours wilted early. This year it's twice the size and doing very well.