Why is My Creeping Jenny Dying?
Seeing your creeping Jenny dying can be quite alarming – especially if you cannot pinpoint the exact cause!
There could be several reasons behind your beloved plant’s poor health. Often, the issue stems from the gardener’s lack of plant care knowledge, which can lead to problems like improper watering. Other factors, such as too much sunlight, pests, and fungal diseases, might also cause this perennial evergreen to lose its vigor and die.
In this article, we will uncover some of the common reasons your creeping Jenny might be dying. So, without further ado, let us jump in!
Creeping Jenny – plant care overview
Creeping Jenny, otherwise known as moneywort, is an evergreen perennial that is often used for ground cover thanks to its low-growing, dense, coin-shaped foliage. It can make a great addition to your garden, softening a few edges with its lush, lime-green leaves and complementing your ornamentals. Growing it in containers or hanging baskets is also a trendy option, as its trails can create a lovely draping effect.
You should know, however, that this fast-growing creeper also tends to be invasive! Its leaves and stems can spread tenaciously and overrun the other plants in your garden. If you do not keep its growth in check, it can be really problematic and might even reach your neighbor’s garden!
If you would like to grow a creeping Jenny to enhance your lawn or complement the theme of your landscape, it is essential that you know its basic care requirements.
For starters, you need to keep the soil moist at all times, whether it is planted in a container or in the ground. Watering the plant once a week will usually suffice, but you may need to adjust this according to the weather and the season. If you live in an area with a hot climate, you should probably increase the frequency to keep your creeper hydrated. Be careful, though, not to overwater it, or you risk causing root rot and fungal issues.
Another important factor to keep in mind is the amount of sunlight your creeping Jenny receives. This plant prefers six hours of full sunlight per day, or even more of partial sun, and this sun exposure can influence the color of its leaves, too. Full, direct sunlight can make them golden yellow, while partial shade can turn them chartreuse green. However, the intense heat of the afternoon sun might lead to blanched leaves.
Other care tips you need to know:
- Maintain proper spacing, about two feet away from other plants, so you can easily keep your creeping Jenny from invading them.
- Prune the plant to manage its horizontal growth, especially if it is planted in the ground.
- Apply minimal fertilizer, since a creeping Jenny can grow abundantly without the need for very much fertilizer.
Why is my creeping Jenny dying? – Causes and fixes
Although this crawling plant is very easy to grow and care for, you should keep in mind that it can also face several issues. Here are some of the common reasons your creeping Jenny may be dying, and their corresponding solutions:
1. Too much exposure to sunlight
Creeping Jenny plants thrive in full sunlight. But, as with other plants, too much sunlight can still be bad for them! Sunburn is particularly common in these evergreens if they receive more than six hours of direct sunlight per day – especially during the dry season. The scorching heat can turn their foliage pale, brown, and brittle, especially if their soil is not moist enough.
If you live in an area with a hot climate, you may need to relocate your creeping Jenny to a spot that gets partial shade.
2. Lack of water
Often, a creeping Jenny that looks sad and dying might just need more water to perk back up again! This plant thrives best in moist soil, and excessive drought will cause its foliage to lose turgidity. Similar to sunburn, you might also notice the leaves turning brown and brittle as the roots are deprived of water.
In its natural habitat, this super hardy plant flourishes near streams or river banks. Hence, its soil must be kept moist (but not soggy) at all times! So, make sure to water your creeping Jenny regularly, and do not let the soil become too dry in between waterings.
If you are growing your creeping Jenny in the ground, it is best to position it near a water source or where rainwater naturally collects. If the plant is grown in a container, it will need more frequent watering because potted soil can dry out quickly. Check the topsoil regularly with your finger or use a moisture meter to determine when your plant needs a drink.
3. Overwatering
Overwatering can kill any plant – even a moisture-loving evergreen like the creeping Jenny. If the foliage begins to wilt, it might be time to assess your watering routine.
As mentioned, a creeping Jenny requires consistently moist soil to thrive. However, saturated soil can drown its roots and cause other problems like fungal diseases.
Knowing when to water your creeping Jenny might be a bit tricky, especially for a newbie gardener. The soil condition is greatly influenced by weather, sunlight, spacing between plants, and the type of plant container used. Hence, a strict watering schedule cannot be followed; instead, you need to check the soil regularly to know when it needs watering. As previously suggested, the finger test can help you assess whether the soil is damp or too dry. For convenience and more accurate monitoring, you can also purchase a soil moisture meter like the XLUX, from Amazon.
4. Red spider mite infestation
Pest infestation is another possible culprit if your creeping Jenny starts losing its vigor and dying back. Its common enemies, red spider mites, damage its foliage by piercing the surface of the leaves and sucking out the plant’s nutrients. If your creeping Jenny appears wilted and develops brown or yellow leaves, then do check the underside of the leaves to see if it is infested with red spider mites.
Early infestation might be challenging to diagnose since the insects are difficult to see with the naked eye. Most gardeners will probably only notice the infestation once the tiny nuisances have already set up home on the plant and the leaf damage has become obvious.
Prevention is always better than cure, but if your creeping Jenny is already struggling with this issue, do not panic! Insecticidal soap and neem oil will usually do the trick to eradicate pests. You can also spray the leaves with rubbing alcohol diluted in water to kill the little bugs. Chemical pesticides should be your last resort, for cases of severe infestation.
5. Fungal diseases
Creeping Jenny plants can also be vulnerable to several fungal diseases. Among the most common ones that could kill your plant include southern blight, botrytis blight, and phyllosticta leaf spot. These fungal diseases can attack your creeping Jenny when it has been weakened by overwatering, inadequate sunlight, or an overall lack of proper care.
Fungal spores thrive in wet environments, and under the right conditions they can invade the roots, stems, and leaves of your plants, causing the sensitive plant tissue to rot and die. Early signs of a fungal disease include discoloration of the leaves – your creeping Jenny might start turning brown or yellow and begin developing unusual spots on the leaves’ surface.
Southern blight disease is mainly caused by Sclerotium rolfsii, a soil-borne fungus that thrives in moist areas with warm climates. It attacks the plant’s stems, roots, and leaves, and can also cause unsightly brown or black spots on the leaves.
Another fungal disease that can kill your creeping Jenny is botrytis blight. The fungal spores that cause this disease are known as Botrytis cinerea, and they mainly attack indoor plants during the cold months. The affected tender parts of your creeping Jenny might start developing cankers or tan-colored spots, as well as unsightly mold patches.
Phyllosticta leaf spot disease is characterized by circular spots on the leaves, with reddish or brownish borders. The leaf spots in this case are caused by Phyllosticta minima, a type of fungus that is prevalent during the wet spring weather. Like the other fungal diseases, Phyllosticta also attacks the leaves and creates small blemishes or lesions that can grow into larger necrotic blotches.
Fungal diseases can be challenging to treat, especially if they have already started taking over your creeping Jenny and other plants. Although fungicides might help to slow the spread of the disease, it is often advised to discard the infected plants to stop the fungal spores from spreading throughout your garden. Never add these plants to your compost pile, and always disinfect your gardening tools!
How do you revive a creeping Jenny?
Depending on the severity of the damage, reviving your creeping Jenny may require your full attention and most loving care. Early intervention generally gives you the best advantage in saving your plant, and there are many possible solutions available to get your creeping Jenny back to its healthy state.
We have summarized below some of the general care tips that might help you revive your ailing evergreen:
- Water your creeping Jenny thoroughly and deeply, especially during the hot season. You can also add mulch to help keep the soil moist and cool.
- Make it a habit to check your plants regularly – this will help you catch potential issues earlier and take action right away.
- Protect your plants from pests by keeping them strong and healthy at all times. To this end, you can also apply a 10-10-10 fertilizer for complete nourishment.
- Apply preventative measures like discarding fungal-infected plants, disinfecting your gardening tools, and keeping the soil healthy and free from harmful pathogens.
- If your creeping Jenny is severely infested, consider using stronger pesticides that contain ingredients like bifenthrin, acephate, and carbaryl to effectively kill the pests.
- Plant your creeping Jenny near other, taller plants or a structure that provides shade, in order to protect the foliage from the intense heat of the sun.
Conclusion
If your creeping Jenny looks unhealthy or is dying, this might have to do with incorrect watering habits, sunburn, or fungal diseases. Although most of these issues can be remedied, you might find it harder to save a plant that is dying from fungal infection. Proper care and prevention are often your best weapon to avoid these problems, so make sure to care properly for your beautiful creeper!
Image: istockphoto.com / MartaJonina