Giant hyssop: Diseases and Remedies (2-minute Read)

NOTE: The terms Giant hyssop and Agastache rupestris are identical in this text; in reality, Agastache rupestris is Giant hyssop’s biological word.

It is difficult to say “ah-Gah-stuh-kee”, but it is well-loved for its ability to lure pollinators. The anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), Licorice mint (Agastache rupestris), and hummingbird mint are plants with more familiar names.

The name “agastache” is derived from the Greek and means a large ear of grain, referring to the abundant flower spikes. Agastache can be found in a wide range of vivid colors, from light pink to deep purple, blue, red, orange, and white.

It can be dried and used to make a delicious herbal tea.

Why does my Agastache rupestris roots have rot?

Root rot on your Giant hyssop (Agastache rupestris) can be fatal if not treated with care. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you follow our guide to keep your plant alive if the symptoms occur: Root soft and blackened.
Giant

Why does my Giant hyssop have gray mold spots?

Gray mold spots are a specific fungus that regularly harms flowers and spreads swiftly. If you notice any brown (or gray) spots, this fungus is probably to cause. You risk your plant dying if you ignore these warning indications.

Our Solution

The answer is obvious once you recognize the cause of the problem. Most frequently, it results from the Agastache rupestris being overwatered. We strongly advise you to remove the damaged plant parts, cut off the diseased roots and leaves, and then repot your plant in a new container with sterile potting soil.

Why does my Giant hyssop have leaf spots?

Leaf We provide you with all the information you need to identify and save your plants if they display signs like leaves that suddenly change color or wilt/droop. This sort of sickness is one of the most aggravating for Giant hyssop owners.

Why are my Giant hyssop leaves turning yellow?

In the world of horticulture, yellowing leaves are undoubtedly the most common problem. The two main causes of this problem are overwatering and a lack of nutrition.

Reduce your watering frequency when you fear your plants are being overwatered, and follow these steps to determine whether they may be lacking in nutrients:

Here are some signs of yellowing caused by the many deficiencies on the Agastache rupestris in question:

  • The first symptom of a magnesium deficiency is yellow patches between leaf veins on elder leaves. The leaf’s core turns yellow while the veins stay green. The edges of the leaf yellow last.
  • Iron deficiency also shows as yellowing between leaf veins, but it hits young leaves on plant tops and branch tips first.
  • Sulfur shortage first affects the youngest leaves, turning them entirely yellow.
  • Leaf edges turning bright yellow but inside leaf remaining green are signs of potassium insufficiency. The symptoms first appear on older leaves, and the leaf edges quickly become dark.
  • Nitrogen deficiency shows up as a general yellowing. Older, inner leaves turn yellow first. As it progresses, yellowing moves outward, eventually reaching young leaves, too.

Our Solution

According to the symptoms mentioned above, you just have to act accordingly. You can reduce your watering frequency, or fix a deficiency in Potassium, or Nitrogen, for that, you just have to buy a special soil for your deficiency, a consultant in a gardening store will know perfectly well how to inform you.

Is my Giant hyssop sunburned?

It is simple to determine whether your Giant hyssop (your Agastache rupestris) has sunburn. Your plant will change color in this instance, beginning to turn yellow or white, much like it does on us.

Sunburned

The leaves of your Giant hyssop can also change color in case it gets too much water or not enough light, as we saw above.

To find out if the yellow leaves have been sunburned, look at the part of the bottom that is tinted closer to the base. The yellow leaf is probably burnt and not something else if this portion stays greener.

Why are my Giant hyssop leaves turning brown?

Most of the time, leaves of a Giant hyssop that turn brown is a sign that your plant has been sunburned, it has probably been exposed to too much direct sunlight. Don’t panic, your plant probably won’t die from this, but its growth will take a hit.

Should I leave my Agastache rupestris in direct sunlight?

No! Don’t leave your Agastache rupestris (or Giant hyssop) in the sun if it displays the symptoms mentioned above; that’s why it’s in such a bad situation.

Our Solution

As stated in the paragraph above, the cure is straightforward: simply position your plant’s Giant hyssop so that it is out of direct sunlight. With proper watering and this method, your plant should quickly come back to life.

Why are my Agastache rupestris leaves drooping or wilting ?

In most cases, this happens when your Agastache rupestris lacks water. This is especially the case for large plants, naturally they need more water than others.

Drooping

You may quickly determine if your Agastache rupestris plant needs water by under-weighing its pot; if it seems light, the soil and roots are probably fairly dry and require water.

Our Solution

In order to ensure that the roots of your plant receive the water’s benefits, you must first moisten the soil in the container if it is absolutely dry. One common error is to immediately drown the Giant hyssop after a dry period in the belief that it requires a lot of water.

This is true, but the easiest way to end it is to give too much water at once. Instead, you should water the soil properly, returning to a peaceful watering rhythm.

Caring Tips for Agastache rupestris

Water Occasionally

Your plant needs water to survive, but it’s crucial to balance the amount and timing of watering. As we previously mentioned, overwatering could be catastrophic for your Agastache rupestris.

The best way to know if your plant needs water or not is to touch the soil, if you feel it is still wet, it is probably a good idea to wait a few more days.

Always keep temperatures stable

It is also a good idea to keep your Agastache rupestris at a stable temperature (especially if it is kept indoors!). At GreenShack, we generally recommend staying in the 65 and 85 degrees F range. Of course, do not place your Agastache rupestris near a source of hot (or cold) air such as A/C units, radiators or the like.

Keep your Giant hyssop Dust-Free

This one is about houseplants. Your indoor plants’ leaves get dusty just like your furniture does. The problem is that this might prevent photosynthesis from beginning, which would result in the plants gradually losing their color.

This would also make the pests happy, a real descent into hell for your Giant hyssop.

To remove the dust from the leaves of your plant, take a microfiber cloth and gently rub the leaves. You can wet the cloth to make it easier to remove the dust, but never use corrosive products (such as rubbing alcohol!)

Keep drainage in mind

If you have a tendency to overwater, you need to keep an eye on your drainage, we advise you to opt for a pot with drainage holes if it is not already the case and a saucer.

You can add volcanic rocks (or any other pebbles with holes) to the bottom of your pot in the interim if your pots don’t already have holes in them. This will help to form a channel so that the water doesn’t pool there for too long (preventing the rot of the roots!).