Troubleshooting
Curly-Wurly Rush problems — and how to fix them
Curly-Wurly Rush (Juncus decipiens 'Curly-wurly') is generally low-drama, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Brown and dying spiral stems
The most common problem, caused by letting the soil or water reservoir dry out even briefly; restore constant moisture and cut back all browned stems to the base to encourage fresh growth.
Loss of spiral form (stems growing straight)
Occurs when plants are kept in too much shade, over-fertilised with nitrogen, or when the variety is reverting; remove straight stems promptly as they tend to be more vigorous and will outcompete the curly ones.
Prevent curly-wurly rush problems before they start
Most curly-wurly rush issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Curly-Wurly Rush problems — FAQ
Why is my curly-wurly rush brown and dying spiral stems?
The most common problem, caused by letting the soil or water reservoir dry out even briefly; restore constant moisture and cut back all browned stems to the base to encourage fresh growth.
Why is my curly-wurly rush loss of spiral form (stems growing straight)?
Occurs when plants are kept in too much shade, over-fertilised with nitrogen, or when the variety is reverting; remove straight stems promptly as they tend to be more vigorous and will outcompete the curly ones.