My floppy conifer

[Showerroomlove]

I planted a Picea pungens 'Koster' in a fairly shaded spot in my garden about 18 months ago. I knew it liked sun but I thought it was to develop the best colour.

It is still growing but the leader started flopping over last year so I’ve put in a stake to hold it upright. I thought it was maybe a lack of water/food so I’ve been providing that (and it has put out 2 inches of new growth this year) but the main stem doesn’t want to strengthen and hold the plant.

Is there anything else I can do other than move it to a full sun position and hope that’s the problem?

Are you sure you haven't got Picea pungens 'Koster' pendula, which is a weeping variety, and will be on the droopy side?

Well, I know I bought something that had a label saying it was Picea pungens 'Koster', and it appeared to be growing strongly upwards but I suppose there’s an outside possibility that it is a Pendula. However, I have a much taller Picea Omorika Pendula and which has a very firm leader so quite different to the floppy Koster.