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Enumclaw, Wa

I have leaves wilting on about 20% of my plants. All were watered the same, transplanted at the same time etc. Anything I can do to salvage them. The ground temp was about 103 degrees F on one plant (the 1502 Wallace of course). The four main plants were planted closest to a ditch where the water is available. Ground was not soakesd or anything. Possibly transplant shock; but why only some plants. Advice appreciated.

5/29/2007 12:33:17 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Ok we need a little more information. How long ago were they tranplanted? Were the little buggers Hardened Off before being placed outside? 103° seems kind of hot for a soil temperature how are you measuring this. Do these plants remain wilted when it gets cooler? I can tell you for sure they need a good soaking after transplant. Plus a little shade protection for a few days after will really help.

5/29/2007 1:19:31 PM

President - GPC

Yup,
Shade them, I cover mine with bath towels around a tomatoe wire or such structure....and mist the plant and towels to that will lower the temps and add a micro-climate to help cool until they can get established. Ground temps of 103 would wilt many a plant. SOme plants can be more resistant to heat, but at 103 I bet they will all wilt. You will be amazed at how they come back once shaded and misted.

5/29/2007 1:45:43 PM

Enumclaw, Wa

WIZ AND SHANNON MORE INFO:

THEY WERE PLACED IN CLOCHES ON THE 23RD. GERMINATED ON THE 4TH THEY HAD BEEN IN 2 GALLON POTS AND WERE FAIRLY ESTABLISHED WITH SEVERAL (6)HOURS A DAY OF OUTSIDE EXPOSURE AND ABOUT 8-10 HOURS A DAY UNDER LIGHTS. FLAPS OPEN ON THE END FOR COOLING. AFTER MOISTING THE LEAVES THEY APPEARED TO BOUNCE BACK IN THE EVENING WITH COOLER TEMPERATURES. LAST NIGHT/THIS MORNING IT LOOKED LIKE MORE WILT. IT CAN BE FAIRLY HUMID DURING THE DAY INSIDE THE CLOCHES. i USED ABOUT 4 CUBIC FEET PER PLANT OF MIRACLE GROW ORGANIC SOIL TO LESSEN ANY TRANSITION TO THE GROUND SOIL. PH WAS ABOUT 7 TO 7.5.

5/29/2007 6:12:01 PM

19 days in the pots may be the answer here,,,I assume the roots were getting pretty "tight" even in the 2 gallon pots,,when this happens they may take a few days to really straighten out again and get going.
Keep the air circulation high in the cloches and if the nights are warm, above 50F, remove them completly. Keep the soil moist but not wet at the root zone and when you water keep enlarging that area. Every other day is plenty for drenching,you want those roots to expand seeking water,,mist often if possible when they wilt...

5/29/2007 7:32:34 PM

President - GPC

Dan has said it all, I try to stress mine out a bit at first to get those roots seeking water. Its hard at times to do so cuz we have to go to work too. Keep them misted, they are hardy plants, I will shade mine back and forth until they handle the intense rays of sunshine without wilting......Good Luck keep us informed......
Grow'em BIG

5/30/2007 8:42:06 AM

Enumclaw, Wa

Thanks to all for the advice. Time will tell. I did a pretty good soil drench last night and left the cloche ends open for ventilation. Soil temp is more in the 85-90 range Ph is closer to 7. Nasty wilt only remains on one plant, 2 at 50% and one a little less. I did have wilting on a few more. Some of my practice germination plants have been in pots for over a month. Outdoors all day now. They are pretty root bound but thriving. Will use those for the neighborhood competition. Give 2 or 3 plants to about 4 or 5 people. They are all as identical as you can get. I will let air , water and light do its thing on my good plants for a couple of days and see where I'm at. Catching up is tough but it is still early. Thanks again Wiz, Shannon and Unkadan. I'm learning. The enviromental variables are endless. We even had a cople of freezes in the past week. New record date for late freezes.

5/30/2007 11:59:50 AM

President - GPC

We too have had real bad weather, last night many got 4" of hail wiping out stuff, some areas with golf ball size. Last night temps outside my patch dipped to 39, strange weather year, we will all hang in there and grow em BIG. Good Luck to you.

5/30/2007 12:55:30 PM

Cornell, Wi

If the ground temp is 103, what is the outside temp 125?

6/2/2007 9:58:56 AM