Look for
Look forWilting plant leaves, sagging stems, and aborting flowers and fruits. Dry soil, especially where new plants have not had a chance to put down deep roots. Dry compost in pots and hanging baskets, and pots blowing over.
Plants affected
- All plants are affected.
About Wilting through lack of water
- Plants have a vascular system which enables water and nutrients to be taken from the environment through a complex root system.
- The continual flow of water and nutrients ensures that the vascular system remains firm, and that the plant continues to grow in a healthy way.
- Lack of water results in a loss of firmness which causes the symptoms of wilting.
- Plants respond to lack of water by closing down areas of the vascular system, which consequently results in leaf, flower and fruit loss.
- Plants can usually recover from short periods of lack of water, but sustained periods of drought often result in death.
Treatment
Chemical
Products containing the following chemical ingredients are all effective on Wilting through lack of water
- There is no chemical control available for this problem.
Note: It is important to read manufacturer’s instructions for use and the associated safety data information before applying chemical treatments.
Organic
- Water wilted plants as soon as possible.
- Plunge pots with very wilted plants into a bucket of water for an hour or so.
- After plunging or watering, place pots with wilted plants in the shade to recover, and consider moving them to a shady spot permanently.
- Move wilted plants out of windy spots, and avoid putting them back in the same place.
- If the problem is affecting plants in the greenhouse, after watering them, damp down the floor with a hose or watering can.
Prevention
- Regularly monitor plants for wilting symptoms.
- Design a watering schedule for plants based on their individual needs. As a general guide, pots need watering once a day, hanging baskets twice a day, new plants in the border need careful monitoring in their first year and will probably need watering two or three times a week. Established border plants will have deeper roots and will benefit most from one long drink each week rather than a daily dose.
- For potted and hanging basket plants, water-retaining gel granules can be used in the compost.
- The base of the pot or basket can also be lined with a plastic bag to help retain water. If lining a pot, make a few small holes in the bag with a kitchen fork so the compost does not get waterlogged.
- Avoid planting delicate plants in locations of intense sunlight, or strong winds.
- During summer use shading to protect greenhouse crops.
- Incorporating mulch and organic material into the soil improves its water retention.
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