droppy leaves - overwatering / oxygen deficiency?

ihavefeet · #1 10-25-2007, 06:03 PM

my plant's leaves have been rather droopy lately...i've been told this is from overwatering? Am I correct in thinking that overwatering an lack of oxygen to the roots are the same problem?

If I just let the soil dry out, will they perk up? I'm also wondering if I could try airating the soil by poking holes into it with a pencil or some such thing.

Garden Knowm · #2 10-25-2007, 06:42 PM

Mr. FEET..

how often are you watering?

I would transplant to a 80% soil - 20% perlite mixture.. at least 3 gallon containers...
You should be watering thoroughly, no more than every 3-10days.

Just letting the soil dry out does not always work...

cheers

ihavefeet · #3 10-25-2007, 06:50 PM

I've been watering 1/2 - 1 L every 3 days or so.

I guess it's probably the soil mix not draining well enough? I will transplant tomorrow and mix in some perlite. thanks for the advice

ihavefeet · #4 10-25-2007, 06:51 PM

the strange thing is as the soil gets drier each day, they seem to be drooping MORE, not less.

jackinthebox · #5 10-25-2007, 07:05 PM

hahah well droopyness can also be caused from dehydration, maybe they need water? I mean how longs it been since you watered?

A little thing I like to do is, everytime you water, shake up the container the water is in, this will give the water alot more oxygen, and the plants really like this.

If it gets worse, then chances are it needs water, but deffently transplant into a better soil, with more perlite, and a bigger pot.

ihavefeet · #6 10-25-2007, 07:07 PM

deffinitely don't need water. soil is very damp. i think it is a drainage issue. it feels rather compact at the bottom holes in the pot.

ihavefeet · #7 10-25-2007, 07:12 PM

for now I airated the soil by poking as many holes as I could, without breaking roots. hopefully that will work for the moment.

I will transplant tomorrow, or the day after at the latest.

I'm reluctant to go to a bigger pot just yet. I know I will have to do that eventually, but it means rearranging my whole setup to accomodate the space needed by the bigger pots. I want to wait until my other plants need transplanting too. (they are still wee seedlings.) I know there is still lots of space for root growth in this pot - any reason it would be bad to just transplant the rootball back into the same pot, with a better soil mix?

Chosen · #8 10-25-2007, 07:23 PM

I have never had a problem with watering as I have been using the weight of the plant to decide if it needs water. I would water throughly with a little run off at the bottom to ensure the whole thing is wet. Grab the pot with both hands and lift it up a few times and get a feel for the weight. Now check it again in 2 days you will soon enough figure out the weights.

If you are not watering throughly with a little run off, odds are good you are leaving dry areas in the soil which can damage your roots.