Liquid Goldfish Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 I'm supposed to be looking after my sister's outdoor potted flowers and plants whilst she's away for a couple of weeks. She just asked me to water them if tey were dry. I know nothing about plants, BTW I went to check them yesterday evening which is four days after she left. That seemed about right to me, but sadly most of them had wilted over even though almost all the flowers still looked OK. I gave them lots of water and will do so again tonight. But am I too late once they've wilted? Is there anythign esle I can do? Would really appreciate some advice from people who know about these things. My sister is scary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Concrete Jungle Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 I did a similar thing with my dads plants while he was in Italy. To bring them back (sort of) I gave them a thorough watering twice a day and some miracle grow. Some of the shriveled up plants started to look better after two days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jane58 Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 I'm supposed to be looking after my sister's outdoor potted flowers and plants whilst she's away for a couple of weeks. She just asked me to water them if tey were dry. I know nothing about plants, BTW I went to check them yesterday evening which is four days after she left. That seemed about right to me, but sadly most of them had wilted over even though almost all the flowers still looked OK. I gave them lots of water and will do so again tonight. But am I too late once they've wilted? Is there anythign esle I can do? Would really appreciate some advice from people who know about these things. My sister is scary. Be careful not to get water on their leaves if the plants are in the sun. Plants are best watered in the late evening. If you properly soak them, you should only need to water every 2 to 3 days unless they are in very little pots. My son once forgot to water mine when I was away and I returned to find them half dead. However most recovered after a good soaking. Good luck with the watering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liquid Goldfish Posted June 24, 2010 Author Share Posted June 24, 2010 I did a similar thing with my dads plants while he was in Italy. To bring them back (sort of) I gave them a thorough watering twice a day and some miracle grow. Some of the shriveled up plants started to look better after two days. Did they straighten up at all? The stems are really sagging over, almost flat some of them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffneck Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 i heard the weather has been hot in the uk get those potplants in the shade and give them plenty of water , you dont want wilted plants in the hot sun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Skinty Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Did they straighten up at all? The stems are really sagging over, almost flat some of them Plants can really wilt without watering but can recover after a while given a good regular soaking. I once forgot to water my parents small tree in a large pot once when they went on holiday and the whole thing went brown. But new buds later emerged and it was a mixture of fresh green growth and dried brown dead stuff. Four days shouldn't kill the plants. It's just that potted plants need more regular watering than plants in the ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liquid Goldfish Posted June 24, 2010 Author Share Posted June 24, 2010 i heard the weather has been hot in the uk get those potplants in the shade and give them plenty of water , you dont want wilted plants in the hot sun how long in the shade, several days maybe? don't they need direct sunlight to grow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 You need to water them in the late evening as the current heat will just such the moisture out of them - last night was very humid in my part of the world. You have to give them a really good soaking - the green lawn and flower brigade around me, hard work but pretty, are soaking their gardens and flowers with sprinklers from about 8 in the evening for an hour or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Noodle Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 I'm supposed to be looking after my sister's outdoor potted flowers and plants whilst she's away for a couple of weeks. She just asked me to water them if tey were dry. I know nothing about plants, BTW I went to check them yesterday evening which is four days after she left. That seemed about right to me, but sadly most of them had wilted over even though almost all the flowers still looked OK. I gave them lots of water and will do so again tonight. But am I too late once they've wilted? Is there anythign esle I can do? Would really appreciate some advice from people who know about these things. My sister is scary. Fear not. It takes time for them to recover, possibly many weeks. Probably not dead . . . yet. Try a little BabyBio (emphasis on little), in with the water next time. Read the label. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffneck Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 how long in the shade, several days maybe? don't they need direct sunlight to grow? they won't be trying to grow as such rather just trying to replenish cells with water Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liquid Goldfish Posted June 24, 2010 Author Share Posted June 24, 2010 Thanks for all the advice. Feeling less worried now. I watered them yesterday evening and luckily that seems to have been the best time. I'll do that every evening now for the next few days and I'm going to move them against the north facing wall to give some shade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lagarde's Drift Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Buy your sister a goat and keep it in the garden. When she gets back, the potted plants will be the least of your worries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Noodle Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 You'll be surprised how resiliant most plants are. I've seen plants that looked like they were completely dead spring back to life after a good watering. The reason plants wilt when they haven't been watered enough is that non-woody plants keep themselves upright due to water pressure in the stems. As long as the leaves are still green then they should be ok. This Carry On! style innuendo thing works well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Noodle Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 That wasn't meant to be innuendo! That was supposed to be a post about botany. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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