Newb grower with newb growing issues

NoneotherthanJ

New Member
Hello to all. I am a new grower with minimal knowledge. I am looking to the members of this site for help in my learning experience. I have read many of the posts related to my current problems, and ahve yet to come up with a solid answer. Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

So, my problem is this...I have a few plants that are about 4 weeks old. They were all growing pretty strong (except for one that I call the "runt"). I grow outdoors. The other night it started raining BUCKETS! The leaves started sagging because of all the excess rain on the leaves. I brought them inside and put them into a controlled (makeshift) growing environment for them to dry off. My red heat lamp was on them at a safe distance (I didnt feel any heat on the back of my hand when I put my hand over the tops), but the room was pretty hot itself. Had a fan on them and ventilated the room from time to time over the next few hrs. The next day, I put the plants back outside and checked them a few hrs. later. The tops of all of my plats are curling under on the sides and slightly on the tips (more on the sides though). The rest of the leaves are fine and the plants are standing tall and strong. I have read all sorts of possiblities from overheating, overwatering (mayeb all the rain water that they got at that time), and Nitro burn. I have also read about nute burn. I am simply using miracle gro and it has worked just fine. If I could get some solid answers that would be great. I know that it could be any of those things, so I am working on getting some pics. The curl isnt TOO bad yet, and it is only on the tops, but it still bothers me to look at. Also, I hope someone can tell me w/out sarcasim that they will be ok, and what I may be able to do to make that happen.
 

dannyboy602

Well-Known Member
U went to extraordinary lengths for no real reason. U could have just let them be. No damage done. They will be fine.
 

NoneotherthanJ

New Member
Just checked them a minute ago and the soil is still oversaturated. The leaf tops are still curled (it is still raining, but I put them under protection this time). The temps outside are still low (about 75 dgrs) and the sky is still cloudy. I imagine the soil will need to dry out for things to improve. Should I attempt to transplant them into fresh dry soil or will this cause more shock than they are already dealing with? The weather report for the next 3 days remains cloudy with thunderstorms. The rest of the fan leaves are still flat and look good, but it looks like the stems are shrinking at the bottom and working upwards. Have proper holes for drainage, but with the rain and excess moisture, even under protection from direct rain, I naturally want to do something to dry the soil out. Will my tops uncurl and straighten out when the weather improves?
 

1itsme

Well-Known Member
well, it's hard to see exactly what's going on without photos. that said, one of the issues with mg and other time release ferts is that if they get over watered, they release too much fert. if the leaf curling is from too much n (looks like claws), the plants should be very dark green as well. if it's from too much water (either way it's prob too much water), the leaves will sag and look limp. either way if you think the soil is too saturated, it probably is. one thing i do to help my plants drain sometimes (like right after re-pot, or if i think somethings wrong with the roots) is to prop my containers up at a 45 degree angle for 20 min or so. it really helps the extra water get out fast. also if your expecting more rain than you think they need, you might consider putting some plastic over the pots so the water runs off. it doesn't matter if the leaves get too wet you can just give them a shake to get the excess off after the rain passes. hth
 

MYOB

Well-Known Member
Plants will do this when they are watered. It is not a problem and is just the plant using its natural mechanisms to account for the excess water supply.

Dont try to "protect" your outdoor plant. I can guarantee it can handle itself and you are probably doing more harm than good.

A plant cant really be overwatered if the soil/pot have good drainage. It also will use water at different rates depending on the conditions.

So droopy leaves are perfectly natural and fine after a good watering. Dont try to dry the plant. Just give her good sun, good soil, good drainage and she will handle the rest/
 

1itsme

Well-Known Member
they actually look ok. i think the pots are a little on the big side so they prob stay a little too wet if they get really soaked.
 
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