[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Dick Gross]

Michael, worry the plastic pots from the ground, ease each rootball from its 
container and drop it right back in the same hole. Irrigate around the 
perimeter only enough to seal it. Don't irrigate again until the root ball 
is only slightly damp- -then soak well.

You didn't plant the pots?  Well, that's okay because I was only kidding, 
sort of.  I often transplant potted plants in their original container 
settling in the soil around them when certain they are in at the right 
depth. When you can slip the container from the ground without disturbing 
the backfill--minutes, hours or a day or two later, do so. Pop the plant 
from its container and back into the perfect hole and irrigate again to bond 
the two surfaces.

If you are giving each plant 8 gallons of water in one shot every 8 days, it 
could be too much if drainage is marginal. One gallon for each plant every 
day could be just right but that is only an uneducated guess without knowing 
anything about the soil texture and drainage characteristics.

If the plants were healthy through the winter and began excessive leaf drop 
recently with the onset of hot weather, wouldn't one make a connection. If 
all these 4 plants show a similar decline, I would suspect irrigation 
practices are responsible. If any of the four subject to the same culture 
are healthy, the sick ones were likely mishandled when transplanted or are 
not getting the same amount of water. If water is excessive, the soggy soil 
will drive air from the root zone, feeder roots rot and leaf death is sudden 
in my experience. But, temporary lack of moisture causes wilt that, if not 
beyond the point of no return, will recover quickly and completely when 
water is restored.

This seat of the pants analysis may not be right on the mark but might give 
you the tools to interpret the symptoms and offer up a correction.

Regards,

Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer
U of A Maricopa County Cooperative Extension



--- Original Message ----- 
From: <EKIMECAP at cox.net>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2006 8:39 PM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


> Michael
> 85042
> EKIMECAP at COX.NET
>
> 1. I have 4 Ruellia Katie in the bush bed between sidewalk and house. 
> They are in western exposure.  They are in ground since 11/05.  They went 
> in as 5 gallon plants. They receive 8 gallons of water every 8 days. 
> Without warning, whole clumps of leaves weither and die.  When I cut off 
> the stem in question,examination shows to visable fungus or insect 
> infestation. They have not ben fertilized  since then went in ground in 
> 11/05. Any thoughts?
>
> 2. I have Ruellia Brittoniana with western exposure.  They went in ground 
> 11/05.  The Western Gardening book predicts BLUE flowers.  Mine give PINK 
> flowers. Any suggestions?
>
> Thank you very much.
>
>
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