Wilting Variegated

I'm not sure what kind this is, but I got a cutting from a friend, put it in a pot and it took it's regular time and then perked right up. I was so excited. Then one day it started to wilt and the stem feels a bit soft (it was very strong when I put it in the soil).

I thought maybe it was getting too much water, so I prepared a new pot with fresh soil and carefully dug out the cutting. I brushed off the old soil to reveal a very healthy amount of roots coming from the bottom.

I am confused. Anyway, I have not watered it very much thinking it needed to dry out, but it's not doing much. Still wilted.

Any advice?

Jorge

I've also noticed some rollypollies (pillbugs) in the pot. I know they can be damaging. Are they the culprit?

jorge

I'm having trouble (or I should say *had*....it's a goner) with a variegated brug, too, jorge....I think mine was too wet, as we had a lot of rain for an extended period of time a while back.

Even after placing it in full sun after acclimating it, it didn't seem to dry out much, so I think it was a root problem, although I hadn't checked the roots, as mine was a recently rooted cutting, too, and I was afraid to uproot it.

I'm thinking these variegates are very particular about watering when they're young....but I could be wrong.
I was also thinking that perhaps the location I'd placed it in was too hot....or maybe it was a combination of my 2 mistakes!

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful!

Gee, I am not sure. Sorry Nan that you lost yours. New cuttings I have found can be tricky. I water only when dry but then I do really wet the soil thru.

Jorge, I do not know what damage those bugs do. I know fungus gnats can eat the roots and then the plant wilts, but I do not know about your bugs.

Maybe Nan is right and it is too hot. Is it in total shade? I would put it in shade till it gets stronger. If your roots are white and healthy looking, maybe your root system is just not big enough to support the canopy yet.

If you think it is not due to rot, I would take a clear plastic bag, pour water in it and shake it out so just little drops on sides. Then put your pot in it, close securely and place in shade, no sun. Or if you have a seedling table with lights, you can place under there. That is what I do. The mini greenhouse may help keep the foliage hydrated enough while the roots catch up .

I took this picture just now to show you what I do. I keep it closed until I see new leaves. I can squeeze the stem thru the plastic bag to make sure the stem is firm.

If worse comes to worse, I cut it off again and start over. Stick it in water for a day to rehydrate well, then put in fast draining soil and a small cup. I then make my mini GH for it again.

Good luck. Let us know how you do. I hope you get it going well again.

I looked up the pill bugs and I do not think they would kill your plant.


http://www.pestcontrolcanada.com/INSECTS/pill_bugs_sow_bugs_centipedes.htm

Kell, I looked up that link and it said pill bugs eat both dead and live plant material.

Dead. Gone. Trash. Rotting under the soil level.

Man, this is the second time with a variegated brug.

I'm going to throw away the soil just in case there's a problem there. I sure hope it's not a disease.

Thanks for advice.

jorge

I saw that Karrie but it didn't seem like they would eat enough to kill a plant. They prefer dead stuff it seemed. I could be wrong but I read 3 articles on them and that was the gist I took from them.

Oh Jorge, too bad. I hate it when one dies.

jorge, You are right to toss the soil.

Any soil or water that had rotting plants in it , contains the bacteria that rotted them in the first place.

We all win some and lose some.

Chin up !

Is soil like that worth composting so should I just get rid of it?

Chin is up. Just put a rooted cutting of a yellow in the ground today. And niticed buds on another cutting (It made a "y" at about 6 inches tall). OOPS.

jorge

Well I've been biting my tongue. Although it's a shame you've been hit like that, it's a good thing you discovered what the real problem was and absolutely, get rid of all soil in that container and sterilize the container. The neighbor across the street asked me last year about impatiens. She had no problem at her previous house but the 2 years she had been there, the impatiens would just wilt and melt away although she said she hadn't done anything different. When asked, I found out the soil was proably years old and told her I'd dump it, clean it out and refill. Her impatiens are huge hedge in that big thing this year.

Otherwise, I have 3 types of variegated brugs in ground and in a container and they've never wilted. In fact, it seems they're some of the hardiest I have.

Good luck in your rejuventation...
blaine

I think we are finding out that our soil is poor. I threw away the container too.