I dropped a nice big portodora (in its container) into the ground 3 days ago.......but his leaves are wilted like crazy now! We have had some nice rain storms the last few days and he was dropped in his pot.......I didn't think he would be stressed? He receives only 4 hours of morning sun.....is that to much?
TIA
portodora wilting
No, it's not too much sun...I have mine if full Florida sun.....Look under the leaves and make sure there are no aphids or spider mites that have come along with the new location....they can drain a plants energy rather quickly......
Assuming the rains came and went, without the roots standing in stagnant water, it most likely is just going through a bit of shock. Once the roots get established a bit, it will be able to take soggy or normal conditions. If all leaves die back, don't despair, usually it will get established underground, and reappear with new leaves above ground shortly there after. If any of the leaves fall over and dry out or rot, remove them to not allow disease to go down inside of the stem. A light brew of hormone water can sometimes get the new roots to start shooting out. (Unless it's currently too soggy, then water with a little peroxide and water)
I didn't think it would go threw transplant shock - It had been sitting under an open air shade screened canopy at the local nursery for weeks.....so I new it was acclimated to the heat
and I dropped it into the ground in its pot......so I didn't disturb the roots at all. I am thinking that it was to close to the brick on the front of the house - would radiant heat make those leaves wilt like that?
Being in it's pot in the ground and all that rain........I would wager it's been way too wet.
Well this is a hard question to answer and I can give you a few things to look for.
Portodoras like filtered light but can take a large amount of full sun if not allowed to completely dry out.
If it was grown in a shaded spot then moved to full sun the leaves would not be prepared for the new change much like moving a indoor plant outside. Plants adapt to each situation much like us getting sunburned if not use to full sun.
Setting in water can cause rot which will cause the leaves to droop or change to a lighter color or browning. Fertilizer can add to this effect causing your plant to sit in a mixture of high acid water will burn the roots then rot will set in afterwards.
Another reason is what is full sun? In KY full sun would probably be about like filtered shade in Florida. I can put my plant right out in the open with no worries but closer to the equator you could get leaf burn due to the intense sun rays.
These are the most common reason for the burning on most plants that can usually take full sun.
What I would consider the best clump I have ever seen growing in a open spot between many trees.
thanks Brian! I have moved the plant to the back bed, where there is only dappled sunlight - other elephant ears in that bed are thriving
Hopefully he perks up
well, thankfully after moving the plant to the back of the house.....most of the leaves have perked and are standing upright again. It really must not have been ready for the direct sun that it had been receiving