HELP!!!!!

[monty python]

I'm growing 2 plants both several months old. A few days ago I put both plants in the bathtub and ran water from the faucet through the pots (for about a minute or so), letting them drain completely. I then returned the plants to my growing area. I do this every few months - never had a problem. I thought it helps prevent any toxic buildup in the soil from fertilizer.


One plant is fine. The other is completely wilted - it looks almost dead. What is wrong? What can I do?

[marimbas]

maybe the roots got rotten.. or maybe an infestation.... or maybe lack of light, i am not sure... if youve done this before and never had a problem its weird... are both plants in the same pot?

[monty python]

No they are in seperate pots. There is plenty of light. I have noticed some gnats around the plants.

[monty python]

The plant is gone.

RIP

[marimbas]

i had the something similar, once the plant was dead, i ripped it of the soil, and it had no roots!! and inside the main steam at the very bottom, i discoverd a some very small maggots, inside the plant, check out that.. because if both plants are in the same soil, you might have an infestation

[monty python]

The plant has plenty of roots.

Perform Autopsy.

[marimbas]

maybe the ph got to high, or it was over waterd, are the roots fine, or look like rotten?

[bruiser]

maggots in the bottom stem? man that's gross,you must be using some kind of manure for compost? how could anyone get maggots from normal peat moss,tell me more about this dude it sounds really interesting,when you had the maggot thing happen what was your medium for growing....

[marimbas]

I bought some soil, in a garden store, it looked perfectly but it was not. Thats the reson you got to buy the soil in sterilized bags, from a good brand, and in a good store, now im using a soil "happy flower" brand, sold in home depot.
when i got the maggots, i just fert the plant, and water it, the incects came in the soil...

but now i know that if you get an infestation, you got to act very quick... buy liquid and powder poison for insects, the liquid you put it in a plate under the pot, so the soil can absorb it, and the powder over the soil... using together, to kill em fast, and make your plant live...

[monty python]

I just examined the pot of the dead plant. I have moisture measuring meter and checked the soil at the bottom of the pot. It pegs the meter (wet) meaning I probably overwatered the plant.

I have attached a pic of the soil. Do the roots look rotten?

[marimbas]

i think it looks over warted, the roots were too much,for the size of the pot, i think they coudnt get any oxigen... =...( so bad man!! so sorry for your lost!

[monty python]

I still have one plant left in the same size pot. Should I transplant it to bigger pot? Is the pot too small? It's a 2 gallon pot.

[marimbas]

what do you mean in the same pot? the same pot that the other one died?? or in a pot of the same size? if its in the pot that the other one died, just chop of the dead one and leave it...
if its in another pot its too late to transplant i think, you might hurt the roots, and that would be not good at all... Just be carefull with the water. Dont use too much in it

[monty python]

It's in a different pot. I was thinking to transplant it to a bigger pot. I just checked the moisture of the soil. and it's in the middle (OK) of the meter. I think I'll leave it (in the same pot) and just take it easier on the watering.

Thanks for the advice.

[marimbas]

the best is to have them in bigger than 3 gallon pots, 5 is the best, thats for your next planting, for now its ok where it is you cant do anything about it any more, but good luck with your other daughter!

[cronicsmoke831]

DAM MAN THAT SUCKS. IM NEW AT GROWING I USED REAGULAR DIRT 4 MINE TO IS THAT BAD

[marimbas]

yes its bad, because you cant be sure, if i has insects in it, you dont know the PH, you dont know the dreinage level... thats why if you want to be sure that your plants will have no problems with the soil, you got to buy sterilized soil, (special for pots) you can get it in any gardening store, or home depot or anywhere... even in a super market