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I think I messed up again.

The more I think about it I wonder if the spray bottle is a bad idea. I feel like maybe I am just wetting the top layer of soil and its not getting down to the roots really. Does that make sense? Maybe I should just meter out water and pour in on so it will soak down. Do you think maybe a espresso cup amount of water would be to much in one shot?

Think about it from the logical perspective...

Roots are a hydraulic pump that push water up to the leaves.  The stem is the pipeline allowing that water to push from roots to leaves. 

The leaves are porous and they "sweat" water.  Just like the human skin, if a leaf does not get enough water, it will wrinkle and sag.

If not enough water is pumped up the "pipeline" (the stem) to the leaves, they will perspire more water than they receive, and the result is droop.


"Not enough water" is most commonly caused by two things in my experience:

A) The "pipeline" between roots and leaves is interrupted .... by rot typically, but know that broken/damaged roots are another possibility, which affect the supply water to the pipeline.

B) There is not enough water around the roots for the roots for them to adeuately supply the leaves (soil is too dry)

If it is (A), literally, almost anything you do is delaying the inevitable.

If it is (B), you have a couple of options....

1) Add water, obviously.
2) Put the plant back in a humid container, which will increase the moisture around the leaves, reducing moisture loss through/around them.

I dunno....

Thanks, Jason. I understand what you are saying. I think I am making myself nuts with this. I think I hit the target you had described in one of my early topics about keeping the soil light but moist and about 1/3 to half the weight of a fully watered pot. The leaves appear to be recovering again now that I gave them some more water. I cuttings are a bit higher then the containters now and I don't want damage the tops them trying to cover them over. If they are not improving anymore tomorrow I will figure out a way to cover them.

Hi 71GTO,
I use similar containers as you to put rooted cuttings in.
I repotted 3 today into larger containers, I had no problems.
The plastic can be carefullu cut or just torn down along one side.
I gently got the plant(s) out with some little root distubance as possible, and repotted. they have shown not signs of stress from the operation, no wilting of leaves or anything. they look the same as they did before being repotted, only now in larger container.

Grant
z6b

Just misting the leaves with a sprayer every few hours should do about the same job as a container.

As of last night and this morning they are almost back to normal. I did mist/spritz them twice last night. Thanks everyone for the help. I am greatful. I will keep an eye on them and post back if anything changes.

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