Light green and wilted plant. Only one of 8 suffering.

[wreckitry]

I have 8 plants that are being grown outdoors in 5 gallon buckets with Ocean Forrest soil and only one looks unhealthy, stunted and wilting. Ant idea what could be causing this?

 

[dankstranger]

That plant's getting its roots cooked man. I've seen this exact thing before.

Look at it - it's the only one in that dark orange bucket while the others are in white. Dark plastic in the sun gets hot as hell, especially sitting on that black plant caddy right next to your greenhouse. Hot roots will make a plant droop and go pale even when it's got plenty of water.

If it was a feeding or pH problem you'd see it on more than one plant since they're all in the same soil.

Go out there midday and touch each bucket. Bet you that orange one is way hotter than the white ones. If the bucket feels heavy but the plant still droops, that's stressed roots not thirst.

Take a sniff at the drain holes too. If it smells funky or you see brown mushy stuff that's the start of root rot.

Easy fixes:
- Wrap that bucket in something white or reflective, or just stick it inside a bigger white pot
- Get it off that black caddy, put it on some bricks so air can flow under it
- Make sure you got good drainage holes on the sides and bottom
- Water in the mornings only when it's gonna be hot

Give it a few days to perk up then maybe hit it with some light nitrogen since Ocean Forest can run out of steam after a while.

If it doesn't bounce back in a week pop the root ball out and check it. Should be tan or white, if it's brown and slimy you gotta repot with fresh soil and trim the dead roots.

I bet it's just the hot bucket though. Seen it a million times.

 

[carlosescobar]

That plant's getting its roots cooked man. I've seen this exact thing before.

Look at it - it's the only one in that dark orange bucket while the others are in white. Dark plastic in the sun gets hot as hell, especially sitting on that black plant caddy right next to your greenhouse. Hot roots will make a plant droop and go pale even when it's got plenty of water.

If it was a feeding or pH problem you'd see it on more than one plant since they're all in the same soil.

Go out there midday and touch each bucket. Bet you that orange one is way hotter than the white ones. If the bucket feels heavy but the plant still droops, that's stressed roots not thirst.

Take a sniff at the drain holes too. If it smells funky or you see brown mushy stuff that's the start of root rot.

Easy fixes:
- Wrap that bucket in something white or reflective, or just stick it inside a bigger white pot
- Get it off that black caddy, put it on some bricks so air can flow under it
- Make sure you got good drainage holes on the sides and bottom
- Water in the mornings only when it's gonna be hot

Give it a few days to perk up then maybe hit it with some light nitrogen since Ocean Forest can run out of steam after a while.

If it doesn't bounce back in a week pop the root ball out and check it. Should be tan or white, if it's brown and slimy you gotta repot with fresh soil and trim the dead roots.

I bet it's just the hot bucket though. Seen it a million times.

good call, mine was looking a bit sad so i checked and it was pretty hot, i thought with it being a basket it wouldnt suffer, but it might be worse

 

[Galgrows]

5gal bucket not near big enough for a photo outdoors like someone else said the roots are suffering. I also grow in plastic containers but use 15gal with many drain holes drilled and they sit on the ground. It's a real struggle keeping them happy during heat waves but it can be done.