Newsgroups: alt.drugs From: wmoreno@ringer.cs.utsa.edu (William Moreno) Subject: Re: Strange Plant Death Message-ID: <1993May3.190756.1181@ringer.cs.utsa.edu> Date: Mon, 3 May 1993 19:07:56 GMT In article v129qpm9@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Joseph M Kusumoto) writes: > >Here is the set and setting: > >I have an eight inch plant that was growing like a weed until a few days ago. >It was started in regular soil from my yard in a two-cup tupperware bowl and >the entire thing was transplanted a week ago into an 8in potter filled with >potting soil mixed with perlite. I am using a 150 watt grow bulb about two feet >from the top of the plant on an 18 hour cycle. It is in a ventilated, 72 degree >room and is watered daily. Also, when I made the transplant, I sprinkled some >scotts herb and flower fertilizer (18-11-12) around on top of the soil. > >Question: Why is it dying?? Any help would be appreciated. It appears to have >about 2 days left. > > There are a few things that may be wrong: 1) If the leaves are turning brown or wilting you may be over fertilizing it. Solution: Flush the soil of the fertilizer salts with clean water. 2) You may be over watering. The plant's roots need oxygen. Solution: Don't water as often. It's O.K. for the soil to dry out a little, just don't let it get to dry. 3) It may not be dying. It may be in shock from the transplanting. Solution: None that I know. All you can do is wait. 4) The change in the light spectum from natural sun to artifical light can damage a plant (not getting the spectrum it needs or the spectrum it is used to). Solution: Get a different light, or put it back outside. 5) The soil may have a nutrient difficiency other than what is in the fertilizer you are using. (You will have to describe what the plant looks like for a diagnosis.) 6) If the light is on 18 hrs, you want to use a vegetive fertilizer instead of a flower ferilizer. Or, turn down the light cycle to 12/12 (light/dark) to force flowering (if this is what you want). I do not think this would kill it, but I could be wrong. I hope this helps. Will M. wmoreno@ringer.cs.utsa.edu Disclaimer: blah blah blah yak yak yak.... ========================================================================= | 'Tis an ill wind | He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of | | that blows no minds. | the pain of being a man. | | --Syadasti | --Dr. Johnson | =========================================================================