Wilting Dhatura

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

This Dhatura plant and another, both in 14 inch pots are OK in the morning and start wilting by mid day.
Obviously the roots are not able to supply enough water.
Is it the ageing process?
Or the Plant has become root bound?
One has been shifted to a bigger pot.
What is your opinion?
Morning



11 AM

[Farhan Ahmed]

I have observed many plants to behave like that in scorching sun to save the water loss from evaporation through leaves. Its a defense mechanism they have against water loss. In the evening when temperatures get better they are back to normal. Its an amazing strategy to suck the water in the stem/roots to avoid loss.

If water supply/moistness of the soil is ensured they do better.

Said that it does put lot of stress on the said plants. They are fighting rather than growing almost the entire day due to heat.

Aim is to provide enough moisture. Solution what i did was water twice daily ( as i have sandy soil and water disappears within minutes), improve soil condition so that it retains more water or reduce the sun exposure. Most plants are not meant for our climate.

I must mention that on many occasion i was unsuccessful because i could not maintain the bare minimum moisture levels.
Now some would say that you can keep the soil moist by watering frequently which is not the case, even after these defenses the rate of evaporation due intense sun is so fast that plant can not match the intake from roots and would suffer. Drought tolerant plants are the ones better suited in our climate due better defense mechanisms

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

The younger plants are not affected.

[Farhan Ahmed]

They have lesser leaves from where the evaporation can take place........lesser water requirements as well.....

[Farhan Ahmed]

Its a delicate balance.....the leaves/plants in such state with no water in the leaves can sustain not for long.....if the intense sun continue for longer duration leaves/plant withers. Smaller plants also have lesser place to store water......root system is capable of supporting smaller stem/few leaves.......

[UMARKHANMARDAN]

what i think Datura do not like root disturbance.some of my plants in pots are doing the same thing.but the plants in open ground are doing very well.i have shifted some plants to larger pots & the same is happening.i will plant all daturas in open ground next year Inshallah.

[Farhan Ahmed]

It is an accepted fact that open ground can hold/retain more moisture than pots......

Following are the extracts from ehow

"Temperature

In extremely sunny or high temperatures, the leaves of the squash plant will droop or wilt as a reaction to the extreme heat. This is a defense mechanism of the plant, to conserve moisture and energy to best protect itself. In areas that routinely receive excessive amounts of sun, consider using a shade cover for your squash plants in the hottest times of the day."

the link

http://www.ehow.com/info_8444268_do-squ ... p-sun.html

[UMARKHANMARDAN]

Yes Farhan u re right.but i think we alsp water pots more frequently as every gardener knows it.i think its the roots disturbance.one thing more too much water also root the datura,s roots.

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

The younger plants are not affected.

It is drizling since morning and even the younger one in pot is wilting.



The one in the ground is showing first bloom, enjoying good health.

[UMARKHANMARDAN]

Fantastic! mine will be in flower in a week.please brig sb send me some seeds of this yellow double.what i have seen Dhatura enjoys open ground.i will plant all in ground next year.i think it will do better if directly sown in its final rows.all my datura in pots finished.which are in ground are very healthy.