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Joker Flash


Registered: 04/11/13
Posts: 334
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Tomatoes Wilted!
#19240088 - 12/07/13 09:44 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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My tomatoes have been wilted for about a week underneath my hps light that's running at 360W. I thought it was just because of the high heat in the morning(85-91f), then cold temperatures at night (68-70f), but then I saw bumps forming this morning A google search told me these were root nodes forming because of either high humidity, over watering, or a disease. I've been watering several times a day until a small amount of water drains out, because the high temperatures dry out the soil quickly. In retrospect it could only be the top layer drying. About an inch deep is dry, but the rest could be wet, I've never checked So I don't think this is a case of anything more than over watering, but if it is the beginning of a disease I would like to catch it early in case I can save the plants, or to keep it from spreading to my other plants.

Please tell me what you think it is.
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D.M.T
Shroomery Contaminant



Registered: 10/31/09
Posts: 10,991
Loc: In your brain
Last seen: 4 years, 1 month
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I was thinking over-watering before I even clicked the thread. Always has been the case when I've wilted tomatoes.
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koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,672
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Re: Tomatoes Wilted! [Re: D.M.T]
#19240204 - 12/07/13 10:19 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Over-watering seems likely. Especially in combination with the intense heat given off by that hps.
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Joker Flash


Registered: 04/11/13
Posts: 334
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Re: Tomatoes Wilted! [Re: D.M.T]
#19240480 - 12/07/13 11:38 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Alright thanks guys! That's what I thought too but I just wanted to make sure. Better safe than sorry
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bootster

Registered: 02/22/11
Posts: 1,531
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You have to let oxygen get to the root system and then water. If you are watering too much, you are literally drowning the plant. What they said.
I bought a 380W LED full spectrum that has three fans in the top of the unit that draw the heat away from the foliage. It's still mighty powerful if you are raising seeds with it.
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Joker Flash


Registered: 04/11/13
Posts: 334
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Re: Tomatoes Wilted! [Re: bootster]
#19257278 - 12/10/13 07:40 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Yeah I've dropped watering down to once every morning, and they've improved marginally. I only had one larger pot but the one that was repotted was super rootbound and has since perked up a ton. I wanted to repot them all friday but we had a snowstorm so that didn't happen Now I'm just waiting for the soil I bought to thaw before I repot the rest! Thanks guys
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koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,672
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Quote:
Joker Flash said: Yeah I've dropped watering down to once every morning, and they've improved marginally.
Don't water at all for a day...it's generally much easier for plants to recover from being a bit too dry than from being too wet. Let the surface of the soil dry out; there'll be enough moisture down there still. I really think you're overwatering.
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Joker Flash


Registered: 04/11/13
Posts: 334
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Re: Tomatoes Wilted! [Re: koraks]
#19263057 - 12/11/13 09:51 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Whenever we repotted today six hours after watering the soil was bone dry all the way through. I think it's way too hot in the closet. We've stopped watering except for once every morning lightly, and hopefully the extra root room will help them perk up. Does the soil for tomatoes need to be bone dry for a day at a time? I'm probably just a heavy waterer, because I started with kratom but I don't think this is the issue. I'll stop watering lightly once a day and move to a heavier watering every couple of days. I also moved the light up about a foot.
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bootster

Registered: 02/22/11
Posts: 1,531
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I've been growing outside in a garden for 30 some years and I water once every two weeks but I time it for 7 min per plant. When you start out you have to water every other day to make the roots go straight down in search of moisture until you get the roots trained to be deep and then you don't have top water as much.
The worst thing that you can do is water lightly every day and they will spread out with a shallow root system and that's the last thing you want.
Water like you are drowning them and do it on a one (hot periods) or two (cool to med temps) week period and the plant will be protected.
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koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,672
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Occasional heavy watering is better than daily light watering; otherwise the root system will be shallow and lazy and your plants dry out much easier when they're not being spoiled as they are used to 
Too much heat is obviously not conducive, but it's hard to judge without actually knowing the situation; temperatures throughout the day, airflow, relative humidity, etc. Since it's an indoor setup, it's likely that the RH is very very low as well, which is hard on most (outdoor) plants.
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invitro


Registered: 05/03/13
Posts: 2,529
Last seen: 1 month, 20 days
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Re: Tomatoes Wilted! [Re: koraks]
#19309119 - 12/21/13 07:03 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I cleared about 1500 square feet of ground for tomatoes this year. I start in pots then transferring to soil once they get up to size. One thing I've learned is that if a plant gets stunted when young (severe wilting) it is difficult if not impossible to bring it back to full health. It will grow but will always be a marginal producer no matter how much tlc it gets. It's better to start over, so I try to have lots of plants waiting in the wings in case one gets stunted during transplant somehow.
My advice, if your plant doesn't come back super healthy and vigorous very quickly, forget about it.
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Joker Flash


Registered: 04/11/13
Posts: 334
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Re: Tomatoes Wilted! [Re: invitro]
#19309261 - 12/21/13 07:44 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I just switched rooms for them last night! Temperatures are much better, now at a consistent 75-80f. They're already perking up alot, and starting to grow again. I would throw them out but I just got into gardening and they're my first tomatoes so I couldn't bring myself to do it but thank you for giving me a raincheck.
I also started some Berkerly Tie Dyes today so those should be my first completely healthy tomatoes. You should post a picture of your garden once it's in full swing I'd love to see it
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