Achillea issue

Wildlifelover

Morning,

Last week l bought 3 Achillea desert eve and one of them has started to wilt whilst the other two are doing absolutely fine. They are all in the same bed so receive the exact same conditions. 

The flower stems are still upright but all the basal leaves are completely wilted. 

I had thought it may have be the hot sun they receive but it hasn’t picked up by the morning. Could it just a case of bit more water but then I don’t want to overdo the moisture as I believe Achillea like it quite dry (have I possibly over watered also?)

Should I just give it time, careful watering or possibly ask for a refund?

Thanks. 

Posy

Try a good soaking during the evening. If it doesn't look OK by morning it's not the watering. I'd give it some water now, though, to get it through the day.

Dovefromabove

I’d feel the soil down at root level well below the gravel … if it’s dry I’d water but otherwise I’d leave it alone for a bit. 

It’s probably a bit of transplant shock … although the other plants are ok there are often small differences in the sites or in the plants themselves that we’re not aware of … transplanting a plant that’s in flower is always likely to stress it a bit. 

I wouldn’t be overly concerned from what I can see in your photograph. 😊 

Wildlifelover

Ok, thanks. I’ll give it a bit of water now then and in the evening and see how it looks in the morning.

If it’s not the watering, should I ask for a refund?

Wildlifelover

Thanks @Dovefromabove, the soil does feel a little dry but I have given them a bit of water every other day since I bought them (not too much). 

I did wonder if I had damaged the roots too much when I teased them out after getting it out of the pot?

Fingers crossed it will pick up in a few days then. 

Posy

They actually do like quite a bit of water and will droop in dry conditions.

Wildlifelover

Ah, ok - I thought they liked it well drained! The soil is quite gritty so it is well drained which is why I bought them. 

I’ll see how it goes with the watering this evening and if it hasn’t picked up by the morning, it may just be a bit of shock as @d@Dovefromabove suggests. 

Busy-Lizzie

It's usually better to give a plant a good soak when planting, then leave it a few days. Little and often usually moistens the top but doesn't get down to the bottom of the roots.

Dovefromabove

Ah … ‘a bit of water’ … that’s probably it …. a good penetrating soak is what almost every recently planted plant needs, right down to the roots. 

If I’m planting at this time of year I make the hole and then fill it with water and let it drain away before planting … then I plant and water again. That makes sure there’s good damp soil for the roots to settle in to. 

‘A little water’ probably doesn’t soak right down to where the roots should be  … so the plant roots stay up near the surface and are then vulnerable to the heat of the sun in this sort of warm spell. 

Even plants that can tolerate dry conditions when established, need plenty of water to start with. 

😊 

Wildlifelover

I did give them a good watering when planted but as it’s been so hot and dry, and the soil drains well, I’ve been watering little and often. 

I’m always wary about over watering so I’m never sure how much and when!

GardenerSuze

@Wildlifelover Anything that you have to plant in such dry conditions will benefit from being plunged in a bucket of water to cover the compost. When the air bubbles have gone[can be ten mins to half an hour] water the actual hole and plant. No need to water the surface. This will encourage the roots downwards.