Container "Purple Ballerina" Datura is wilting and yellowing
Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2015 11:54 am
Hey everyone, first post here.
I have a small, young "Purple Ballerina" Datura plant growing in a pot. I've only been caring for it for a few months (first got it as a tiny sapling). It's planted in Miracle Grow Moisture Control soil. When first planting it, I initially fertilized it with a small amount of blood meal and a few fish pellets, and about a month later, gave it one watering with Miracle Grow plant food, and a month later, another Miracle Grow dose. In between those I've watering regularly, either waiting until the top few millimeters of the soil is dry, or slightly more often that that. We've had unexpected sun and/or rain here in Michigan so it's had more or less regular moisture, but not perfect. It's been outside in partial sun.
Right now the plant looks very unhealthy. It's been growing new branches, leaves, and flowers and has tripled in size. However, the leaves have yellow patches, and the plant seems to wilt terribly during the day even when the soil is completely moist (in other words, the soil is not drying out yet the plant seem dehydrated). Nowadays it seems wilted all the time.
The problem seems to have gotten worse since I repotted it into a bigger container. It does have a single drain hole, but the soil doesn't seem to dry out as well. Maybe this is a problem as well?
One other treatment I gave it was a "1 part 3% hydrogen peroxide to 5 parts water" treatment after it got a minor infestation of fungus gnats from a neighboring plant, about 3 weeks ago. Could this have damaged the plant?
I have attached two pictures of the plant.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I have a small, young "Purple Ballerina" Datura plant growing in a pot. I've only been caring for it for a few months (first got it as a tiny sapling). It's planted in Miracle Grow Moisture Control soil. When first planting it, I initially fertilized it with a small amount of blood meal and a few fish pellets, and about a month later, gave it one watering with Miracle Grow plant food, and a month later, another Miracle Grow dose. In between those I've watering regularly, either waiting until the top few millimeters of the soil is dry, or slightly more often that that. We've had unexpected sun and/or rain here in Michigan so it's had more or less regular moisture, but not perfect. It's been outside in partial sun.
Right now the plant looks very unhealthy. It's been growing new branches, leaves, and flowers and has tripled in size. However, the leaves have yellow patches, and the plant seems to wilt terribly during the day even when the soil is completely moist (in other words, the soil is not drying out yet the plant seem dehydrated). Nowadays it seems wilted all the time.
The problem seems to have gotten worse since I repotted it into a bigger container. It does have a single drain hole, but the soil doesn't seem to dry out as well. Maybe this is a problem as well?
One other treatment I gave it was a "1 part 3% hydrogen peroxide to 5 parts water" treatment after it got a minor infestation of fungus gnats from a neighboring plant, about 3 weeks ago. Could this have damaged the plant?
I have attached two pictures of the plant.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
