wilting plants

by Barbara
(Madras Oregon)

Cannot get my starter coneflowers to stop wilting and dying out. Just got 3" plants and the leaves seem to wilt and sag. Won't start on their own. Any suggestions? May be too wet?


Doug says that this is common when you overwater your plants indeed. Too much water with seedlings of this plant will rot out the roots and then you wind up with wilting plants no matter how much you water. Most folks see "wilting" and assume not enough water - so adding extra water simply makes the situation worse.

Only water when the soil is "just dry" to the touch.

They may or may not recover but hold back on the water and keep them in the shade until that soil starts to dry down.

Then see how they're doing - move forward from there to transplanting into the garden.