We’ve all done it at least once. We get excited over the nursery sales and spring blooms all around us and rush to the nursery to get all the plants our hearts desire for our yards. We go with the best of intentions and bring home our glorious haul. Life happens, and sometimes we end up forgetting to get them in the ground or properly cared for. How do we decide if a plant has bit the dust, or it has a chance of a resurrection?
How do we know if a plant is dead?
Plants can be tricky. Unlike humans they don’t have vital signs such as a heartbeat or other tell-tale signs of life. It’s time to put on your detective hat and look for the clues. The easiest way to check if a plant is toast if by checking the stems. The stems should have a green cast on the inside and be firm and pliable. Losing its leaves or having brown leaves isn’t a sure sign of death. If the stem feels brittle or mushy the next step is to check the roots. Brittle and mushy stems and roots equals a dead plant. If the roots are pliable and firm, you’re ok.
What if only the roots are alive?
Plants can regrow from healthy roots. If the stems are dead, you can cut them back a bit at a time until you find part of a living stem. Once you find a living stem leave it alone. if you don’t find a living stem just leave 2 inches of the stem intact above the soil. Your plant now needs some nursing, so move it to somewhere where it will receive half or the sun that it normally requires and adjust your watering. You should only water when it’s dry to the touch. New stems should sprout within a month or two, and if they don’t – check for dead roots.
What if the stems are ok?
If the stems are alright, but some parts are dead you’ll want to remove as much of the dead stems as you can. Reduce the sunlight to half it’s normal amount and don’t allow the soil to dry out completely. You should see new stems or leaves within 3-4 weeks, and you can start to cut away parts that aren’t producing. If you don’t see any growth after this time, check the stems and prune away the dead stems.
When to know when to quit
Sometimes, despite our best efforts, a plant just is too damaged and all the nursing back to health in the world won’t save it. Do you really want to make the effort to save it? Is it worth your time to watch a plant look sad for weeks, months or more? If you spent a lot of money on it, or it has sentimental value, you may say yes, but if this plant is reasonably priced and replaceable it makes more sense to start over. The choice is ultimately yours to make.
Planting and gardening have their highs and lows and we are happy to take that ride with you. Please stop on by the nursery with any questions or concerns you might have. We are happy to help.
