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Temperate Fruit & Orchards => Temperate Fruit Discussion => Topic started by: AgentQ on March 04, 2017, 09:45:30 AM

Title: Pomegranate Seedlings Suddenly Wilting
Post by: AgentQ on March 04, 2017, 09:45:30 AM
Please help me dudes I'm very concerned and am unsure what to do.
I have these two month old pomegranate seedlings that have been doing pretty well up to this point. Three days ago the one pictured on the right began to shrivel up, but it appears the other two are also showing signs of wilting.

How can i save them? I sprinkle water on them daily every morning and have them under a grow light. I was told they don't really mind the temperature too much (I keep them inside my room).


(https://s17.postimg.cc/hzep0ms6j/fuggg.png) (https://postimg.cc/image/hzep0ms6j/)
Title: Re: Pomegranate Seedlings Suddenly Wilting
Post by: AgentQ on March 04, 2017, 09:51:21 PM
It's too late, they're all dead.
Just like my ambitions and future.
Title: Re: Pomegranate Seedlings Suddenly Wilting
Post by: sildanani on March 05, 2017, 12:19:25 AM
Aww man. Lack of humidity? Too close to the light? Could be a lot of factors. Seeds would take a long time too grow a fruiting plant. I've got a pomegranate seedling that I started 5 years ago that hasn't flowered yet. (Possibly from a lack of chill hours.) :P Maybe you could grow them from cuttings. They are pretty easy to find on eBay or maybe even a forum member. You can get fruits in less than 1/2 the time it'd take growing from seeds! If mine doesn't fruit soon, I just might invest in some cuttings.
Title: Re: Pomegranate Seedlings Suddenly Wilting
Post by: coyote on March 05, 2017, 09:36:46 AM
Hard to tell, but if you were truly just sprinkling water on them they could have suffered from lack of water. Most potted plants do well with a thorough soaking and then a period of no watering to let the soil dry out before starting the cycle over again. This allows all of the soil to get moisture and not just the top of the pot.  Hope this helps and don't give up...even experienced growers kill a few plants now and then when trying to grow something new.
Title: Re: Pomegranate Seedlings Suddenly Wilting
Post by: AgentQ on March 05, 2017, 03:53:41 PM
What is the best method for "deep watering" plants like these? I was afraid of destroying the small root system.

Also what would you guys recommend reading to increase my overall plant knowledge?
Title: Re: Pomegranate Seedlings Suddenly Wilting
Post by: fyliu on March 06, 2017, 12:15:43 AM
Do you have a CRFG chapter nearby or some other fruit growing group? It'd be easier to talk to several people to learn what they do and incorporate some of that into your own practices.

With small pots like that you could use a stick or toothpick to pick at the soil to see if it's moist inside. Also poke the soil when you water and make sure the water soaks into the middle of the soil.
Title: Re: Pomegranate Seedlings Suddenly Wilting
Post by: fyliu on March 08, 2017, 10:34:32 AM
I just lost a rooted pomegranate to wilting. The bark is loose and puffy. Maybe it rotted from below. I'll have to examine it later.
Title: Re: Pomegranate Seedlings Suddenly Wilting
Post by: sildanani on March 08, 2017, 02:46:24 PM
I just lost a rooted pomegranate to wilting. The bark is loose and puffy. Maybe it rotted from below. I'll have to examine it later.
What medium did you use to root it?
I have issues rooting woody cuttings. Maybe because the cuttings aren't sterile? I once tries rooting red mombin cuttings, but they failed. I only really have issues with propagation from
cuttings!  I know I don't water them too much. Maybe too much humidity causes rot? Sometimes tiny insects seem to invade the soil, I don't know what they do to cause rooting failure, but its frustrating. Maybe I shouldn't use rooting powder, and instead use rooting gel? Ugh..
Title: Re: Pomegranate Seedlings Suddenly Wilting
Post by: fyliu on March 08, 2017, 03:18:55 PM
The cutting was already rooted since early last year. I buried the rooted 10 varieties in the ground late last year and this 1 died. The soil is sandy and loose but moist.

I heard too much rooting powder can be bad. Best to tap the stick to shake off excess powder. Liquid and gels are supposed to be better than powder. I didn't use anything last year but this year I got liquid hormone and is using it on everything. There's a recommended dosage though and dipping for too long or too high concentration can cause failures.
Title: Re: Pomegranate Seedlings Suddenly Wilting
Post by: BajaJohn on March 09, 2017, 12:57:59 PM
What is the best method for "deep watering" plants like these? I was afraid of destroying the small root system.
I've just lost my fourth seedling sown in a pot so sympathise. I have one left that I put directly in the ground.
Looks like you are using peat pots which dry out very quickly. A heated room is probably low humidity too. Maybe create a mini-greenhouse by putting a clear plastic bag over them next time.
Title: Re: Pomegranate Seedlings Suddenly Wilting
Post by: Citradia on March 16, 2017, 09:05:00 PM
I've lost citrus seedlings to sand knats before. Potted indoor plants are more susceptible to their knot larvae which eat the roots if soil moisture conditions aren't right. If you see knats flying around your pots especially when you water them, you got sand knats eating your roots. Also, spider mites are bad inside a house due to low humidity high temps, and the fact that you don't have high winds and natural rainfall knocking the mites off the plants. Ive had better luck growing seedlings outside when not freezing, in a semi shaded area to prevent the full sun from drying them out too much.
Title: Re: Pomegranate Seedlings Suddenly Wilting
Post by: Jct on March 17, 2017, 10:15:55 AM
It sounds like your seedlings are suffering from damping off. From the U of Minnesota Ag Extension office: http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/diseases/damping-off/ (http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/diseases/damping-off/)

Quote
A wide variety of vegetables and flowers can be affected by damping off. Young leaves, roots and stems of newly emerged seedlings are highly susceptible to infection. Under proper environmental conditions, damping off pathogens can cause root rot or crown rot in mature plants.

The fungi, Rhizoctonia spp. and Fusarium spp., along with the water mold Pythium spp. are the most common pathogens responsible for damping off.

The article goes on to state that the fungi can be transmitted via wind, fungus gnats, etc. Proper sterilization of tools, pots, and not reusing soil potting media helps prevent transmission. This site also has some good tips to prevent damping:
https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/plant-disease/damping-off/ (https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/plant-disease/damping-off/)

Best of luck.