Plant Problem Diagnosis Key / Growing conditions
Growing conditions
Drought stress (underwatering)
Roots cannot supply water as fast as leaves lose it. Plants wilt, then scorch at the edges if it repeats.
Signs
- Wilting with dry media; the pot is light.
- Recovery soon after watering.
- Crisp brown edges and dropped lower leaves after repeated drying.
What favors it
Hot, windy weather, small or root-bound containers, sandy soil, and shallow watering.
Prevention
- Water deeply and less often so roots grow down.
- Mulch to hold soil moisture.
- Pot up root-bound plants; use larger containers in summer.
Often confused with
DiseaseRoot rot (Pythium and Phytophthora)
DiseaseFusarium wilt
Growing conditionsHeat and light stress
NutrientPotassium deficiency
Sources
- Watering the vegetable gardenUniversity of Minnesota Extension
- Drought StressMontana State University Extension
- Drought and Excessive Heat StressUniversity of Maryland Extension
Treatment by crop
Cultural, biological and chemical options in the order to use them, and notes written for each crop.
Identification is free. Treatment is on the Home and Pro plans.
Questions in the key that lead here
- Look the plant over, leaf undersides included. Are insects, mites, slugs, eggs, webbing or droppings on it?
No, only damage or discoloration - Where is the problem?
The whole plant or whole stems - How is the soil or media?
Dry, or the pot is light
Not a match? Start the key or describe what you see.
More from university Extension: search Extension pages on drought stress, or find a plant diagnostic lab through your state's Extension.
Other growing conditions
- Blossom drop
- Blossom-end rot
- Cold and frost injury
- Construction and root damage
- Edema (oedema)
- Fruit cracking
- Girdling roots and a buried root flare
- Heat and light stress
- Herbicide injury
- Leaf scorch and drought stress
- Light bleaching
- Mower, trimmer and animal injury
- Normal fall needle drop
- Not enough light (stretching)
- Overwatering (low root oxygen)
- Road salt injury
- Southwest injury (winter sunscald and frost cracks)
- Sunscald
- Transplant shock
- Winter burn of evergreens