Re-hydrating Parched Plants
If a plant dries out so severely that is collapses, promptly place it in a pail or sink of lukewarm water.
It may be so dry that it floats! Use a large spoon or cup to ladle water into the top of the container, and then allow the plant to soak for about 30 minutes. Remove the plant and place it on a rack (such as a dish rack) until all excess water drains away and the base of the container no longer drips. Wait until the next day to decide if any leaves need to be trimmed off. Most plants recover well from drying out for short periods of time. However, repeated trauma can cause stems and leaves to die.
This is also good procedure to try with plants that seem to stay dry even though you water them regularly. Sometimes the middle of a container dries out so much that water applied to the surface runs down the inside of the pot and out through the drainage holes before the roots have a chance to drink their fill. Re-hydration can help, but you should also make plans to repot the plant.
June 6, 2007
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