Question

solanum   Hi Will
my plant has a problem

Ii's fruits wilt and drop as you see

the leaves become folded ,wilted and yellow

I put it in my windowsill

I water it when the soil feels dry at the top

should I water it more often?

or what is the problem?

please help


thank you

Answer
Hi Saleh,

There are several possible causes of the wilting. The first is that it is moving into its winter rest period when it requires cool temperatures (50-60 degrees F.) and soil that is allowed to dry out deeper into the pot.

The second possibility is that you are not watering frequently enough. If this is the case, then the leaves should perk up shortly after watering. If they don't perk up when the soil is moist, then you have the opposite problem. If the soil is not allowed to dry out sufficiently, the roots deep in the pot begin to rot and die. That limits the plant's ability to absorb available moisture and causes the leaves to wilt.

I see from the photo that you have your Jerusalem Cherry in a pot that is too large for the plant. Over-potting means the excess soil retains moisture for too long and causes root rot, especially if you don't allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry before watering.

You may want to gently lift the plant out of its pot and inspect the roots, which should be firm and spread evenly around and through the rootball. If the root system looks weak, limited or soft, then root rot is the problem. In that case, remove excess soil around the outside and top and put the smaller rootball into a smaller pot.

Finally, be sure that your plant is in a sunny window when indoors. Outdoors it should be in light shade.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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