please help root rot Regal Providence

13 years ago

I just got a Regal Providence through the mail and the roots looked rotted and smelled really bad. Half of them were completely rotted but others were ok. Some when I pulled the rotted part off a smaller center would slip out. I tried to get off as much rotted parts that I could. After I let it dry a little in case I didn't get all the rotted roots(I know it was probably the worst thing I could have done right?!) I didn't know what to do though and I even looked online for a solution but none really helped. So I did the best I could do with what I thought. I planted and since it was raining I haven't watered it yet because I didn't want to cause more rot. Should I run right out and water it? I have root growth hormone should I put some of that on it? I got it yesterday.

I didn't ask this question earlier because I have been moving and lifting rocks for the last two days and my husband has had the computer monopolized for the last two days as well! Please help

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Comments (10)

chris-e
13 years ago
Here is what I would do. Get on the computer and send an e-mail to the seller. Tell him (or her) that you are unhappy with the plant he sent and why. Ask for a replacement with a plant in better condition or your money back.

chris
ctopher_mi
13 years ago
Hi,

I received a plant like that one time from a nursery in Ohio and they not-so-cheerfully replaced it and the replacement was the exact same way. First they said it must have been the heat, then that I must have watered it too much, but each time the shipment only took a day and I claimed them upon arrival... Finally they admitted that just prior to shipment they soaked them in bleach to kill "whatever". They refused to replace them again. Eventually all the roots sloughed off the crown but bits of crown did regrow some roots later and in a few years one of the plants was back to its original size. The first one never recovered.

So basically, I would find out if the shipper did something like that, see if they soaked it or sprayed it with anything just before shipping (this could be a learning experience for them). The other possibly is the box sat out in the sun or was in a hot car, or took a very long time to get to you. I wouldn't do anything drastic to it at this point. Sounds like you removed as much rot as you could, now make sure it dries out a bit between watering and hopefully you will get some new root growth.
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I think it's disingenuous to suggest that a well-made 5:1:1 mix needs constant watering. It doesn't. Even the gritty mix, that holds even less water than the 5:1:1 mix doesn't need constant watering. Do you have to water more often than more water-retentive mixes? Yes. But there is a price to be paid in the form of lost potential for the convenience of soils that hold water for extended intervals. Denise: there is a monetary consideration that clearly delineates hobby growers from professional growers. Nursery/greenhouse ops wouldn't be willing to pay employees to water twice as often as a heavier mix because they've weighed the cost of limitations due to temporary periods of excess water retention against the cost of watering more frequently, and decided it's to the advantage of their bottom line to sacrifice some lost potential to save labor $. The hobby grower is in the hobby to scratch their nurturing gene. for the most part, They actually feel good about spending more time with their plants and offering them the best care they can afford, as opposed perhaps to the cheapest soil they can find. Think of it in terms of the difference in perspectives between a puppy mill and the owner of a new puppy - two completely different worlds. So, care given by a nursery and greenhouse of will always be in consideration of the bottom line, which means following their lead will not always be in the best interest of the plant. Your care and mine are far more likely to be about providing the best care we can. Holding up the practices of a greenhouse or nursery is a little like asking us to emulate a puppy mill. I know - tugging at your heart strings. I wasn't really trying to do that - just the first good comparison that popped into my mind. Chicken farmer/ pet chicken, beef grower/ pet cow is another. If a plant is properly handled during a repotting session, it would be extremely unusual to lose a plant. Look at the two following root reductions where well over 90% of the roots were removed:Here, I have just finished pruning the top. This is after the root work was completed: Here ^^^, about 1/2 of the roots have already been removed The plant with root work complete:Note the size of the roots I removed. Many were more than 1" in diameter. In subsequent repots, I have removed all the knobby roots from the bottom of the bole. This plant was grown in the gritty mix - note the remarkably (for a maple) fibrous root system. The entire soil mass, you can see, is densely packed with the fine roots that do the lion's share of the work. After the root work: If you look, you can see the wire that shows this tree was layered above a poorly formed (but not unhealthy) root system. Where each of the 7 main roots are now, those that emanate horizontally from the trunk, I bored 7 holes into the sapwood and treated each hole individually with IBA rooting gel. I ended up with 7 perfectly spaced roots that will look great when they are later exposed on top of the soil. One more series, just to illustrate how little trees care about having half or more of their root systems removed: Again - note how healthy the roots are. ^^^ I wouldn't suggest you approach root pruning this radically, but removing 1/3 to 1/2 of a young plant's roots (younger than say 25 years) should be no problem. Plants that grow extremely fibrous roots (boxwood, azalea .....) need a slightly different approach. Keep the roots always wet while you work. First remove all problem roots (crossing, encircling, girdling, j-hooked roots - roots that grow upward, straight down, and roots that grow back toward the center of the root mass. After the problems are corrected (makes future repots much easier - the first is always the hardest) concentrate on removing the largest roots with the fewest fine roots attached. We know that root congestion negatively impacts growth, vitality (health) and yields, and those limitation become increasingly severe as root congestion increases. Pruning a bit around the edges of the root/soil mass and potting up is a half measure that ensures limitations remain until someone physically gets into the root mass and corrects the congestion and problem roots. Even planting out (in the landscape) will not eliminate the effects of congestion in the soil mass that existed at plant-out time. Al
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donrawson
13 years ago
Hmmmm...first thing I'd do is request another plant from the source which mailed it to you...because if this one is too rotten, it's not gonna make it. Next, you want to remove all dead and rotten material if you haven't done so already...rotten roots, extra roots which aren't connected to the crown, roots which are not bright white, brown roots hairs, dead leaves and petioles, etc. Use a hose sprayer and a brush to gently clean it well. Trim off any large leaves which you don't think the current root system can support, they'll just die anyways. Then I'd let it soak for a few hours in a bucket of cold water with a mild fungicide (such as Captan or Benolate), keeping it out of direct sunlight. Then I'd plant it in partial shade, or bright but indirect sunlight, and keep it well watered. I wouldn't use any fertilizer this year...it will probably just burn the roots. Don't expect it to do much for the rest of the summer...if it survives at all. And next spring the first flush of leaves will probably be small.

It's been my experience that when you leave on too many large leaves and plant it in full sun, the large leaves just wilt and die and then you have more dead and rotting foliage.

Others may have other ideas and experiences...I'd like to hear from them as well...
Gesila
12 years ago
Alycia, did your Regal Providence survive?
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
and this is why.. you order for delivery in may.. not late june.. or july.. or august ... it is much easier to deal with a delivery when it is cold out.. rather than stifling ...

the cause could be many things:

the plant was heat stressed or in drought when cut ... which might be why the tried to save it with bleach ..

wrapping lettuce ... which is just about what a hosta is.. in plastic.. and then hermetically taping them into a box is called.. an oven...

then there is the heat in the big brown or USPS trucks ... etc ..

my best advice.. STOP MAIL ORDERING FOR SUMMER ...

if you just have to buy more.. time for a road trip ... and buying potted hosta ...

i am really surprised at chris .. mail ordering in June .. when he has been living thru 100 degree days 20 miles from me.. whats that all about.. would you just die if you didnt get that one???? lol ..

divisions for this years sale should have been cut late last summer.. DO NOT BUY.. IN SUMMER.. ANYTHING THAT IS FRESH CUT.. AND MAILED.. IT WILL DIE ...

ken

ps: NO 'GOOD' NURSERY SHOULD BE WILLING TO MAIL IN JULY AND AUGUST.. if they agree to do it.. then bells and whistles should be going off in your head.. telling you they may not be on top of their game ... [and i will exclude chris from that.. because he is magical ...]

pps: in the alternative.. make an order for early fall shipment ....
Babka NorCal 9b
12 years ago
Whenever I suspect root rot (on a plant that is not thriving) I remove all the rotten bits and soak what's left for 20 min or so in a bucket with some fungicide. Then I pot it up and make sure it stays on the dry side, being moist but not soggy. You can probably save it, but in the case where it came to you that way from a seller... ask for a replacement/or refund.

Ken, I have to disagree with your no July August shipping. You are denying me instant gratification. ;-(

I live way out here on the Left Coast in an area where hostas are seldom seen. I get just about all of my hostas thru mail ordering. I usually place early orders in January and they arrive as early as those places can ship. Some come with leaves unfurled, most are just roots with little white eyes.
BUT it always happens, that people post pics from conventions, or rave about a new hosta that I hadn't heard of, in the middle of summer, and I become smitten. So I always end up getting one or two more in July or August.

They always arrive in fine shape, usually in less than 3 days usually shipped by Priority Mail.

-Babka
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
I have to disagree with your no July August shipping. You are denying me instant gratification. ;-(

==>>>> yes.. but you know what to expect..

i have seen too many posts recently.. where peeps who do NOT know better.. then complain.. when the root of the issue.. is the actual order.. rather than the supplier ...

you have problems.. you understand.. you take care of it ...

so my point.. is that you can avoid all the problems.. if you mail order plants at the right time of year ...

ken
alyciaadamo
Original Author
12 years ago
No my it did not. I tried to save it but it was a no go.

Actually Ken for where I am, ordering in June is not usually an issue and most hostas I get are usually fine. I usually get hostas from NORTHERN growers anyway I think this was just because it wasn't a "tried and true" seller. I will not bad mouth him at all and I haven't because I find no reason to. I was not impressed with this seller but it's just my opinion. We also were getting TONS of rain last spring it was not a drought. I just think it was wrapped for too long-I think I remember it not being sent priority, but then again this was a year ago. BTW I was not complaining in this original post last year just wondering if there was something I could do to save it. It's not too great of a loss, I learned something from it.
Gesila
12 years ago
Thanks Alycia, I was thinking about getting one and haven't been able to find many pictures of it. Sorry that it didn't make it.

Gesila
alyciaadamo
Original Author
12 years ago
Yeah I couldn't find too many pictures either. The one at the library isn't very good. I know Land of the Giants are selling it for $22.

this is the pic that made me want it!

Here is a link that might be useful: scroll down for pic

please help root rot Regal Providence

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please help root rot Regal Providence

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