More and more people are growing their own strawberries as a hobby or as ornamentals or for production in their home gardens. Few things are as frustrating as eagerly anticipating years of bountiful strawberry harvests and then watching the plants go from apparently healthy to wilted. Wilting strawberry plants can make even the most stolid gardener attempt to forcibly remove his own follicles in a fit of perplexity. This post is a review of what causes strawberries to wilt.
Sometimes wilting strawberries can be salvaged if the underlying cause is discovered and remedied. Oftentimes, however, once the wilt sets in, there is little that can be done if it is caused by a pathogen.
For the sake of accuracy, it is good to distinguish between non-infectious wilting and blight. Both look similar and can be easily confused, but they are actually different. Blights can lead to wilting strawberry plants, but wilting is a symptom only. Wilting is evidence of a problem, not necessarily a disease (blight).[feast_advanced_jump_to]
As an avid gardener, I was thrilled when I first planted strawberries in my garden. I eagerly anticipated the sweet, juicy berries that would soon be mine. However, my excitement turned to dismay when many of the transplants started wilting shortly after planting. Through trial and error over the years, I’ve learned why this occurs and how to prevent it. If your strawberry transplants are drooping, don’t lose hope! With proper care, they can recover and thrive.
Why Strawberry Transplants Wilt After Planting
There are three main causes of wilting in newly transplanted strawberry plants:
Transplant Shock
This is the most common reason Digging up, moving, and replanting a plant damages its roots and interrupts its ability to take up water and nutrients This “transplant shock” shows up as wilting within the first week after relocating the plant.
Overwatering
While counterintuitive too much water can also cause temporary wilting. Saturated soil prevents proper oxygen flow to the roots. Without oxygen the roots can’t absorb water efficiently, leading to wilting.
Temperature Extremes
Hot or cold weather, especially right after transplanting, stresses plants and causes wilting. Strawberries prefer daytime temperatures of 70-80°F.
Preventing Wilting in Transplanted Strawberries
While some wilting is probably unavoidable you can minimize it
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Transplant in spring or fall when temperatures are moderate. Avoid summer.
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Water thoroughly before and after transplanting.
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Keep soil moist but not soggy. Allow it to dry slightly between waterings.
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Handle roots gently to limit damage. Avoid leaving them exposed to air.
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Provide temporary shade to reduce heat stress. Filtered light is ideal.
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Use willow water or Epsom salts to encourage root regrowth.
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Wait 2-3 weeks before fertilizing. Fertilizer can damage stressed plants.
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Check soil drainage before planting. Strawberries need well-draining soil.
What To Do If Strawberry Transplants Start Wilting
Don’t panic if your transplants start drooping or sinking after planting. They can rebound with prompt care:
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Check soil moisture and water if needed. Let soil dry between waterings.
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Move plants to shade if wilting on a hot, sunny day.
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Mist leaves to increase humidity around plants.
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Apply willow water or Epsom salts to boost recovery.
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Remove dead or damaged leaves but leave some healthy foliage.
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Hold off fertilizing for 2-3 weeks until plants improve.
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Watch for pests like mites that attack stressed plants.
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Be patient! Transplant shock can take many weeks to resolve.
When To Worry About Wilting Transplants
Mild, short-term wilting is expected, but contact an expert if:
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Wilting lasts over 2-3 weeks with no improvement.
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Leaves are excessively yellowing, browning or dropping.
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Growth seems stunted or plant decline continues.
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Wilting spreads to other transplants.
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No new leaves emerge after a period of time.
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Signs of pests or diseases appear.
Additional Tips for Healthy Strawberry Transplants
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Select young, vigorous nursery plants and avoid old or diseased ones.
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Transplant in morning or evening when temperatures are coolest.
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Use willow water for a week after transplanting to stimulate root growth.
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Provide shade cloth if weather is extremely hot or cold.
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Shelter plants from wind, which can worsen wilting.
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Loosen soil in planting holes and water holes before transplanting.
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Continue monitoring soil moisture levels. Strawberries are prone to overwatering.
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Fertilize lightly with organic phosphorus fertilizer once transplant recovers.
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Remove flowers the first year so plants direct energy to roots and growth.
With proper transplant methods and aftercare, your strawberries will establish successfully and reward you with bountiful harvests in the years to come. A little wilting at first is normal, but arm yourself with knowledge so you can get those plants back to thriving.
Low temperatures cause strawberries to wilt…
Cold temperatures prevent the free flow of water through a strawberry plants vascular system. As with drought above, this results in insufficient water passage through the plant, the loss of turgidity, and the loss of rigidity. The plants will droop when the weather gets too cold to maintain proper cellular function. Fortunately, strawberry plants recognize this temperature shift and will go dormant instead of dying as most annual plants will. Then, when temperatures rise again toward the end of winter, the plant wakes again and sends forth new foliage that functions appropriately at the cellular level.
Strawberries wilt when in high-salinity environments…
Turgor pressure is the result of osmotic forces. Water will move across a semi-permeable membrane to the area of highest solute concentration. If the salinity of the surrounding environment is higher than that within the cell, the same osmotic draw that normally pulls water into the cell to maintain turgidity will work in reverse. As water is drawn from the cells and into the environment of higher solute concentration outside the cell, it will wilt.
Relocate A Strawberry Plant – Garden Quickie Episode 72
FAQ
How to revive wilted strawberry plants?
To revive wilted strawberry plants, start by thoroughly watering them, especially if the soil is dry. Ensure the soil is well-draining and not waterlogged. If the wilting is due to heat, move the plants to a cooler, shaded location and consider removing any dead or severely damaged leaves.
How long does transplant shock last in strawberries?
Typically, strawberry needs two to four weeks to recover from transplanting. During this time, ensure optimal conditions — appropriate watering, full sunlight, and fertile, well-draining soil.
How long will plants wilt after transplant?
The duration of transplant shock varies depending on the plant type, its overall health, and how well it adapts to the new conditions. In most cases, the shock is temporary, and with proper plant care, plants usually recover within a few weeks.
Why does my strawberry plant wilt?
Here’s what I found. Strawberry plants get wilting leaves from improper watering, hot weather, transplant shock, and diseases such as root rot and Verticillium wilt. To prevent droopy leaves, only water when the top 2-4 inches of soil is dry and apply compost and mulch. Also, provide partial shade when temperatures exceed 80ºF.
Do strawberries Wilt?
Both look similar and can be easily confused, but they are actually different. Blights can lead to wilting strawberry plants, but wilting is a symptom only. Wilting is evidence of a problem, not necessarily a disease (blight). Why Do Strawberry Plants Wilt? 1. Drought causes wilting strawberries… 2. Low temperatures cause strawberries to wilt… 3.
Can I transplant a strawberry plant if I have transplant shock?
Transplant shock occurs when a plant is exposed to a new environment and has to establish a new root system. Avoid transplanting strawberry plants unless necessary as it can take up to 1 year for recovery. To help avoid transplant shock, I like to plant with the following steps in mind:
Will a blighted strawberry plant wilt?
Blighted strawberry plants will likely eventually wilt. When pathogenic fungi or bacteria manage to infect the tissues of a strawberry plant, wilting is often not far behind. The pathogenic organisms work their way into the structures of the plant and can clog the vascular system.
How do I protect my strawberry plants from wilting?
To protect your strawberry plants from environmental stress, consider using mulch around the base of the plants. Mulch helps regulate soil temperature, retain moisture, and protect the roots from extreme temperatures. Additionally, providing shade during the hottest part of the day can help prevent wilting.
Can a plant wilt after being transplanted?
Transplanting a plant from one location to another is almost always going to cause some problems, and it’s very common for plants to wilt after being transplanted. This is known as “transplant shock”, and it can be a worrying sight for gardeners.