My tomato plants are dying and it seems like a watering issue. Can I save them?

It appears that they may not have been watered for probably 2 days...I have continued to water them regularly (just as they were prior to missing the 2 days)...Is there anyway I can restore the vitality and color of the plants? I can take pix but I truly believe that they are just wilting a bit. I appreciate the help.

My tomato plants are dying and it seems like a watering issue. Can I save them?
Tomato plants need only 1-1 1/2 inch of water per week. By watering them every day, they may have developed shallow roots because they haven't been encouraged to develop a deeper root system that would cary them through between waterings. If your plants are dying as you stated, then it could be because your soil has become waterlogged %26amp; the roots may be dying, especially if you have clay soil %26amp; not enough drainage. Work into your soil a good dose of compost to help conserve moisture retention between waterings, improve drainage to prevent root rotting, %26amp; to give them a boost. Then use pine needles, or a 4- to 6-inch layer of hay or straw for mulch to keep your plants from drying out between watering.





"One of the most common calls to the county extension agency is people that say they are watering their plant every day and it is still drooping! They have drowned their plants. Roots also need air to survive. You can improve the tilth of a soil by adding more organic matter (compost, compost ,compost) which in turn improves moisure retention and also deters compaction (allows more air)."


http://boards.diynetwork.com/eve/forums/...





After you make the improvements to your soil, you'll find you won't have to water as often. Many people water their plants deeply only once or twice a week because their plants are mulched %26amp; are growing in well-drained organically enriched soil.


Good luck! Hope this helps.
Reply:If the plants dried out to a severe point, it could have caused some root damage to the plants and it may take several days for the plants to recover. Keep them watered well but not soggy. I would suggest, also, that at this time, if there is root damage to becareful about using plant food. I think that the nutrients in the soil will probable be sufficient to get them through to recovery. If it make you feel any better, make a weak solution ,about 1/4 to 1/2 of the regular amount your fertilizer suggests for you to use. Don't do it again for about a week or so. Let the soil dry some. If you push you finger in the ground about an inch or two and it is still dry, then water the plants. If the plants are over watered and if there is root damage you could cause more damage to the root system if the ground is soggy for long periods. Give the plants a chance to recover. When you see them perking up go about taking care of them as you did before you failed to water them,except don't forget the watering this time. Your plants may even now, may be starting to show some signs of improving. Give mother nature a chance to do her work
Reply:watering daily is fine, but you should water the ground around them early in the morning or when the sun starts to go down, water on the leaves will dry out and burn them during the day, good luck.
Reply:maybe try some miracle gro to give them a boost. good luck!!
Reply:You didnot not tel us where u are. What's the climate there?


any way try the folowing


1 Keep an erthen ware pot with a small hole n a wick in it


Fill up the pot.Water will keep dripping thru out the day


Drip irrigation heard ? Do not forget to water it in the


reg routine once a day. This will take cre of the drying


problem


2 Also check a) sufficiency of manure


Buy any of the locally avlble packs


You can try foliage spray also


3 If u find pests give a mild spray of pestiside only if there


is no other go. pesticides are no good really.


4 If u have cow dung mix it in water add one spoon of urea


per bucket of 20 litres and filter. spray this solution


and you can add at the roots directly also


You look to be good guy loving ur plants. In todays world that's a very good sign


Try growing fruits like tomato and egg plants and vegetables like cabage and spinach and try flowers too


this treatment is good for all of them
Reply:tomato plants are very sensitive to heat. if it was very hot during the two days they missed watering, they may have suffered some damage. usually plants that were watered regularly won't die from lack of water for a day or two, but they will wilt and get dull looking, possibly lose some of the flowers or fruit that had started growing. just keep watering them regularly, gently loosen the soil around the plants to allow for air and water penetration. if you use plant food or fertilizers during this recovery period, water it directly into the ground around the plant so it gets to the roots and also feed through the leaves with a garden sprayer. water the plants in the early morning or evening and water long enough to saturate the ground without it becoming soggy. this will encourage deeper root growth. they should come back fine.