One effective way to aid plants in overcoming transplant shock is by using transplant fertilizer. This specialized fertilizer is formulated with a root stimulant to provide essential nutrients and promote root development, helping plants recover and adapt to their new environment.
Most trees will survive transplant shock and some will rebound quickly in one month to 6 weeks, while others may need a dormant period to completely recover. To prevent transplant shock in the future (aside from time of year), consider planting on a cool cloudy day, when rain is forecasted in the next 24 hours.
Match Conditions and Water the Plant in Advance
It is important to match the existing conditions the plant is in as best you can to help minimise transplant shock. Ensure that the soil type and drainage level, the amount of sunlight and watering levels are matched, at least until the plant has established itself.
While there is no sure way to cure plant transplant shock, there are things you can do to minimize shock. Keep roots moist – Keep the soil well watered but make sure the plant has good drainage and is not in standing water because you do not want your plant to 'drown'.
This is known as transplant shock and happens because the plants' roots were likely damaged during the transportation process. Epsom salt can help plants overcome transplant shock.
5-STEP GUIDE FOR TREATING TRANSPLANT SHOCK
Give the plant a thorough watering and keep the soil consistently moist after transplanting. Repotting your plant in good soil that has good aeration and drainage will help reduce the risk of root rot.
Can I Just Sprinkle Epsom Salt on Plants? Never apply Epsom salt straight from the package. Always dilute the granules in water first, and either drench your plants' roots or spray it on the foliage. Don't spray on hot or sunny days, however, to avoid scorching the foliage.
Sugar water does not do anything to help plants with transplant shock, and it can make it worse. Often, plants recover on their own. Just give them time, keep them well-watered, and protect them from too much sun to prevent more leaf scorch.
Other symptoms of transplant shock appear as wilting leaves (especially on recent transplants), yellowing, and leaf rolling or curling.
When you transplant a plant into a new pot, the roots are exposed and vulnerable. They need time to heal and adapt to their new surroundings. If you don't water them, the roots can die and the plant will eventually perish. Immediately after repotting, give your plants a good watering.
A dilute, high-phosphorous fertilizer is preferable at transplant. We recommend Neptune's Harvest Fish Fertilizer (2-4-1), which is approved for certified-organic farms, or SeaCom PGR Seaweed Concentrate (0-4-4).
The general timeline is: Hair loss initiates around the 2nd-3rd week following the transplant surgery. Shedding reaches its max around the 6-week mark post-operation. Shock loss declines by months 2-3 and transitions into the renewed growth phase.
During the repotting process, roots can become damaged or disturbed, compromising the plant's ability to absorb water and nutrients. Careful handling is essential to minimize root damage, as most plants root systems are very fragile.
Can We Use Sugar Water For Dying Plants? Although it is not considered a fertilizer, you can use sugar if your plants aren't doing so well. Sugar water in plants can help the microorganisms in the soil break down all the nutrients. It is vastly not recommended, though, to use just the sugar as plant food to save them.
“Signs of stress might include the leaves starting to curl or turn yellow or the plant starting to wilt,” explains Morag Hill, co-founder of the online plant shop The Little Botanical. “These typically occur if some of the plant's basic needs are not met during the repotting process.”
If the damage is isolated to a portion of the plant, it can be revived and recover. The focus is on minimizing the damage.
Keep roots moist - Keep the soil well-watered, but make sure that the plant has good drainage and is not in standing water. Wait patiently - Sometimes a plant just needs a few days to recover from transplant shock. Give it some time and care for it as you normally would and it may come back on its own.
A plant suffers from transplant shock when the root can't adapt to the new environment. This prevents it from taking in the nutrients it needs, causing it to be weak and fragile for a length of time that can last from just two weeks to up to five years!
Prevent Fungal Disease
MAKE IT: Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 2-3 drops of liquid soap in 1 liter of water. Spray the solution on the infected plants. Baking soda helps the plants become less acidic and prevents fungal growth.
Don't just pour it down the drain — you can use it to fertilize your plants, both indoor and outdoor. Coffee grounds (and brewed coffee) are a source of nitrogen for plants, producing healthy green growth and strong stems. Coffee also contains calcium and magnesium — both of which are beneficial to plant health.
Vinegar is a contact herbicide, so you can unintentionally kill plants in your garden if you accidentally spray them with vinegar. Using vinegar as a weed killer works best on newer plants. "On more established plants, the roots may have enough energy to come back even if the leaves you sprayed have died.
Adding Epsom salts to soil that already has sufficient magnesium can actually harm your soil and plants, such as by inhibiting calcium uptake. Spraying Epsom salt solutions on plant leaves can cause leaf scorch. Excess magnesium can increase mineral contamination in water that percolates through soil.
However, it's possible to make this type of fertiliser at home by baking egg shells in the oven and then crushing them manually using a pestle and mortar. Recycling egg shells in the garden is a great way to reduce food waste while providing nutrients to plants.