Transplant Shock

[TexasTycoon]

We rooted a branch of our tomato plant back in May after strong winds caused a ton of damage and left that branch hanging on for dear life. It's gone well, but unfortunately we planted it in the only pot we had available which was a fairly small one (about 8 inches diameter). We transplanted it to a 5 gallon pot today and unfortunately caused quite a bit of root damage in the process. I let my husband (who is even newer to gardening than I am, though he is learning) do the removal of the plant from the little pot and he wasn't as gentle as he probably could have been. The roots left attached to the plant when we put it into the new pot could fit in one hand. When we dumped the remaining soil from the pot into the new pot, lots of roots came with it. The plant is now limp and kind of just draping itself onto the cage. We did water with TTF immediately after transplanting, and we planted it "up to its neck" to encourage deeper root growth. Is there anything I can do to help the little guy perk up and establish more roots quicker, or is it just a waiting game at this point?

[TexasTycoon]

Would it help to put a little rooting hormone in the dirt around the roots that are left? I also read that sugar water helps, but I'm not looking to feed ants.

[Worth1]

The little feller is in the ICU ward right now and doesn't need to be disturbed although he is expected to have a full recovery.
He should be back on his feet in no time but make sure he gets plenty of liquids.
Just water for right now until his stomach can handle stronger refreshments.

Worth

[heirloomtomaguy]

Just wait and it should recover fine. I have had them laying completely on their side and perk back up. Dont put to much added fertilizer and root compound on it less is more in this case.

[TexasTycoon]

Thanks guys. You can't help but feel like you've done something awful when a plant looked healthy and now just looks miserable! We'll wait it out. Would provide a little more shade help, just until he's standing up again?

[RayR]

Originally Posted by TexasTycoon

Thanks guys. You can't help but feel like you've done something awful when a plant looked healthy and now just looks miserable! We'll wait it out. Would provide a little more shade help, just until he's standing up again?

It should be in the shade period! Never transplant in the sun.

[TexasTycoon]

Originally Posted by RayR

It should be in the shade period! Never transplant in the sun.

Well, to be fair, we don't get a ton of sun as we only have a covered apartment patio, but I'll move him back closer to the apartment. I thought the sun would help, but I was clearly mistaken!

[RayR]

Originally Posted by TexasTycoon

Well, to be fair, we don't get a ton of sun as we only have a covered apartment patio, but I'll move him back closer to the apartment. I thought the sun would help, but I was clearly mistaken!

I learned from that mistake many years ago. I always transplant when there is no direct sunlight.
When you move a plant, there is a certain amount of stress being put on the plant. If the roots have been manhandled in the process there is a whole lot of stress being put on the plant. The roots have root hairs which are needed to uptake water, when they are damaged water uptake is slowed down considerably. Direct sunlight makes things worse because the plant is going to still try to transpire water vapor out of the leaves and draw water from the soil which it can't do very well so the plant goes into shock and wilts.
You can avoid transplant shock by just eliminating as much undue stress as possible. Watering in with salty synthetic fertilizers will increase stress on the roots, instead either use plain water or a light organic liquid fertilizer. Liquid seaweed is good for that, kelp is natures stress reliever, the hormones in it will gently encourage new root growth.
A plant can recover over night with no transplant shock even one that has its roots torn up pretty good.

[TexasTycoon]

Originally Posted by RayR

I learned from that mistake many years ago. I always transplant when there is no direct sunlight.
When you move a plant, there is a certain amount of stress being put on the plant. If the roots have been manhandled in the process there is a whole lot of stress being put on the plant. The roots have root hairs which are needed to uptake water, when they are damaged water uptake is slowed down considerably. Direct sunlight makes things worse because the plant is going to still try to transpire water vapor out of the leaves and draw water from the soil which it can't do very well so the plant goes into shock and wilts.
You can avoid transplant shock by just eliminating as much undue stress as possible. Watering in with salty synthetic fertilizers will increase stress on the roots, instead either use plain water or a light organic liquid fertilizer. Liquid seaweed is good for that, kelp is natures stress reliever, the hormones in it will gently encourage new root growth.
A plant can recover over night with no transplant shock even one that has its roots torn up pretty good.

You know, that makes sense, and I feel like I knew that, but I just wasn't thinking straight yesterday. Would TTF be considered a "salty synthetic fertilizer"? I know it has kelp in it. I don't have kelp, but I have liquid fish, would that have a similar effect? Plant still looks sad and wilty this morning. I moved it out of the sunlight yesterday. We transplanted a jalepeno plant to a bigger pot at the same time as the tomato yesterday, and the jalepeno is looking great, but then again it didn't have its roots mangled either since it came out of the smaller pot easily.

[RayR]

If a lot of root hairs have been damaged or removed the plant can't not only take up water, but nutrients too. Also if the salt concentration is too high around the roots, water will be pulled out of root cells. The plant needs to use its reserve energy in repairing the roots before it can resume the normal functions of taking in water and nutrients.
TTF has organic biostimulants via the kelp and Vitazyme which is good but the base nutrients are still hydroponic grade salts. If you have an extremely light hand at using it at that point you might be OK.
Liquid fish works fine, never had a problem. I usually use fish hydrolysate + kelp myself when watering in transplants.
Another thing you can do is mist the leaves several times a day with water The leaves can absorb the water and relieve some of that water stress that is causing the wilting.

[TexasTycoon]

Originally Posted by RayR

If a lot of root hairs have been damaged or removed the plant can't not only take up water, but nutrients too. Also if the salt concentration is too high around the roots, water will be pulled out of root cells. The plant needs to use its reserve energy in repairing the roots before it can resume the normal functions of taking in water and nutrients.
TTF has organic biostimulants via the kelp and Vitazyme which is good but the base nutrients are still hydroponic grade salts. If you have an extremely light hand at using it at that point you might be OK.
Liquid fish works fine, never had a problem. I usually use fish hydrolysate + kelp myself when watering in transplants.
Another thing you can do is mist the leaves several times a day with water The leaves can absorb the water and relieve some of that water stress that is causing the wilting.

Sorry, I thought I responded to this already. Thanks for your help, Ray. The plant is still wilted and not looking any better, but everything is still green so I'm holding out hope. My husband was home yesterday so I had him mist it with some water and we fed with Liquid Fish in the evening. I hope the little guy makes it!

[TexasTycoon]

Update: the plant is still struggling. Part of it has died, but one or two branches seem to be getting better. I'll try to post a picture later.