Is this the way ground cherries should look?

[HollyinNNV]

I just got ground cherries from an online source and they look yellow to me and pretty unhappy. Is there anything I can do for them or do they look ok to y'all?
Holly

[Darren Abbey]

They do look a bit starved for light. I don't know if the color is anything to worry about, however.

[HollyinNNV]

Originally Posted by Darren Abbey

They do look a bit starved for light. I don't know if the color is anything to worry about, however.

Thanks Darren. I'll put them in a brighter space.
Holly

[AlittleSalt]

Holly, I agree. The one on the left in the picture is looking for the sun.

The plant in the center will shed the lowest yellow leaves, or you can remove them yourself if they are bothering you.

[RayR]

I agree they look a bit pale and they are stretching for light.
They should have a more compact growth with larger leaves.
See mine for comparison.

[HollyinNNV]

Any suggestions on things to do to perk them up?

[RayR]

Originally Posted by HollyinNNV

Any suggestions on things to do to perk them up?

Two questions:
What have you been feeding them?
Have they been outdoors at all for hardening off or have they just been inside on a window sill or under lights so far?

[HollyinNNV]

[QUOTE=RayR;474847]Two questions:
What have you been feeding them?
Have they been outdoors at all for hardening off or have they just been inside on a window sill or under lights so far?[/QUOTE
I just received them in the mail so I have not fed them anything. I have put them on the window sill. I don't want to put them outside till they look better, I think.

[RayR]

Originally Posted by HollyinNNV

I just received them in the mail so I have not fed them anything. I have put them on the window sill. I don't want to put them outside till they look better,hink.

How long were they in box during shipping? Sitting the dark for too long can make them pale.

[HollyinNNV]

Originally Posted by RayR

How long were they in box during shipping? Sitting the dark for too long can make them pale.

Three days in transit.

[RayR]

I am assuming they were grown in a greenhouse operation then and for whatever reasons they are a bit stressed out. I don't know what your weather is like now but I would get them outside at least in some shade to start until they recover. A breeze will do them good to thicken up their stems. As far as fertilization mine are grown organically, I don't know what your growing style is but if you are using synthetics I would start feeding them gently at 1/4 to 1/2 strength and see how they respond. Have you grown ground cherries before? You've got to watch the watering carefully if growing in a container. Those plants can drink a lot of water when they get mature and they don't get enough they will complain and show you by wilting.

[HollyinNNV]

Originally Posted by RayR

I am assuming they were grown in a greenhouse operation then and for whatever reasons they are a bit stressed out. I don't know what your weather is like now but I would get them outside at least in some shade to start until they recover. A breeze will do them good to thicken up their stems. As far as fertilization mine are grown organically, I don't know what your growing style is but if you are using synthetics I would start feeding them gently at 1/4 to 1/2 strength and see how they respond. Have you grown ground cherries before? You've got to watch the watering carefully if growing in a container. Those plants can drink a lot of water when they get mature and they don't get enough they will complain and show you by wilting.

Hi Ray,
Thanks, I am going to take your advice. I am a new gardener so I've never grown ground cherries. They will eventually go in a raised bed. I've never had much luck with containers. I'll watch them for wilting to make sure they get enough water.
Off to get them outside a bit and give them some dilute fertilizer.
Thanks again,
Holly