Promix not draining

[MGOLD86]

I had some major issues with drainage at the beginning of the season from a generic 50/50 topsoil and compost mixture. I went out and got a bunch of Promix BX and potted them up. Relatively quickly they bounced back and started to look great. Last week we got a ton of rain and everything went down hill. Pretty much all the pots looked water logged and the soil was not draining. I let them dry out and then when they were good and dry I watered them. I came out today and they all were wilted (it was over 100) and 2 of the 15 pots were still soaked. They all have equal drainage holes drilled and the same soil.

Got any ideas?

 

[LGHT]

How do you test to ensure they are dry and how big are the plants. Small plants in a big pot will be dry on the top half, but soaking wet on the bottom half.

I had the same problem a few years ago, but invested in $10 soil tester that had a 16" stem that I insert slowly to see if the soil is still wet. The top half of the small plant would be dry, but the bottom would be wet.because the roots where not long enough to reach the bottom and absorb water.

You may have that problem with the 2 that where still wet if they are fairly young plants.

 

[MGOLD86]

I generally do the finger test or go in from the bottom holes. As far as size, one is a serrano and is about 2 feet tall (already has about 10 pods on it, also it is pretty yellow), the other is a "Bonnie's worlds hottest and it is about 18 inches with about 5 pods and others setting. It is also dropping a ton of leaves and some are just shriveling up and dieing. Ill post some pics in a second.

 

[DiggingDogFarm]

I've also found that the BX has a tendency to hold too much water.
I mix the BX with the HP (high-porosity) for much better drainage.

~Dig

 

[MGOLD86]

Here are some pix.

This is the serrano

These are the Bonnies Hottest

Just for maturity sake.

Also, could these be symptoms of root bound plants?

 

[LGHT]

Yeah ProMix has a lot of peat moss so it will hold a lot of water. I found if you compact or push it down when transplanting it compresses it too much and holds too much, but if you just transplant and water without pressing you don't have that problem. However in 100 degree weather your gonna see wilted plants and a lots of flower drop.

Maybe put up a shade screen?

 

[roper2008]

I notice at the end of the day on some of my peppers, the top leaves droop. In the morning
there normal again. Maybe that's what's happening to yours.

 

[MGOLD86]

I notice at the end of the day on some of my peppers, the top leaves droop. In the morning
there normal again. Maybe that's what's happening to yours.

Mine are definitely drooping during the day, and bouncing back at the end, I am just worried about the Bonnie's Hottest loosing leaves and shriveling up a bit. Even at the end of the day it bounces back, but there is noticeable leaf loss.

 

[patrick]

With 100 degree heat they need some shade. That should slow down the wilting

 

[peplover]

I had some major issues with drainage at the beginning of the season from a generic 50/50 topsoil and compost mixture. I went out and got a bunch of Promix BX and potted them up. Relatively quickly they bounced back and started to look great. Last week we got a ton of rain and everything went down hill. Pretty much all the pots looked water logged and the soil was not draining. I let them dry out and then when they were good and dry I watered them. I came out today and they all were wilted (it was over 100) and 2 of the 15 pots were still soaked. They all have equal drainage holes drilled and the same soil.

Got any ideas?

Pro mix holds ton of water, I usually add 5 to 10 % more perlite. Yes pro mix + days of rain = bad

One more bad thing about pro mix is that if you potted pro mix in pot over certain timeframes when pests decomposed I will hold even more. Ur plants will stun if they're either too small or not having enough root to absorb those water. That was my personal experienced