UPDATE: I need more help! Garden Help: My black eyed susans are wilted

[DznyLvr2005]

Hi can someone help me?
I just bought 2 huge black eyed susan plants on Saturday. They were georgeous. I planted them in the front yard where they get about 6-7 hours of full sun. I drenched them twice because I thought they needed alot of water. But today they look like they are dying!! It's been super hot, so I'm not sure if they aren't getting enough water, or I watered them too much.
Can someone help!
THANKS!

 

[solferino]

Plants get stressed from being moved/transplanted. Ideally it's best to do it when it's cloudy and cool, but sometimes we just can't garden according to the weather. If you can give them some shade (beach umbrella or something like that) for a couple of days they should perk up ok. Don't water them too much because they can get wet feet and their roots will rot. I moved a bunch of black eyed susans a couple of weeks ago and they were wilty like you mentioned. They're looking good now.

 

[DznyLvr2005]

Plants get stressed from being moved/transplanted. Ideally it's best to do it when it's cloudy and cool, but sometimes we just can't garden according to the weather. If you can give them some shade (beach umbrella or something like that) for a couple of days they should perk up ok. Don't water them too much because they can get wet feet and their roots will rot. I moved a bunch of black eyed susans a couple of weeks ago and they were wilty like you mentioned. They're looking good now.

Thanks for the response.
I also got a purple coneflower and 2 Delphiniums >> here's what they look like...http://www.bhg.com/bhg/plantfinder/...nderDetailPagingServlet.dyn&_requestid=386103
Anyway, I've watered them all the same and the coneflower and delphiniums are doing great. Hopefully the black eyed's will come back to life because I can't cover them. I planted them in the scortching heat on Saturday.

 

[Nancyg56]

Plants that are moved in full flower in the heat will look sick. I try to transplant or divide in the spring or fall but as a PP stated, you cannot always move plants on the schedule. I've had some poor droopy plants that perk up and they will make a beautiful comeback in the spring. Black-eyed Susans are a favorite of mine.

 

[WendyZ]

I have a "dumb" question about those. We planted some this spring. Do I cut them off in the fall and they'll grow back next spring...kind of like hostas? I have all these new plants and have to learn how to take care of them. Thanks!

 

[DznyLvr2005]

UPDATE:
I returned the dead Black Eyed Susans to Home Depot. I got 2 more and planted them again and this time I didn't water them nearly as much as last time. WELL... THEY ARE DYING AGAIN!!! I don't understand!! The coneflowers are looking great!! But the black eyed susans keep dying on me. I don't understand.. Can anyone help, what am I doing wrong?

 

[freckles and boo]

They always look horrible when they are transplanted, especially in heat. It really takes a few days for them to perk up. Black eyed susans really do well (after they are established) in mediocre soil. Rich soil, too much moisture, and too much shade are not ideal. Mine thrive on neglect. I divide them and give away babies and seedlings every year. And, yes, they can either be cut down to the ground in the fall or you can just leave the stems/seed heads for the birds.

 

[DznyLvr2005]

They always look horrible when they are transplanted, especially in heat. It really takes a few days for them to perk up. Black eyed susans really do well (after they are established) in mediocre soil. Rich soil, too much moisture, and too much shade are not ideal. Mine thrive on neglect. I divide them and give away babies and seedlings every year. And, yes, they can either be cut down to the ground in the fall or you can just leave the stems/seed heads for the birds.

When I say wilted.. I mean shriveled up brown dead looking
Do they perk up after they look dead?
I must not have too bad of a soil if my pink and white coneflowers are looking great!
Here's what I'm talking about

 

[jfulcer]

When I say wilted.. I mean shriveled up brown dead looking
Do they perk up after they look dead?
I must not have too bad of a soil if my pink and white coneflowers are looking great!
Here's what I'm talking about

We transplanted some this season too, and it took a good 3 weeks of watering every day (but not a LOT of water) to get them happy. They'd perk up. Then they looked like they were dying. Then they're perk up. Then look like dying. Repeat.

You may not get really decent flowers out of it this year. Just look forward to next year.

 

[freckles and boo]

When I say wilted.. I mean shriveled up brown dead looking
Do they perk up after they look dead?
I must not have too bad of a soil if my pink and white coneflowers are looking great!
Here's what I'm talking about

Sorry. I can't see the picture, but brown is bad. I would take them back to HD and get a refund. They are tough plants so other than a bit of wilt from transplant shock they should be fine. Sometimes nursery/hothouse plants are babied too much. Maybe you could get some seeds and sow them in a couple weeks. It will take a year or two to get established, but they won't be as vulnerable as a transplant.

 

[freckles and boo]

Now I see the picture. They look fine to me. I wouldn't worry about the flowers - they are probably just done blooming. I thought you meant the stems and leaves were brown. Usually the leaves wilt and the entire plant droops (almost to the ground!) for a few days after transplant. They will bounce back.

 

[DznyLvr2005]

Well, here's a post I just made with the whole garden... Look at how nice the other flowers are

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1548490

 

[freckles and boo]

Very nice. Trust me, the Black eyed susans are fine. I have HUGE patches of them all over my garden. When they start filling in over the next year or so you will have more blooms than you know what to do with. I just let my kids pick them willy nilly now because they can't even put a dent in them. As long as the stems and leaves stay green you are fine.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Your BES are not dead and look fine. Just give them water and fertilizer.

I would prune the BES so more shoots will come out. Deadheading is good for your plants. When the flower dies cut it off and then throw away. Do not leave the dead flowers on the ground. That promotes fungus to form.

 

[solferino]

The plant leaves look perfect. Keep in mind the flowers themselves don't last forever and will eventually wither up, which it appears is what's happening. One thing I find helpful is buying plants that have no flowers, but just buds- that way when you get them in the ground at home they'll settle in and bloom in a little bit.

Cut back the flowers that have died. Next year the plant will bloom more and get a little bit bigger.

My rule of thumb with perennials- the first year they sleep, the 2nd year they creep and the 3rd year they L~E~A~P!!!