Marianne's Response

Used Fish Fertilizer and now this happened

I mixed a liquid fish fertilizer 2 tblsp to 1 gallon of water and used on burpee tomatoe plants, roses, coleus, fuschia, impatiens….the roses and tomatoe are in the ground the others in pots. I’d used Sevin 5 powder on roses and tomatoes about 2 weeks prior, and had been using miracle grow fertilizer mixed in water to correct proportions for growing season in NJ on a regular basis. After applying the fish mixture to base of plants, within 2 days they were drooping, it had rained for hours the day after application. I figured it was a shock to plants and that given a few days, they would perk up. I’m noticing there is still drooping After 2 weeks and I can’t figure it out. I’m attaching photos for your review. Can you help?

Posted by Virginia Alfaro on June 26, 2020

Marianne's Response

The wilt or droop to the plants could mean there is a problem with the roots not the fish fertilizer. Do you have moles or voles? You did mention rain and tomatoes can suffer root rot from too wet of soil. Tomatoes need good drainage. I suggest you poke your finger into the soil and do not water until the top two inches of soil is dry to the touch. As the weather warms they may snap out of the wilt.  Let us know how it goes - the plants look  nice and green so I would not fertilize the tomatoes any more. Too much fertilizer can cause tomatoes to have lots of leaves and little fruit and over feeding can also grow soft and succulent plants more susceptible to rots. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti

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