"What might be going wrong next to outdoor potted plants whose branches are uniformly dying from the bottom up? I'm near Houston, TX, so it's pretty hot and humid...
I'm near Houston, TX, so it's pretty hot and humid...
Best probability are they are underwatered. Typically outdoor container plants in an nouns as warm as Houston obligation to be thoroughly soaked twice per day. I am assuming you own drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. Most society underestimate the amount of water that will dry up without delay in a container outside within the heat, especially if it is a terra cotta pot.
Ultimately your plants may die fully, if the root for their lower branch death continues.
Try to find out the wreak for the problems, and counter them as best as you can. Are your plants recently stressed, underwatered, contained by too much sunlight etc? Research the specific plants and find out their needs, and kind adjustments if they're misplaced, or not getting sufficient provision of what they want to thrive.
As are potted, check that they're not pot bound, and thus not able to support adjectives of the above soil growth. Pot bound plants also frequently suffer from inability to absorb adequate water to save your plants flourishing. Terracotta pots usually lose more water through evaporation through the pot than plastic pots would do. You might want to adjust the type of pots that you're using. Otherwise, at hand are additives for soil that help to retain moisture, should the pots drying out be a purpose - these include 'crystals', a substance that absorbs incredible amounts of sea, and then releases it to your plants. See here for an example:http://cgi.ebay.com/5-Pounds-Water-Retai...
I don't know your specific plants, though I would consider feed them, and easing any stresses that they may have - I realise there's not much we can in the region of the weather, but perhaps you could sustain provide some cooler conditions or more frequent watering?
Hope this helps. Good luck! Rob
Answers: Rotting from the bottom up I would say aloud no drainage holes or the soil is not draining well...Alot of the cheap class potting and topsoil in heaps become so dense after they settle after 10 or 12 waterings they start holding water and become so dense the river stands at the roots and do not allow for it to breathe... I had some kalanchoes I planted surrounded by that cheap hyponex brand potting soil and when it rained or you watered it after awhile an inch of hose down would stand on top literaly for hours..it started rotting as you are explaining so i removed the plant and soil then mixed it near a blend of peat moss, perlite and vermiculite...If you do not know how to do this mix..go go and get a good characteristic mix and use it..do not use that 2 and 3 dollar a bag mix..it will smother your plants