‘I’m a gardening pro – you should never leave your plants unattended’

With heatwaves looming ahead, plants that are adapted to shade will likely come under significant stress, so gardeners need to care for them accordingly.

All too often, gardeners are tempted to write a plant off as soon as they catch the slightest sign that it is starting to wither or struggle.

As a rule of thumb, the sign of a healthy root is tan-colored, succulent, and has fleshy white tips when it is pulled from its pot or the ground.

Dead roots, on the other hand, will likely be mushy, emit an unpleasant odour, or be dry and brittle.

According to gardening pro Chloe Brooks, it’s important to give plants a grace period after they start showing signs of struggle, as they may be able to pull through.

The home gardening expert, at Triple Oaks Nursery and Herb Farden in Franklingville, New Jersey, told the U.S. Sun that a plant that is taking a while to bloom may simply need more time.

“Not everything is a Spring Bloomer,” she told the outlet. “It may be a later season plant.”

According to the gardening professional, it is easiest to tell if a plant of dead or not when it’s in a container or pot.

“If the roots are still white; it’s alive; if they’re brown, it’s probably dead,” she explained. “You’re looking for ‘juicy, plump, healthy-looking roots,’ if you see slime or mushy textures, that’s an indicator of root rot.

Brooks explained that summer bloomers may have no signs of life on top, despite having sturdy stalks and leaves.

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Equally, plants may show little signs of growth until the later months, so keeping them adequately watered and fed is key.

For plants that reside in the ground, the protocol is slightly different, explained Brooks.

“In the ground, you kind of have to be patient and give it more time,” she added. “And probably more water.

“If it’s in the ground you don’t need to worry as much about overwatering since that water can seep into the ground.”

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