Help! My bacopa wilted!?

Question

I have been growing the most beautiful bacopa since spring time - it had gorgeous white flowers against the dark green leaves...I went away last weekend, and thought 2 days without water would be ok (It gets full sun, so I soaked it before leaving). But it turned brown :( I feel like there's still some life in it--although there is more brown than green at this point...the "branches" don't snap off, though, so I think there's hope, but I don't want to kill it...any ideas on how I can bring it back to life??

p.s. I'm going away for an entire week next week--with no available plant sitter! Hoping I can just leave bacopa in the shade...but again, don't want to kill it...oh geez--do I have it take it with me?!?!?! (only half-joking there...)

thanks for your help!

Answer 1

Well, to revive it submerge the entire plant in a bucket or a bathtub for a day. The foliage will take up water and re-hydrate it. That should do it, it will take about 2 weeks or so to come back. If it is not in a container, water it heavily each morning for a few days and be sure the foliage is able to take in water too.

Now for watering. If you are in a place where the weather is hot, it's better to put it in part shade. I'm in N. CA and I have to have mine in part shade otherwise it will get crispy. Secondly, these like water. They like moist soil, the hotter it gets, the more water they want.

If you really don't have a waterer for when you are gone, do the soak thing the night before you leave. Put it in part shade and place a bucket or bowl of water next to it. (I assume you have it in a pot since you siad that you could move it in the shade.) Get a piece of string and place one end in the bucket/bowl, put the other end into the pot. This will water it when you are gone.

Hope this helps! Good luck.