Did you make drainage holes in the bottoms of the totes?

Jim

Jim

That was my question, too.

Yes; I made 5 holes of about 1/2 in diameter in the totes.
Do you think I need more?

I wonder if you have to prop large homemade planters up off the ground to get proper drainage for some plants. I have big planters made from feed tubs. 3/4 drainage holes, sitting flush with soil. One has had horseradish in it for 3 years and it grows like a champ. The others were planted with daylily and meadowsweet... both supposed to be tolerant of wet conditions...none of them even came up this spring. Maybe Menards sold me dead or dying bareroot plants last fall. Or maybe the tubs need to be propped up off the soil to drain.

FF

Okay, then poor drainage is probably not the problem. It sounds like you have plenty of holes large enough.

You can always drill the aeration-drainage holes at the bottom on the sides instead of underneath the container if you'd like to be sure the plants get air and the holes aren't being stopped up.

So I suspect the problem is probably overwatering. The MG soil mixes are often blamed for keeping the plant roots too wet.

See if they grow better if you cut down on watering. You'll need to remove any yellowing leaves toward the bottom and watch for healthy green top growth.