A rough rule of thumb for determining the health of a plant after it has started wilting from lack of water is the 12 hour rule. If watered within 12 hours of going dry, the plant will recover at least 90%. Within the next 12 hours, the plant will still be alive and viable, but will lose about half of its leaves and viror. After 36 hours, it is pretty much dead.

Too much water will also kill off plants by keeping air from the roots, which need to "breath". Are you planting in worked garden soil or breaking new ground? If the latter, have you dug a planting hole and "perked" it? How fast does water drain or percolate into the soil?

When you planted, were there roots throughout the pot, and were they light in color?

I suppose I planted them in new ground, it was an extension of the current bed where grass had previously been growing. I dug pretty wide planting holes, backfilled with the same soil and put the plants in. I had pre-soaked the ground a few days previously. Water drains from holes in the soil in about 6 hours.

The roots were light in color and throughout the pot, I went ahead and loosened them before planting. I had the plants 1 1/2 weeks before I planted and they seemed healthy.

Hmmm... well, I got a San Antonio at Capitol Nursery on Freeport a month ago.... had to water the heck out of it.... seems to be still alive, although I watered it a lot more than I should have to when it has adapted. I used to not water much, then plants started dying... even the drought tolerant ones. :o) You could try again, planting now would be a good time anyway. Give the poor guy a chance to put down some roots over the winter.

I went ahead and soaked them yesterday, the green leaves that were left perked up quite a bit by evening. I guess I was so afraid of overwatering them that I underwatered instead. I'm glad they aren't dead after all! Thanks :-)