Bountiful Exotics Nursery

Hot weather advisory from Bountiful Exotics — this weekend is a stress test for new plants.

Today may hit 95 F in Salt Lake, humidity at 9%, winds gusting to 30 mph. Well above normal heat for early June on top of what has already been a dry spring.

If you picked up plants from us recently, here is what we want you to know.

Any plant in the ground less than 6 to 8 weeks still has a compromised root system. It cannot fully anchor and draw water yet. In normal summer heat that is manageable. In conditions like today — extreme wind driving transpiration, near-single-digit humidity, and well-above-normal temps — the demand on those roots exceeds what they can supply. Wilting is the symptom. It is the plant asking for help. Even if you just watered.

The National Weather Service has fire weather warnings posted for central and southern Utah through Sunday. Fire danger conditions and plant stress conditions are the same thing — extreme wind, extreme dryness, extreme heat. If you see a fire warning alert on your phone this weekend, think of it as a plant alert too.

Our recommendations for this weekend.

Water deeply early morning — before 8 am if possible. If you see midday wilt, move pots to a sheltered spot out of the sun and wind, but not somewhere that traps heat. A shade cloth or even a bedsheet might seem good, but wind can knock these over onto those babies- Ask me how I know! Do not fertilize until temps drop — no stress additions this weekend. Wilting that does not recover overnight is a warning sign worth acting on.

We watch conditions closely because it matters for the plants we grow and the plants we send home with you.

Questions? Reach out — we are here.

Growing Pomegranates in Bountiful?
Yeah, me too!
This is my first harvest —
a variety with Utah connections called AC Sweet, and sweet it was!

Created by the founder of Valley Nursery in Uintah, Utah.
I bought it years ago from his grandson at Valley!

Soft-seeded, tasty, and organically grown right in my Bountiful side yard.

I'm growing the Dixie Sweet pomegranate as well (AKA Utah Sweet) that's been grown in Southern Utah since pioneer times.

Who said we don't have pomegranate heritage in this state?

I've got 100 Russian Pomegranates in the baby plant nursery looking for a good home as well.
Are you a good home?

Pre-orders opening soon for the Russian and the AC Sweet Pomegranates—
comment POMEGRANATE or DM me to get on the list first.