Help, I planted Marigolds and they look like they are dying

Question

Hello, I’m fairly new to gardening and so my wife and I decided to redo our mulch bed and wanted to plant flowers. We found these beautiful marigolds at Home Depot and decided to plant them. However 3 days later, the leaves are wilted and they are leaning dramatically, i don’t know what to do. I put plant food in the mulch bed and watered it in but I’m thinking maybe it’s the soil as well. I don’t know and I don’t want them to die out because they look a mess in front of my home.

Would it also be dependent on what soil they are in? Like I said I am a beginner and don’t know much I just wanted to have some beautiful flowers in my yard not a graveyard

Answer 1

Would have been useful to know where you are, but if its summer and temperatures are reasonably high where you are, your marigolds need a good watering every day until they've rooted into the surrounding soil, which will take at last two weeks.

Answer 2

To me they look like they are wilting as you have already guessed. Because they need more water. Exposing the root-ball (as in one of your photos) is not going to help them.

If the underlying soil is sandy, too well drained, then you need to put some compost around the root ball. Or have a look at water crystals.

If it is too sunny, then give them some shade. You can make something up with paper and stakes. Or have a look at shade coth.