Hello,

I have a Marigold plant that my son gave me for Father's Day, he grew
it from seeds and it is important to me. I was crushed when I left
the Marigolds he gave me in my car all hot summer day when I was
bringing it into my office at work and most of the plants died. One
survived and seemed to be doing well until I went away for a week and
the person I had asked to water it forgot to. When I returned, the
plant looked wilted and all leaves were drooped. I gave it water and
it began to pick itself up again, however it does not look well.

The bottom half of the stem is red and all branches coming off this
part of the stem are drooping or dead. The red part of the stem has
not grown in diameter and the top part of the stem, which is green, is
thicker. The plant has tried to bloom flowers, but none of them have
completely grown/bloomed.

I'm thinking that the bottom half of the plant is damaged or dead, but
there is some semblance of a lifeline up to the top half. Is there
anything I can do to repair this plant to allow it to grow fully and
produce flowers? Should I bury the bottom half of the flower further
in the soil? One of the concerns I have is that the top half grows
too fully for the damaged bottom have to support it. As it is, the
plant is leaning to one side due to the wait of the top half.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks.

John