Hi my small bay tree in a pot has started in the last few days to shrivel its leaves. the parts of the branch that holds the leaves begins to shrink as if if no water is getting to the leaves. The pot is in sun most of the day, it faces south east on my balcony. Previous to this it was doing ok except for what appears to be small green pimple on the leaves. What should I do, thanks.
How much are you watering it? How big is the pot? What is the pot made of? What floor are you on? keke who has successfully grown a bay tree in a pot until it got too big and then planted it in the ground, where it is growing like a weed. Even made it thru the bad winter of '08-'09!
I usually keep the soil dry but I did recently water it. The pot is 7.5 in. high and a diameter of 11 inches. And I am on the 20th floor. South East facing. The pot is terra cotta.
All right, then it's not enough water. Terra cotta pots conduct water to a certain extent, so the soil in them dries out faster than in plastic. Also, for every story up you are, you gain a certain amount of wind. On the 20th you probably get twice as much as you would on the first. Which dries everything out as well, because it draws more water through the terra cotta and dessicates the plant itself. I don't know how long it's been in the same pot, so it's worth taking a look at the root ball if you can. Is it potbound? If it is, go up a size in pot and also do a little root pruning before re-potting (scarify the root ball), and keep it out of the sun for a week or so until it feels better. Water that poor thing until the water comes out the bottom of the pot, and then make sure the soil stays damp to the touch if you put your index finger in the soil up to the middle knuckle. Do not fertilize! That should help a lot. best keke
