I bought this tree at a garden center nearly 5 years ago. It has always been in a pot, and has been outdoors from spring to fall. I bring it indoors for winter. The tree was a single trunk, then it forked out on me (perhaps the pot was too small?) 2 years ago. It has been transplanted at that time. It is always placed in the same spot in my home, and survives the winter until spring. Usually the lower reeds (?) brown out, but there is always fresh growth at the top. Then quite suddenly this past month, the greens browned out and died right to the top. It was a matter of 2 weeks when it completely browned out. QUESTION: is this tree dead, or can the trunks be cut at a healthy section to promote new growth? The trunk is hard and healthy feeling. Please see attacked pic. thanks, David
looks like spider mite damage. check the leaves for webbing. it won't be like regular spider webs - will just be strings of web material. or could be mealy bugs - look for white fluffy stuff where the leaves grow out of the trunk. it could also be a root rot issue - check the moistness of the soil as well as drainage holes (to make sure they aren't blocked up for some reason). it's possible it's salvagable.
Thank you, Joclyn! I'll check it for everything you said. Now, if all looks ok, what can I do to salvage the tree?
if it's not any of the above, then it would be due to not enough watering...you've had this long enough, though, to be familiar with it's needs (which is a bit on the high side for watering), so, i'm thinking that's not the cause. if there's an infestation of some kind, once they're treated for and gone, the plant should recover. if there's such thing as a 'good time' for this to occur, then now is it. we're just getting a touch more sunlight each day and spring and the 'official' growing season is just around the corner - so, that's a good time for the plant to rebound from the effects of the infestation. now, if it's a rot issue, you can go with doing a cutting - just lope off the bad roots and repot and allow it to root again...or do smaller cuttings and make more plants. if it turns out to be a 'too-dry' issue, it may not be salvagable - then, again, it may be by doing a cutting of a spot that is still viable. let us know what you find when you take a good look at it!
I will definitely do that. Thank you so much, Joclyn! I really appreciate your help, and I will keep you posted as to my findings. David
