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Monkey puzzle tree

kerrylnash88kerrylnash88 Posts: 5
in Problem solving
Hi there,

My husband has always wanted a monkey puzzle tree and he was bought one for his birthday in June. It has been kept in the pot since then , he wants to plant it in the garden of our new house when we move. It's been lovely but I have gone outside to find one branch and the main stem turning brown. My husband is really upset and I don't know how to save it :( it it saleable? Please help!! :) 

Posts

  • kerrylnash88kerrylnash88 Posts: 5
    Meant to say is it saveable :)
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Has it been short of water, crammed too tight in its pot?  When was it bought, what size is the plant and its pot, has it been fed or re-potted since, has it been exposed to cold or drying winds?  Thirst, starvation, exposure or a broken branch would cause browning.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    edited November 2018
    Hello Kerrylnash.  We have an established Monkey Puzzle Tree growing in our front garden.  It was planted 35 years ago and has one or two brown branches every year.  They are the older, lower branches and we cut them cleanly off during the winter when the tree is dormant - don't cut the branches in the growing season.
    Our tree certainly isn't dead, so don't give up on your husband's tree either.  However I would agree with Obelixx that the tree will probably need repotting now into a larger size, with some good rich compost with leaf mulch and perhaps a tiny sprinkle of some food and some water. Keep an eye on the tree and get it planted in the garden as soon as you can. Google tree planting suggestions for where/how to do this.
    These brown branches are going to be cut off in the next few weeks.
  • kerrylnash88kerrylnash88 Posts: 5
    The pot is about a foot diameter, it's been in shade and the soil is always damp. It has been in shade sheltered from the wind I am thinking may be it is too damp at the bottom where the roots are? 
  • kerrylnash88kerrylnash88 Posts: 5

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    It's not how big the pot is but how big the plant is compared to the pot and its root space!  If you can't post a photo, take it out of the pot and see if the root ball is wet or dry.

    Check also if the roots are starting to peak out of the holes in the bottom or packed right up to the edge and starting to go round and round as that indicates they are pot bound and need teasing out and planting in a wider and deeper pot in fresh compost.  Either way, stand the pot on special pot feet or bricks so excess water can drain out after every watering.  You don't want the roots drowning or freezing in winter
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • kerrylnash88kerrylnash88 Posts: 5
    Thank you! I have just posted a picture smile:
  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    It does look damp in that pot and in shade too - I am not sure what the ideal conditions are for them.  You could push a bamboo or other dry marker into the pot, to see just how wet the compost is - our tree has shade for at least half of the day, although it isn't in damp soil.  The pot doesn't look too big - lift to see if the roots are pushing through the drain hole - that is a sure sign that the tree requires a larger pot or ideally to be planted out in the garden.  Now is an ideal time to do this.  I wouldn't worry over the brown branch this is natural for these trees, the other branches look healthy enough at the moment.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    That's a big pot so unlikely to be pot bound.  The brown bit also looks like natural wastage as GD has explained.   Just cut it off soon while the plant is dormant and stand the pot on feet to let it drain. 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • micearguersmicearguers Posts: 646
    Most shrubs/trees/plants benefit from a natural cycle of soil going from moist to slightly dry. If you have kept it continuously moist it would probably not appreciate it (although I haven't checked with the tree's native climate). Another thing is that during dormancy (or winter) it is usually not necessary to water the tree.
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