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Brown leaves on my young Kojo no mai

philpclaire1philpclaire1 Posts: 3
in Problem solving
Hello! Ive used lockdown to start work on my first ever garden so I am about as inexperienced as they get.

I bought a very little flowering cherry tree from the reduced section of a garden centre about 2 months ago and planted it in a larger pot while I decide where it lives. 

Up until about a week ago it’s looked fantastic but it has been looking very peaky for a few days now. Almost all the leaves are brown (pictures attached) but I can’t see any evidence of insect damage (although I’ve not checked the roots yet). It has rained and rained recently and I fear the tree is overwatered, but I thought that generally leads to yellow rather than brown foliage?

In response I’ve moved the tree indoors out of the rain in the hopes it will dry off a little. But was wondering if anybody had any more credible clue what it could be and what I can do to save it? 

Thanks in advance!
claire 

Posts

  • philpclaire1philpclaire1 Posts: 3

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    If you have already repotted into a larger pot, then the original one must have been tiny. This suggests the root ball was also tiny and not nearly big enough to support the above ground growth properly. The plant was probably forced into accelerated development to catch the spring market, and may not have been adequately hardened off either. The leaves would have been very new and tender and though you did the right thing by potting it on, the weather has not been on our side this year, as many of us have found out.
    If you had that hot, dry weather, then the leaves likely got sunburned, and since then they've been chilled and battered by heavy rain and maybe even hail.  No wonder they look half dead!
    All you can do is make sure the plant has the best conditions for recovery. What compost did you use? It will need some John Innes mixed with some multi purpose. No. 2  should do, as it is a young plant. Find a shady, sheltered corner for it, out of the worst of the weather and keep it watered, but raise the pot off the ground, so any excess can drain away. Then cross your fingers and wait!
    With luck there should be some new leaf growth, and after about 6 weeks or so you can give it something like sea weed feed, but not too strong. After a couple of months you should be able to see if any bits are actually dead. If it is just the ends you could prune back to a healthy bud, but if you are not sure, I would leave it, as by then we will be moving into autumn and it will be much easier to see next spring and do it then.
    Your tree is a nice shape, so it would be good to preserve that , if possible. They are lovely little trees and quite tough when fully acclimatised. I have one that lives on  a windy terrace, in full sun, all year round and has coped with frost and snow and all that the weather 1200 ft up can throw at it. I always look forward to seeing those first flowers in the spring. Here's hoping for you :)
  • lharneyqiMyJje9lharneyqiMyJje9 Posts: 1
    edited July 2020
    I came across this post as I also seem to have the same issue and its progressively getting worse. I hope I can rescue it, but I’m a novice also. What has happened to yours over the last few weeks?


  • susanscarth9290085susanscarth9290085 Posts: 2
    I bought kojo no mai standered lolly pop in 3ltr pot . I would like to grown in patio container , what size do I need ,also how long before I pot up 
    Look forward to your comments & advise 
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    Seems so strange to me to make a lollipop out of these free ranging and architectural cherries but I suppose we all like different things @susanscarth9290085 just go a couple of sizes larger in pot size. Those cherries don't have large roots as they're really slow growing, but of course it depends if yours is grafted on a different variety and the vigour of the rootstock could vary. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • susanscarth9290085susanscarth9290085 Posts: 2
    Thank you so much amancalledgeorge for your knowledgeable advise , yes my kojo no mai Is grafted , can I ask if that is more difficult  to grow ?  I live in upstairs apartment with balcony ,so small is best for me  
    Looking forward to your reply 
    [email protected] 
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    The wind could be a problem at a balcony but see how you get on...the blossom should be a month and a bit away. Their foliage is fairly delicate but should be okay in harsher conditions. @susanscarth9290085
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
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