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Gold crest losing colour

tomcr1981tomcr1981 Posts: 51
in Problem solving
Hi everyone, new here !!

Hoping to get some advice on a goldcrest by my front door… I’m a bit of a novice.

He has been there for a year and I’ve never giving him plant food up until last week.

He doesn’t look happy to me and is slowly going a lighter colour.

He gets very little, if any direct sunlight- could this be the issue ? I was advised without direct sunlight he wouldn’t grow as fast but would be ok.

would be really grateful for some advise,

thanks

Tom




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Posts

  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Hi, how often and how much are you watering it?
  • tomcr1981tomcr1981 Posts: 51
    I’ve been just watering when it looks slightly dry… it’s almost looking a white colour.

    thanks for your reply 😊 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Conifers need much more water than most people  realise ... particularly when they’re in containers. March and April were very dry ... we had no rain at all. Your tree will have needed a bucket full of water two or three times a week ... even when it rains plants in pots, particularly those near walls, still need watering because the walls shelter them producing a ‘rain shadow’ effect so they still need watering even in wet weather. 

    Another thing that might be causing a problem is the type of compost. Many people don’t realise that while the ordinary multipurpose type composts are great for short term pots of flowering annuals and growing veg, they really aren’t suitable for longterm planting of shrubs. They need a more substantial loam-based compost such as those made to the John Innes No 3 formula ... sometimes with the addition of some grit or MPC to improve drainage. 
    So if your tree is planted in multipurpose compost that will have contributed to its problems. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Definitely too dry there for the reasons given.
    I'd lose that gravel too, if it's a limestone one. Better to use bark to maintain moisture, or just a pea gravel or something similar.  
    It's unlikely to green up again though. Once they start fading, it's usually too late to get them back. You can try immersing the pot in water, or putting a container underneath, then watering, and let it soak up the water until it's completely hydrated again. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • tomcr1981tomcr1981 Posts: 51
    Aww thanks for the help, I’m thinking about re-potting it in the John I no 3 as mentioned. Adding better drainage and see how it goes.

    maybe the watering caught me out, May was really wet and I probably didn’t water him enough.

    appreciate you taking the time to reply.

    Tom
  • ElferElfer Posts: 329
    Definitely try the water bath, might be an idea to give him some time out in the sun too. I prefer Jack's magic to JI no3 or at least mixed 50/50
  • tomcr1981tomcr1981 Posts: 51
    A bath, outside, in the sunshine !! Who wouldn’t like that 😃 🛀 

    thanks again hug



  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I wouldn't put it in the sun while it's trying to recover. Sun is fine if they're healthy and in suitable soil etc, but it's a bridge too far for any plant that's stressed - even sun loving ones. 
    Keep it somewhere a bit shadier for now.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • tomcr1981tomcr1981 Posts: 51
    Thanks !!! I’ll move it now 😊 
  • tomcr1981tomcr1981 Posts: 51
    I actually took it round the back,last week, for a couple of days in full sun, maybe that tipped it over the edge 😢 
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