Can this be saved?

Posts

• Fairygirl Posts: 55,117

  October 2021 edited October 2021

  Doubtful. 
  Has it ever been watered? Up against a wall, in a pot - maybe in a lot of sun [?] - all the things it won't like much. Even in rain, they can need watered because rain doesn't get in through the head of foliage  
  Move it into some shade and water really thoroughly and see if that helps.
  
  The other possibility is blight or box moth - but it isn't showing any signs of that. 

  It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
  
  
  
  I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...

  0
• muppet1901 Posts: 11

  October 2021

  Possibly over-watered rather than under. Will move it and see if that helps. Thanks. 

  0
• Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

  October 2021

  If it's been over watered then it means the pot isn't draining properly.
  Put some pot feet under the pot to raise it off the ground a little. It can't drain properly if the hole is blocked by the paving slab.
  Does the compost drain well - i.e. have you mixed in grit/perlite to ensure good drainage?
  
  

  
  Billericay - Essex
  
  Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
  Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

  1
• JennyJ Posts: 10,576

  October 2021

  Does the pot have drainage holes? If it does (and they're not blocked up) then it's pretty hard to overwater a big plant like that. If there are drainage holes but the water doesn't run out of the bottom, try raising the pot a little (pot feet, pieces of flat-ish stone, something like that) so that the water flow isn't impeded.
  

  Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  

  0
• Fairygirl Posts: 55,117

  October 2021

  As the others have said - there must be something wrong with the drainage if you think it's overwatered. 
  It's actually quite hard to overwater box 

  It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
  
  
  
  I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...

  0
• muppet1901 Posts: 11

  October 2021

  Plenty of drainage - water visibly comes out from the bottom of the pot. 

  
  

  We’ll try moving it. Although that rather defeats the object of purchase as she wanted it to frame the front door!

  0
• JennyJ Posts: 10,576

  October 2021

  In that case, is it still in its original pot, inside the ornamental one? If so, check to make sure it isn't pot-bound. If the roots are filling the pot with not much compost visible at the sides/bottom that makes it hard to water well enough and also maybe not enough nutrients. The pots that plants are sold in aren't usually intended to be a long-term home.
  

  I wouldn't normally suggest repotting this late in the year but it might be what it needs, maybe just one size up and look at it again in the spring. What does everyone else think?

  Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  

  1
• Fairygirl Posts: 55,117

  October 2021

  Can I just say - just because water is coming out the bottom, it doesn't mean it's  being absorbed properly. Once the soil in a pot dries out, it's quite difficult to rehydrate it, and the  water just runs through the gaps that have been created. It happens regularly. 
  Otherwise, as @JennyJ says, it's worth checking the conditions of the root ball. Again. if the roots are pot bound, it needs dampened thoroughly, and the roots teased out. 
  I wouldn't have any problem with re potting something just now, as long as it wasn't getting high nutrition. 
  
  When you say she got it recently, how recently?

  It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
  
  
  
  I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...

  0
• muppet1901 Posts: 11

  October 2021

  Thanks everyone for such helpful replies. We definitely have some things to try. 

  0