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Nordmann Fir Tree

SueF11SueF11 Posts: 19
in Problem solving

It was bought last year, has grown a lot of new growth this year and was reported earlier this year into Jack’s Magic compost. However over recent weeks we have noticed it looking dull and it has started going brown. The needles including the new growth, if touched just drop off. 

Please can someone advise what has gone wrong? If anything, what I can do to rescue this tree? 
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It needs to be in soil. Compost on it's own is no use for trees. You'll also have to keep repotting regularly. They aren't designed for pot culture long term without a lot of extra attention. 
    However, it's also perfectly normal for fir trees to have browning on the inside. That's how they grow. It's not easy to tell from your photos though.
    Watering is vital as rain can't penetrate the solid canopy easily, unless it's raining heavily for several hours at at a time.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Agree, it would be better in the ground or in a larger pot with ericaceous John Innes no 3 type compost and regular watering.   It would also need an annual dollop of slow release fertiliser every spring.
    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
  • Forester_PeteForester_Pete Posts: 175
    Just a quick note to remember this is a forest tree. If it goes into the ground it will grow very big quite quickly. Good for your carbon footprint but maybe not right for every garden. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Indeed @Forester_Pete - it's why they're used for Christmas trees.  :)
    It would be good if @SueF11 could offer more info - the type of pot and size of it, for example. It's hard to tell what size it is too. 
    I have a fir which has been potted for a few years without any problem, but I planted it out earlier this year, because it's too awkward to keep moving it up in pot sizes.  It'll be allowed to grow until it's around four or five feet, and then it'll get chopped for C'mas. 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I have just sown seeds for abies nordmann as I like their form but I do have the space for them to get as big as they need and, assuming I get more than one to germinate, I shall keep one or two in pots for use as house trees at Xmas - outside by the front door.

    For inside we have given up buying rooted trees as they always die and I don't want to be heaving a large 2m tree about anyway so we buy a cut version as soon as they appear in early December and keep it in a quiet spot in a bucket of water until we bring it in to decorate it.
    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
  • SueF11SueF11 Posts: 19
    Hi. Thanks for the replies. The tree is about 2ft high. It was in a small 8” pot that we bought it in last Christmas. I repotted into a bigger 13” plastic pot in September this year. 

    It had lots of new growth and was looking well until recently when we noticed that some needles were starting to go brown. When I touched the branches the needles just fall off. 

    We bought it so the kids can put some lights on at Christmas to have next to our front door. 
  • SueF11SueF11 Posts: 19

  • SueF11SueF11 Posts: 19
    @Fairygirl @Obelixx

    thanks for your messages. I’ve posted a few more photos. 

    Forgot to mention, after reporting we did give it a feed of miracle grow plant food. 

    It is watered regularly, soil moist but not sat in water. 

    Totally at a loss what’s gone wrong. Will get some soil and try to repot but I fear I’ll be left with a bare tree and a pile of needles if I try to move it! 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's been dry at some point. They'd need watered every day - a lot, in dry spells to keep them from browning. Once brown, those bits won't re grow.

    They don't need food of any kind, they just need decent soil, moisture and room. It won't survive in that wee pot, especially as it's terracotta, as they absorb moisture all the time. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
    SueF11 said:
    @Fairygirl @Obelixx

    thanks for your messages. I’ve posted a few more photos. 

    Forgot to mention, after reporting we did give it a feed of miracle grow plant food. 

    It is watered regularly, soil moist but not sat in water. 

    Totally at a loss what’s gone wrong. Will get some soil and try to repot but I fear I’ll be left with a bare tree and a pile of needles if I try to move it! 
    I’m not sure that they can recover once the needles are dried/brown so if they fall off, they fall off.

    If still alive new growth will happen at the top, but nordmann fir are pretty slow growing, so I would give it a good shake now - if you are left with a twig, then it’s time to visit the Christmas tree farm :)
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