…… Dying Plant Question

[JMG91]

Hi all! Quick question for you plant pros out there:

I bought a whole bunch of new plants this year--plenty of them came beaten up, but I managed to save most of them. All except my Smokey Serviceberry. I think it got shocked by the sun when I put it out the first time, even though I put it in the shade, and its new leaves ended up dying off. Well, I trimmed back the dead green stem above the closest bud, watered it and waited; but, instead of sending out new leaves--or even all new stems from the bottom--it has begun shriveling from the top down and bending over. (Any plants that I have had do this in the past have died. ) It's basically a brown, woody stem sticking out of the dirt, and curling at the top.

I'd hate to lose it, since I've been waiting to get one of these for a while. If anyone can tell me what I'm doing wrong, I'd appreciate it!

 

[Dinghy]

I'm wondering if it had some type of disease? It sounds like what happened to my peach, elderberry, blackberry, and currant plants the last couple of years.

 

[JMG91]

I'm wondering if it had some type of disease? It sounds like what happened to my peach, elderberry, blackberry, and currant plants the last couple of years.

I'm not sure. I know that, for any of my plants that this has happened to in the past, it's been lights out. I do know that it was doing fine at first, when I had it inside, but the moment I moved it outside, it curled up. I think that I may have moved it out too soon and it got fried by the sun. I've since moved it into a more shady spot, but am unsure if there is a specific fertilizer that I can give it to help it. I'm VERY new to the world of regular plants, and am just kind of learning as I go.

 

[Dinghy]

I wish I had some advise for you, but I don't have a very green thumb! Lol A lot of plants like Epsom Salts. You could try giving it a little mixed in water. If it's dying any way, it can't hurt.

 

[JMG91]

I wish I had some advise for you, but I don't have a very green thumb! Lol A lot of plants like Epsom Salts. You could try giving it a little mixed in water. If it's dying any way, it can't hurt.

Really? I didn't know that! There are a lot of things I don't know--I'm kind of one of those 'learn as you go' people. I've found that, whenever I try to do things perfectly by following the instructions, doing everything according to what they tell me...I fail miserably. I've had more luck just getting in there and experimenting. Thanks, Dinghy!

 

[summerthyme]

TINY bits of epsom salts. It's the magnesium that is a necessary trace mineral, but emphasis on TRACE. Maybe a tablespoon in a gallon of water, and don't repeat often.

Unfortunately, it sounds like the plant is dead. You can mulch it (to shade the roots) keep it watered (not overwatered) and give it time, but I suspect it's not coming back. A certain amount of transplant death is pretty normal, even with healthy plants. When you start with "beaten up" plants, the percentages are lower.

Summerthyme

 

[JMG91]

Thanks for the suggestions! I watered with ES today--1 tbsp. to 1 gal.--and I guess we'll see what happens. Hopefully, this Serviceberry will completely shock me like the other plants on the porch did. Up until a few days ago, there was nothing left of them, then, they miraculously came back!

If it doesn't come back...ah, well, five outta six ain't bad. Fingers crossed for good results!