User/Human error-Yaupon Holly

[LoriAnn]

A couple of weeks ago I posted about some white fuzz. Received great responses and after taking said advice, it cleared up. Now, this human is working on correcting yet another issue with this little tree. First, I live in Vermont. I have a Juniper, a baby Jade and this Yaupon Holly. I have leaves darkening up and the watering schedule does not seem to fit with the others. Nor does the temp outside when I open the window and put them in it for fresh air and occasional sun (working on the sun). I did some research to find the different temps tolerable for each to find I think I might have chilled this one and not watered enough. Side note, I do not have a green thumb but I tell you what... I will continue my researching and try my best. She, yes she seems a little better today, and I will continue what I'm doing for a few more days (correcting my bad human actions) to see if more progress. I write this post for one of two reasons, one...is there something else beside the obvious I should look at correcting? And, two... Someone else might do the same.

 

[makarovnik]

Do you keep it inside? Just asking because you said you give it's occasional sun. They need full sun to part shade.

 

[LoriAnn]

Do you keep it inside? Just asking because you said you give it's occasional sun. They need full sun to part shade.

Yes, living in Vermont we are in Spring time which has been a harsh Spring. For example, tonight it will hit probably 32 degrees fahrenheit. So not a lot of outdoor time yet. I have only had it just less than a month and it came from a California business.

 

[LoriAnn]

Yes, living in Vermont we are in Spring time which has been a harsh Spring. For example, tonight it will hit probably 32 degrees fahrenheit. So not a lot of outdoor time yet. I have only had it just less than a month and it came from a California business.

When temps were hitting 50 I was putting on windowsill.

 

[Anthony]

Might it not be easier to grow something from Vermont ?
I am sure you gals / guys have shrubs.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Anthony]

Juniper,Jade and Yaupon all live down here in the Tropics in full sun.
So you could try and find a south window.

 

[LoriAnn]

Thanks for the response Anthony! It does get sun, I was just afraid that I may have put it on an open windowsill with temps too low (about 45 - 50f). So may have chilled it? For example, this morning when I left for work, temp was 30f. At lunch it will be 55 so they will be getting atleast a half day of fresh air and hopefully sun (if it stays out!). And yes, I could just take a shrub from around here, but that would be too easy (I seem to always take the hard road haha). I am also ordering a couple of plant/grow lights for when sunshine is rare to help. So hopefully will see a big difference.

 

[Lazylightningny]

My understanding is that the yaupon holly is a southern species, USDA zone 6-9ish. Yours will likely not thrive. There are lots of good holly species for your area, though.

 

[LoriAnn]

Thank you for the honesty Steve. Looks like I have a downhill battle on my hands. Lamps will arrive Saturday. Will atleast go out fighting!

 

[Lazylightningny]

I wish I could tell you how many plants I've killed. I'm like a regular Jeffrey Dahmer of trees.

 

[LoriAnn]

The Yaupon Saga continues, but it seems to be holding or on an upward swing. I had many leaves before turning a brownish red due to our lack of sunlight. The lamps I purchased have seemed to get this tree going a bit. And we have finally been graced with good weather and sunshine so that has helped. I have lost a lot of leaves but expected it to be down to twigs by now. And it's not! So will keep up the march. I do have another question though, the base of the trunk seems to be growing more out of the soil. I am wondering if I should do a replant. The root base seems to have doubled. Or do I still leave it?

 

[Potawatomi13]

Jade very frost sensitive. Juniper never inside as are desert, mountain cold/hot country trees used to much exposure at times going from high 70s day to frost at night. Do not know Yaupon Holly.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

I wish I could tell you how many plants I've killed. I'm like a regular Jeffrey Dahmer of trees.

LOL, did you eat them, too?

 

[Mellow Mullet]

The Yaupon Saga continues, but it seems to be holding or on an upward swing. I had many leaves before turning a brownish red due to our lack of sunlight. The lamps I purchased have seemed to get this tree going a bit. And we have finally been graced with good weather and sunshine so that has helped. I have lost a lot of leaves but expected it to be down to twigs by now. And it's not! So will keep up the march. I do have another question though, the base of the trunk seems to be growing more out of the soil. I am wondering if I should do a replant. The root base seems to have doubled. Or do I still leave it?

If it is in poor health, I would not repot. However, the appearance of the leaves looks like it may be caused by a soil condition; too wet or dry. It is hard to keep the proper moisture levels in bonsai pot with potting soil, especially inside. Could you post a better picture of the foliage?

 

[LoriAnn]

My apologies, just seeing this now. Thank you for your response! I will see if I can get a better pic. Still at a standstill. I half expected all leaves to fall off but only some do with moving the pot or a wind/breeze. Definitely seems brittle but yet not. I have flip flopped from watering daily to not. Which is probably not helping my cause.

 

[GrimLore]

I have flip flopped from watering daily to not.

If it is getting light indoors I would suggest an inexpensive timer and give it no less then 16 hours a day. Also, at your windowsill during the night it is most likely far colder then you think especially at 40F or below outdoors. A nearby heat vent can also be problematic.

If it is in potting soil you most likely are watering it to much or better said more then the plant can process or use. Take a skewer and put a LOT of holes in the soil from top to bottom - slowly. Next after the light and temperature thing is under control only water when the top inch or so is dry. My guess would be twice a week but a check daily with a wood toothpick, skewer, or chopstick will tell you for certain.

They can be grown indoors but require those things and more to flourish. For now get it robust and growing and do not fertilize until it is.

I am not certain "nor can anyone else be" that it will recover but I am certain doing as above will give it the best chance.

Welcome to indoor growing nightmares

Grimmy

 

[LoriAnn]

If it is getting light indoors I would suggest an inexpensive timer and give it no less then 16 hours a day. Also, at your windowsill during the night it is most likely far colder then you think especially at 40F or below outdoors. A nearby heat vent can also be problematic.

If it is in potting soil you most likely are watering it to much or better said more then the plant can process or use. Take a skewer and put a LOT of holes in the soil from top to bottom - slowly. Next after the light and temperature thing is under control only water when the top inch or so is dry. My guess would be twice a week but a check daily with a wood toothpick, skewer, or chopstick will tell you for certain.

They can be grown indoors but require those things and more to flourish. For now get it robust and growing and do not fertilize until it is.

I am not certain "nor can anyone else be" that it will recover but I am certain doing as above will give it the best chance.

Welcome to indoor growing nightmares

Grimmy

Grimmy thank you! I read up on the temps it can stand and even though I live in Vermont, not crazy enough to have windows open at 40 or below. Pretty sure I am dealing with the light aspect. Which is why I bought the lights. I tried to take a couple more pics this morning from outside, as lighting unless in window or under these lights is not great inside. They still are not good photos but this tree is holding on. With it seeming so brittle I want to water it more. It is getting more light and yes, I know it may not survive, but want to try my best.

 

[LoriAnn]

So I came home tonight still totally frustrated with this Yaupon Holly. Read about removing some of the leaves so the tree could focus on more growth. When I picked up the tree, yes a few leaves broke off as they were brittle but there are still many that are holding tight. Wrinkled my nose and got my snippets out and ready. Lifted up the tree and put it really good to eye level and there is new growth coming from the trunk! Now I'm afraid to do anything because maybe it's getting better, but yet I still wonder about clipping some. The growth is not where I would have thought to look but it's growth! To clip or leave alone??

 

[cbroad]

Scratch the little branches with a knife or your fingernail, start from the periphery and work your way to the interior of the plant, checking down the length of the branches. If the branches are scratching yellow or brown they're probably dead and can be pruned off, but if they scratch green they're still alive and could flush new growth.