Keep it in open shade (shade that has open sky above, like on the north side of a fence or building) and out of the wind. Tenting to reduce water loss through transpiration would be helpful.

Al

Hi Tapla,
Yes right now I have it in shade under the orange tree (north side of a block wall, the orange tree shields it from winds, still gets plenty of light under there). Several days ago I placed a saucer under the container so it will retain moisture, since the pot was draining quickly. I looked at it last night and it seems there is hope for the growing tip. The older leaves have withered away and dropped off, but I am keeping my finger crossed on that growing tip. Any other tips other that just keeping a watchfull eye?

Yes - remove the saucer. Ideally there should only be enough water in the medium that it is about as wet as a well-wrung sponge, and the entire medium should be well-aerated. I would encourage you to employ a wick through the drain hole to aid you in removing any excess water the medium might be retaining. Later, when the tree is established and the additional water retention considered a +, you can simply remove the wick.

The tree is so genetically vigorous that if it was growing in the ground, it should have the energy reserves to push another flush of growth. If you're seeing activity at distal growing points, you should have high hopes for a full recovery. Do wait to fertilize though, until at least one of the branches is showing a second leaf. Fertilizer in the medium tends to slow root colonization of the media AND inhibits water uptake, which is probably the most important issue at this point.

Good luck.

Al

Hi Al,
I did not see your response till just now. I have kept the saucer under the pot to keep it moist. I just looked at it today and placed a stake it in to kinda support the stick it has become because it dropped all it's leaves. I wish I now dug it up and not the gardener. I don't know if there was root damage. I was thinking as well , as you said, to remove the saucer next time I go to my mom's. The top part of the stem seems a bit soft, should I worry, or do you think it will recover. I know only time will tell, but just wondering if I was wasting time or not. I really would like to see it survive.

I'll take a second to muse ..... or ramble if you don't care for musing. ;o) It depends on your perspective as to whether or not you're wasting time. Most true plant people take their failures or shortcomings in stride, and revel in their successes, but you have to take the chance, first. Don't worry, I'm not pointing at you when I mention failures or shortcomings. I include myself in that group as well; we all have our share of both.

I think the people who care about plants don't necessarily welcome failure, but they do look at it as a learning experience. Those we look up to as having 'green thumbs' are often those who have taken the time to learn how plants work and what they like, but are always those who have learned the limits of what plants will tolerate through practical experience; and at the expense of many a plant, I might add. ;o) Our successes aren't the only stuff green thumbs are made of, failures also pave the way, helping us on our march to becoming 'plant people'; so I hope you don't still harbor the feeling you might have been wasting your time.

You will need to just wait and see what develops. Think damp instead of wet (soil), and it wouldn't hurt to prune off obviously soft parts back to sound tissue. Hopefully all will be well in the end, but if not, the bright side is, what you've learned will increase the odds of success next time.

Good luck.

Al

Well said, Al
Cath

Okay Al your going to make me cry after that. Bad plant mommy bad. I did not mean to make it seem so harsh. I have rescued plants from the trash before and brought them back to life. I guess I am so intimitated by having a fig that I just purchased from Home Depot that looks like a topiary so cute, and this one I just realized was growing in my mom's yard wild. I asked if she and dad ever planted a fig and she said no. The neighbor said it must have been a bird and it's droppings cause it was right by the fence. So yes Al, I will wait it out and see what happens I hope I can save it I truly do. I hope I can do well with the other. I would like to plant it in the ground. I read your's and so many others about the intricacy of dirt. Can you name that list and the ratio. I plan on having a container a little set into the garden flower bed dirt.

I hope you know I wasn't trying to make you feel bad - quite the opposite. I was trying to get you to see the bright side and not be so hard on yourself, in case things don't work out, and letting you know we all goof up from time to time.

About the soil - there are a couple mixes I use and provided recipes for that are widely used by GWers. If you let me know which one you're talking about (the 5:1:1 mix or the gritty mix?), I'll point you in the right direction for more specifics.

BTW - I saw you were over at the Bonsai Forum. Don't forget to revisit the 'unusual bonsai thread'. I posted a bonsai geranium and snapdragon for you to ck out.

Al