White Champaca care

5 years ago

Hello!

We have purchased a White Champaca online a month ago. When it arrived, most of the leaves have brown spots. Seller told us not to worry, and the leaves will be repalced by new leaves in a few weeks.

A few laters a few leaves did fell, and we saw a few buds, but later turned out just new leaves.

One issue we saw is that the new leaves all curl up, and some of them have brownish tip.

We have only applied a a teaspsoon of Osmocote (15-15-15) a week ago, along with a table spoon full of worm casting (we do vermicompost on the side). When researching online, brown/burn tips indicated too much fertilizer. Anyone has any idea of how often, and how much, fertilizer and worm casting we should do? Wife was afraid the combo is too much for this little plant.. (its about 2ft tall now)

We water it twice a week if needed, and constantly checking the moisture of the soil. Since it was very humid since late last week, we have only watered it once.

Oh, we are in Central Texas.

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Comments (4)

Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Steve,

One thing you know to know about that tree..

A very good open and porous mix is the number one thing you need to use to be successful...

Slow release and worm casting at that amount won't do much in a porous mix but used in a solid peaty heavier mix it will combine with liquid fertilizer causing a salt toxicity in your mix killing that tree. They also love to be watered with rain water.

Watch for spider mites because once your tree starts to have any kind of stress, especially from a mix that holds too much moisture too long not allowing the roots to breathe, they attack
Steve Tom thanked Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
Steve Tom
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you Meyermike.

We did use a more porous mix, and try to prevent root rot from happening (seller advise).

We tried to put it outside int he morning for sun light, since around noon, or after, around here would be too much for it to bear. Unfortunately it was pretty windy in the last few weeks here. (We even got to below 80 degree.. in May!) so mostly we kept th eplant in door.

Hopefully it will thrive and maybe give us a few flowers.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
trees grow in tree time. which is counted in decades .. you have a lot of expectations in the short time youve had it ...

i dont see any suggestions that you repotted it.. and i would presume the grower grew it in an appropriate media ... it is not the time to be repotting.. imo ... but if you did.. thats another giant stress ...

your plants is stressed ... frrom shipping.. its new location.. etc ... and perhaps repotting... it is not hungry .... fert is not a response to stress ...

just water it properly.. and dont think about it ... OR WORRY.. for a month ... and then lets revisit this ..

short of a freeze.. weather is not an issue .. nor is humidity ...

place it so the plant get bright indirect light ...

let is near dry between waterings ...

what is your plan moving forward.. plant i ground.. or up pot??

sounds like your seller is giving you pretty good advice so far ... tend toward listening to him ...

i have killed more things with too much love.. than i ever did with benign neglect ... try to avoid the loving it to death part ...

ken
Steve Tom
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you Ken.

We ar enot repotting it or planning to put it into the ground. Will take your advice and observe how it does. More small leaves are coming out now. So thats a good sign.