I received a dappled willow tree as a Mother's Day gift, and I'm planning to pot it on my patio, which gets about 6-7 hours of afternoon sun. I forgot to water it for a few days, so I gave it a thorough watering on Wednesday. Then, unexpectedly, we had a ton of rain. Now, two days later, it's half brown, and the leaves are falling off. Could this be due to overwatering or too much sun? Is there any chance it can be saved, or is this just not the right spot for it? Oh, and just to clarify, it's still unplanted in the pot!
2 Answers
It sounds like your tree got a bit too much sun along with the watering situation. Dappled willows can tolerate some shade, but the intense afternoon sun might not be ideal, especially if it’s been dry. You might want to check your watering habits, too. Make sure the pot has drainage holes so it doesn't get waterlogged—that could lead to root rot.
I've got a dappled willow too, and mine thrives in full sun—though I'm in a different hardiness zone (zone 7) so that might play a role. If you’re in zone 8b, it's essential to keep the water up, especially in the hotter months. It could just be the transition stress from being in a pot, but watch out for overwatering as well!
Good tip about the drainage! I've heard they do prefer consistently moist soil but not sitting in water. How's the pot situation looking?