A dying bottle brush tree is most likely suffering from stress brought about by an environmental factor that is negatively affecting.
In order to save the dying bottle brush, the first step is to correctly identify the cause of the problem. If you can do this, you will be able to provide faster, more specific treatment.
The most common reasons your bottle brush tree is dying may be iron chlorosis, scale insects, Verticillium wilt, cold temperatures, insufficient sunlight and callistemon sawfly.
In this article, we will discuss the possible reasons your bottle brush tree is dying, and how to save it.
Why is my bottle brush tree dying?
Iron chlorosis
If the leaves on your bottle brush are turning yellow, this is most likely due to iron chlorosis. When a plant has an iron deficiency, it will lead to a decrease in chlorophyll in the plant’s leaves. Eventually, the leaves will turn yellow and dry up, followed by the branches and the trunk, followed by probable death.
One cause of iron chlorosis is compacted soil. When the soil around the roots is compacted, there is less air space available. Clay is a type of soil that can get easily compacted and also has the least aeration. If oxygen is unable to pass through the soil and into the roots, the plant will lose its ability to properly absorb essential minerals such as iron, leading to chlorosis.
Another cause of iron chlorosis is improper watering. Giving either too much or too little water creates this problem. When you give the plant too much water, its leaves will become limp and soft and will turn yellow. Overwatering also causes root rot, which happens when roots are left to soak in waterlogged soil for long periods. In this situation, the roots drown and are no longer able to properly absorb minerals from the soil.
Underwatering also leads to chlorosis, because water is a required conduit for the transfer of minerals and nutrients from the soil into the roots. Thus, when water is not present, no minerals are absorbed.
You can fix iron chlorosis by adding iron chelate to the soil around your plant. Mix an ounce of iron chelate into one gallon of water and apply the mixture around the base of the tree. Keep it around six to twelve inches away from the actual trunk, though.
To avoid overwatering, make sure the soil is well-draining and not compacted. If the soil is just a bit compacted, you can try loosening it up and adding compost.
Knowing when to water the tree becomes much easier if you simply touch the soil. If the soil is dry, water the tree, but if the soil is still moist, wait one or two days before checking the soil again.
Pests
If your bottle brush leaves are turning yellow, it may have a scale insect infestation. These insects are quite small, but they form groups and cluster on the leaves and stem of the plant. They will feed on the sap, leading to the yellowing and deformation of the plant.
You can get rid of these pests by removing the affected foliage as soon as you see them. The larvae of the scale insects will appear yellow or orange against the foliage. You can use horticultural oil to kill them. Apply the oil once a week for one month to make sure that all of the insects and their larvae have been killed.
Make sure you keep your other plants away from the infested bottle brush tree while you are treating it, to reduce the chances of spread.
Another pest that attacks bottle brush trees is the callistemon sawfly. The larvae of this insect have translucent bodies and pointed tails, and will eat the juicy parts of the leaves, leaving only the veins.
You can get rid of the sawflies by cutting off any leaves that have larvae on them. If the infestation persists, use horticultural oil to get rid of both insects and larvae.
Verticillium wilt
This fungal disease causes the leaves of the bottle brush tree to curl. The fungus makes its way to the stem, or trunk, of the plant via the roots. As the fungus makes its way upwards, it causes destruction. When the infection reaches the plant’s vascular system, the leaves will start to discolor and deform, hence the curling.
You can confirm a Verticillium wilt diagnosis by cutting an infected leaf. If there are dark circles in the cross-section, then that means the tree has wilt.
You can save your plant by keeping it healthy to increase its resistance to the infection. Simply making sure you are watering and feeding the plant properly can do wonders in staving off the infection. If the infection is too severe and you are unable to save the plant, make sure you dispose of it properly. Leave the area fallow for at least a year before planting anything on it, and if possible, choose plants that are not susceptible to Verticillium wilt.
Cold temperatures
In the winter, the leaves on your bottle brush tree may turn brown and fall off because of the cold. It may worry you when the leaves fall off, but there is no reason to panic because as long as the branches of the tree are intact and healthy, it will be able to recover after winter has passed. Bottle brush trees are resilient and tough and will bounce back in no time.
Insufficient light
If your bottle brush tree is not blooming, the main reason is light issues. The tree needs at least five hours of sunlight every day in order to bloom normally. If you are keeping the plant indoors, make sure you keep it near a window where it can still get plenty of light. If the plant gets too much shade indoors, this may be why it is not blooming. If the plant is outdoors, it may be under the shade of a tall tree or the plants next to it may be blocking the light. Cut back the branches of the surrounding plants or trees to allow the bottle brush the light it needs.
Another reason your plant is not blooming may be untimely pruning. Prune the plant after blooming is done. Do not do it before blooming, as this can lose you plenty of buds. Ideally, prune the tree after the summer.
Conclusion
Your bottle brush tree is dying because there is an environmental factor causing the plant stress. The most probable cause is improper watering, but it can also be due to sunlight issues, pests and diseases. Keeping the plant healthy can help keep it hardy against these issues. As long as you provide this hardy plant with its basic needs to keep it happy, you should have no problem keeping it alive and thriving.
Image: istockphoto.com / cgdeaw