Sick Kunzea baxteri

[PWC]

Picked this up a few months back, it was looking sad at the time and has now dropped all it's leaves. It has put out a few new shoots over the last few weeks but they fail to grow. I did a re pot when I first got it to check the roots and add new potting mix.

I checked the roots today and found that there was no new root growth, would this indicate too much water? If so is there any remedial action I can take to improve it's chances of survival? Would reducing it back be beneficial or leave it alone and dry it out and reduce the watering frequency.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[shibui]

For me, kunzea are on of those Aussie species that either grows really well or goes backward like yours. I'm pretty sure you are on the right track with root problems as the main issue and probably fungal. Fungal root problems are normally encouraged by wet conditions so prevent by paying closer attention to watering. A week or so of wet is not usually the problem, it's more when they are too wet for months on end.
I would start with a fungicide that treats root rot problems. It shouldn't do any harm and you may be lucky enough to have caught it in time.

Good luck with getting this one through the crisis

[PWC]

I would start with a fungicide that treats root rot problems.

Thanks for your reply,I have Yates Anti rot, and have not used it before. The directions say to use as a foliar spray, this would be ok but there is no foliage. Would using the mix ratio and watering the plant be effective or exacerbate the problem of wet soil?

[robb63]

Hi PWC
Could it be that it was collected just before you got it??
That would explain the lack of feeder roots when you repotted
When my collected kunzia show similar signs of new buds shooting then dyeing I expect to loose them.
So far very few have recovered from that point and all have had no fine roots when checked later on.
At this stage I would cut it back hard to the first secondary branch on each trunk.
I prefer sealing the cuts but not vital and then siting it in a water tray [take it out every few days to dry]
Your soil mix looks very course in the pic. I find they recover better in a finer mix.
I hope it bounces back for you

[shibui]

Yates appear to be emphatic that it should be applied to the leaves, not as a soil drench which obviously does not help when a tree has no leaves.
I do not know enough about AntiRot specifically. You could try spraying with it and hope those little green buds can take enough in or try it as a soil drench or look for another product that is meant for soil drench.

[PWC]

ould it be that it was collected just before you got it??
That would explain the lack of feeder roots when you repotted
When my collected kunzia show similar signs of new buds shooting then dyeing I expect to loose them.
So far very few have recovered from that point and all have had no fine roots when checked later on.
At this stage I would cut it back hard to the first secondary branch on each trunk.
I prefer sealing the cuts but not vital and then siting it in a water tray [take it out every few days to dry]
Your soil mix looks very course in the pic. I find they recover better in a finer mix.

It was sourced from a nursery, I like your suggestion of a finer mix, what are you using for your Kunzea?

You could try spraying with it and hope those little green buds can take enough in or try it as a soil drench or look for another product that is meant for soil drench.

I will try it on what foliage there is and hope for a positive result.