Two weeks ago, I asked a question here (https://www.torontomastergardeners.ca/askagardener/my-pussy-willow-leaves-are-turning-brown/) about my pussy willow. From that moment, I put it in the sunlight whenever it was sunny (unfortunately we did not have too many sunny days), and water it every other day, it’s soil was always wet.
But I feel things became worse, as almost all of its leaves turned brown. I do not know what can I do to rescue it, and because of the pandemic, I am unable to find anywhere to bring it for consultation. I attached a picture, you can see there are still some green leaves but the majority of the leaves turned brown.
Please, let me rescue it, I do not want to loose it.
Judging from the picture you’ve sent, your tree is indeed in distress.
Willows are trees that can grow to be quite large and are really meant to be planted in the ground outside rather than housed in pots indoors. This may be where some of your problems begin. Your plant was more than likely nursery grown in artificial conditions which the average home cannot replicate. Below are my thoughts on what could be the cause.
- Not enough light
- Pot looks to be too small for the size of the tree and roots could be unable to take up enough nourishment & moisture
- House temperature may be too warm – remember some Willow species can be hardy to zone 2 (that’s down to around -40 degrees C)
- Insect Pests – Aphids, Scale, Carpenter worm, Leafroller caterpillars or other Boring insects
- Diseases – Scab, Galls, other Fungal leaf diseases.
So, what would I do? I’d find a large space in your garden, away from your house, and plant it outside right now. Dig a good sized hole, loosen the roots when you take it out of the pot and spread them around in the hole – do not plant it any deeper than it was planted in the pot. Then re-fill the hole with the soil you removed and tamp everything down. Once this is done, water the tree in and water it every few days.
While you’re doing this, you can check it for signs of insects or disease. If you find signs of either you may need to spray it with an insecticidal soap or fungicide.
Also, remember to remove any leaf debris from around the base of the tree on an ongoing basis. It would also be beneficial to top dress around the tree with either well rotted compost or sheep manure, remembering to keep the dressing a few inches away from the trunk base.
Of note, Willows, when stressed can drop their leaves, even in the middle of summer, and may remain bare for the remainder of the year. Rest assured, most of them will leaf out again the following spring. So, be patient, your plant may look like a stick in the ground this year but if you continue to care for it, it just may surprise you next spring or sooner.