Question
QUESTION: Dear Ms. Bakerplanter,

My question is regarding the powder puff tree. I'm having trouble with mine.  

The trunk of one is about 2 inches in diameter. This has half of it dried up because a vine grew on it and I was not wise enough to take it off in time. The other half which survived was growing very well. Adjacent to
it is a smaller growth of one inch diameter, which was also growing well. The height of both is about 8 feet. Last week a helper (not a gardener) used a carpenter's saw to remove the dead twigs and branches from the dried half. I am thinking that the trees may have been shaken too much from the sawing, the soil loosened, and that the roots got disturbed. That's all I can think of as a reason for the poor growth (the leaves drooping and some yellowing and falling off). After the helper sawed off the dead branches, it had been raining for about a week. Three days ago I noted the leaves drooping. The leaves naturally droop when the sun is not out or at night, and so I thought little of it. The leaves have two lobes that fold at night, as if in prayer, and open up in the day time. Yesterday and today the sun has come out but my powder puffs continue to have this sudden poor growth.

I do not think it is a problem with overwatering, although I admit I have been quite fastidious about it.  A potted one has for the longest time constantly been wet and thrives.  

I called up the Bureau of Plant Industry today and talked with an agriculturist. He said that the shaking would not disrupt the roots of an established tree. But I wonder because when I thought about it, I tried to push the tree and noted the base moved a little, it did not seem as fixed as before. I don't know if it was just because of the rain that loosened the soil, but I got worried. I added some more soil to stabilize the base.

I live in the Philippines. The trees have been there for about 10-15 years in our garden.  I inherited them from my parents. I am praying really hard that they will experience natural healing if the roots were just disturbed or if the roots have been water clogged because of the rains.

A friend suggested to spray with alpha naphthalene acetic acid with vit B (ANNA)plant growth hormone, but the agriculturist said no.

I tracked you down through Google.

Thanks so much.
Beth



ANSWER: Let it dry out. . . .Bring the soil to a state of slight dryness between watering, and then thoroughly saturate the soil. They can tolerate dryness but suffer when dried severely, especially when fertilizer salts are high in the soil. For this reason close attention needs to be paid to the frequency of watering. This is a tree that needs oxygen in the soil, and if the soil is too wet, it drowns.
As for the loose roots, that too could be from the wet soil. If the surface of the soil is wet and the subsoil is dry, the roots will stay on the surface and not go deep enough to hold the tree. To correct this, water deeply, then let the surface dry. If there is danger of the tree tipping over, it may be necessary to put a loose support wire on it.
Pruning the heavy branches may give the roots time to catch up with the top. Don't prune it after mid summer. Be careful not to over prune. A light trimming will quickly grow back if the roots are healthy.
The more sun you can give it the better. Too much shade will cause the growth to slow and it will be spindly.
They need year around warm temperatures above 40 degrees.
Moderate to low amounts of fertilizer on a continuous basis. Fertilize with 1 tsp per gallon once a week of a balanced fertilizer when in active growth and temperatures are warm, but not hot. Discontinue in winter especially under short days and cool night temperatures.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Ms. Bakerplanter,

Around this time in the Philippines, the rains come.  Fortunately, it has not been very heavy.  The tree has weathered being flooded or really really wet for about 2-3 weeks straight at one time.  That's why I think it was the shaking that caused its poor growth.

Could you give me your comment on the plant growth hormone?  Would it work when the tree is already fully grown? If yes, how should I apply it?

Can you give me an idea of how to keep the soil around the tree drier even if it rains?  Will placing a plastic sheet on the soil around the tree when it rains, help?

Are the 40 degrees you mentioned in Fahrenheit or Celsius?  Temperatures here range from 29-30 degrees Celsius during rain and an average 31-32 on a good day, 33-34 at the height of the summer season. We don't have winter.
Thank you so much again.

Beth


Answer
The shaking may have loosened some of the main roots.
The hormone will do little, if anything to help the tree.
Yes putting the plastic around the tree will help keep the soil drier.
The 40 degrees was Fahrenheit. I am sure you would not have to worry about it getting too cold there, like we do where I live.
I would suggest that you give it some time to adjust, and put down new roots. If it needs support, put a temporary line on it, so that it doesn't get more damaged in strong winds. When you see new growth, then you will know that it has new roots, and you can take the support off.