Question
QUESTION: Hello Kathy,
I have an angel trumpet that I am so concerned may be too far gone to help.  It was full, beautiful and blooming yellow flowers.  The tree has recently been transplanted from a mostly sunny spot to a full-sun spot and is in the ground.  White flies sucked the life out of the leaves and all the leaves dropped. I also note black, possibly mold, on the trunk and continuing onto some of the branches.  I sprayed with Neem oil and to no avail.  The flies, or something continued to adversely affect the plant.  Little budding leaves tried to survive, but didn't make it.  I tried a much stronger insecticide and thought it might work; however, we just experienced freezing weather here in Naples, Fl for over a week, which is quite unusual!  The branches are leafless and withering, and kind of mushy.  When I trimmed them back the core of the branch is either hollow, black, or white and mushy.  HELP, please!  Thank you, in advance, for your expertise.

ANSWER: Hi Carri,  My angel trumpet were hurt too.  Yours are probably hurt more because of transplant and the bugs and then the freeze.  If there is any life left it will come back from the trunk and send up new branches as long as there is some buds left on the stem.  Do not be too quick to remove, when plants are injured during freezes severely they take longer to come back.  I used Neem on the white flies to no avail and now I use Atomic Grow which I was finally able to get rid the that pest.  Angel trumpets are also attacked by nematodes that clog up the roots of the plant.  I have found by having good organics around the plant it has kept them away.  Nematodes love sand and I put down a layer of manure then top with mulch to help keep the plant cooler in the sun.  Again, mine were beautiful till the freeze.  I think it hit about 24 here maybe lower.  But from what I can tell it was mostly leaf loss.  kathy

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QUESTION: Ugh oh!  I think I goofed.  Firstly, thank you so much for your response to my original question.  When I began clipping a few of the spongy branches to find the hollow or soft centers, I was curious as to how much the tree was affected and began clipping it back pretty hard to find healthy-appearing branches.  Anyway I cut almost all the branches back hard and there is no green whatsoever.  Do you think there is hope?  Should I fertilize it with Miracle Gro?  I want it back!!  Again, thank you!

Answer
Hi Carri, Never use Miracle Grow as it has salt and chlorine in it that will slowly pollute and kill your plants.  You need to wait till the beginning of March to fertilize and use a slow release.  If you cut it back to where it is not mushy you still have a chance it can come up from the roots.  Do not be took quick on calling it dead.  I am in Sarasota about 20 miles in land and I know how cold it got and all mine should come back, I get as cold if not colder than you as I am also going down a hill.  kathy