Question
Hello - I have a relatively new canela tree that drops about 8 leaves a week.  Most of the plant looks healthy and the longest branch has sprouted new leaves at the tip.  However, many are turning yellowish and they're easy to knock off.  I see that the tree has axial buds all over it - will these turn into new leaves or do they serve another purpose?  Will  new leaves grow in place of the ones that have fallen off? It gets northern exposure all day and I'm watering it once a week.  I see no other problems with any other leaves on the tree - they'll just sporadically turn yellowish and fall off.  Thanks for any help you can give!

Answer
Alyssa,

Having no direct sun for a canela tree is wrong. It,like the ficus tree,will do much better with some sun. With no more sun than you are giving it you must keep it very dry, water it nor more than once every 2 weeks or very lightly once a week so that for most of the week it feels dry. With more sun your watering is about right. If you don't get it more sun and continuse watering at this level the roots will begin rotting due to the overwatering. The roots need a breathing period between waterings and they are not getting enough sun to use up the amount of water you are currently giving them. Moving it to a sunnier location will reduce the leaf drop.  During the summer you can move it outdoors to a semi shady location and it will get full again. Good luck.

Darlene