Hello,
This little Baobab tree is in trouble. It belongs to my brother and his wife and they have had it for close to 6 years. I think it was a wedding gift. Its traveled all over the world and has been through so much trauma and damage over the years but it always fights back and survives! When they left the country a couple months ago they decided to leave the Baobab with my Mother until they had settled down and could bring it somewhere more stable. I had been tending to it and left it outside during the summer months, watering it about once a week and it flourished and grew for the first time in its life! It was very happy outside and it thrived all the way into September. We live in Montreal, Canada, so I told my mother to bring it in at the end of September before it became cold and damp outside. She told me she would and not to worry, but unfortunately she's a workaholic and had a very tough month working overtime at the Hospital.
She completely forgot about it. When I came to pick him up and bring him to my apartment where my girlfriend and I could look after him for the winter, I found him in this nightmarish state. It's very sad because it was the first time this plant had ever been healthy and growing and its been alive for nearly 6 years!
I don't know what to do. It seems to be suffering from root rot. The top part and all its new branches from the summer are mushy, wet and dead. I transplanted it into fresh dry soil, because the soil I found him in was wet and cold. Fortunately, only the top part of the little trunk is rotten. The bottom 70% still has its hard and firm form. I have no idea what I should do at this point. I know this little Baobab is tough.. so should I take him out completely and let him dry out? Or should I water him small amounts? Should I cut off all that is rotten and corrupted? Even cut off the top 25-30% of its trunk? If I do cut away its corruption what do I do after that? If anyone can point me in the right direction I would be very grateful. My mother is distraught with guilt, and I am trying to do what I can to save this little Baobab before I give my brother and sister-in-law the sad news. Thanks!
Best,
Josh
This little Baobab tree is in trouble. It belongs to my brother and his wife and they have had it for close to 6 years. I think it was a wedding gift. Its traveled all over the world and has been through so much trauma and damage over the years but it always fights back and survives! When they left the country a couple months ago they decided to leave the Baobab with my Mother until they had settled down and could bring it somewhere more stable. I had been tending to it and left it outside during the summer months, watering it about once a week and it flourished and grew for the first time in its life! It was very happy outside and it thrived all the way into September. We live in Montreal, Canada, so I told my mother to bring it in at the end of September before it became cold and damp outside. She told me she would and not to worry, but unfortunately she's a workaholic and had a very tough month working overtime at the Hospital.
She completely forgot about it. When I came to pick him up and bring him to my apartment where my girlfriend and I could look after him for the winter, I found him in this nightmarish state. It's very sad because it was the first time this plant had ever been healthy and growing and its been alive for nearly 6 years!
I don't know what to do. It seems to be suffering from root rot. The top part and all its new branches from the summer are mushy, wet and dead. I transplanted it into fresh dry soil, because the soil I found him in was wet and cold. Fortunately, only the top part of the little trunk is rotten. The bottom 70% still has its hard and firm form. I have no idea what I should do at this point. I know this little Baobab is tough.. so should I take him out completely and let him dry out? Or should I water him small amounts? Should I cut off all that is rotten and corrupted? Even cut off the top 25-30% of its trunk? If I do cut away its corruption what do I do after that? If anyone can point me in the right direction I would be very grateful. My mother is distraught with guilt, and I am trying to do what I can to save this little Baobab before I give my brother and sister-in-law the sad news. Thanks!
Best,
Josh
. Good luck.
