What have I done?

[DavidBoren]

So, I've had this little Tamarack in this little pot for a few months... my daughter got this at a fair-thing at the end of 1st-grade... so, May-ish.

The pot has three holes in the bottom, and three rubber pads/feet that keep the bottom from touching the humidity tray. The sapling came with some soil bound in its root column, and its root column bound in wet paper towel/rubber bands/ziplock baggie (with the tree outside the bag).

I took it out, unwrapped the root column, and centered it in the pot. I filled in the remaining space with a perlite heavy potting soil... I think it's meant for succulants... perlite and earthworm castings, I believe. Regardless, it was what I had at the time, so it was what I used at the time.

I noticed what I believe to be spider mites, or at least their webs, but I was leaving out of state for a week. I watered it to saturation, and left. When I came back (a week later), there was some brown... it's summer, it was hot while I was gone... so I watered it to saturation, again. I think this was a mistake.

I had probably been overwatering it from the start, because I'm dumb. Tall pots also stay moist longer. My drainage holes are elevated off the floor of the humidity tray, but are not above the level of the water in said tray... so water can enter the pot through the drainage holes if the level in the tray is high enough.

I took the pot out of the humidity tray for a few days to let the tray dry, and any standing moisture to drain free from the pot. I have drilled a few rings of holes through the sides of the pot towards the bottom... about 8 holes in all... two rings of 4 holes each... these holes will be above the level of water in the humidity tray (even if it is full). I carefully stabbed holes with a long piece of wire through the soil from the top in circles around the base of the tree. And I kind of sawed/stitched a bunch of holes around the edge of the pot to create kind of an air layer there.

I got back and watered it the 19th. Took it out of the tray to dry the 20th. Drilled the extra holes in the pot the 21st. Today I went around the edge of the pot with the wire. I have only been misting the tree, itself, in the evenings... not enough to drip on the soil, though.

I am desperately trying to avoid an emergency repot midsummer, so what are my options? How bad have I messed up?

 

[Tums]

A week out in the sun with no water? I'm surprised it didn't just crisp up entirely. And it doesn't look overwatered to me, it looks limp and thirsty?

Anyway, there's an easy way to figure out if it needs watering. Put your finger in and check if it's dry an inch or two down. Then water it to saturation. I really doubt misting or a humidity tray will do anything in the great outdoors.

 

[DavidBoren]

Soil is still moist directly below the surface. My guess is it looks limp and thirsty because the roots are struggling to absorb water. But I really don't want to take it out of the pot just to look... It's only been in dirt a few months, any root new development would probably be destroyed trying to just separate the soil from said roots.

Mostly dead is still a little bit alive. And a little struggle never hurt nothing. Part of me wants to see how badly this wants to live... persevere, my friend. What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. And all that.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Looks like Douglas Fir personally(needles, bud scales). Hope it survives. Repot not recommended. Suspect problem may be too much disturbance/damage to roots, manhandling, drilling, poking many holes in pot and soil. Give careful dampness, partial sun and pray. Also metal pot may have gotten too hot. Keep trees feet cool.

 

[DavidBoren]

Well, I had to do SOMETHING... I wasn't prepared to just watch him die.

Today, I submerged the entire thing in a tub of water until the dirt was loose enough to slip it out of the pot. I kept the whole thing under water, and gently worked all the soil away from the roots. Most are dark brown, or worse [black mush]. I cut away the black, mushy roots... probably the bottom-most 30% of the root mass. I gently fanned out the remaining roots, and laid him down in the tray.

The "soil" is mostly aquarium gravel and dry sweep, with a scoop of potting soil tossed in the mix. A sprinkle of 10-10-10, and some water... here he is now:

 

[Paradox]

Good luck, but be prepared for the bad news. Its going to be a rough time for this tree to survive.
Id keep it in the shade and watch the watering. Dont overwater it and dont let it get dry. From your description, it had root rot which means it was probably too wet in the copper pot.
From the picture, it looks like the soil in that pot was much like potting soil? On top of that, the pot probably didnt drain well.
Just an FYI. Its usually not a good idea to fertilize a sick tree. Its better to let them recover first and start feeding them when you see signs of new growth.

 

[DavidBoren]

Good to know about the fertilizer. Thank you.

I probably should have done this repot a week ago, hopefully I didn't wait too long to act. We will see...

 

[ShadyStump]

I've done way worse, so don't get too down on yourself.
I imagine it's the fact that your daughter brought it home that's the real source of the anxiety. Been there too.

Trees like time. Everything you do with them, add a bit of time to the recipe.

Chopstick trick: jab a bamboo/wooden chopstick/skewer/whatever you have handy into the soil all the way to the bottom and leave it there. Use it as a dipstick to check soil moisture. Do it to EVERYTHING until you get a feel for the soil and the tree's water needs.

 

[DavidBoren]

It is absolutely the fact that it's my daughter's tree.

Otherwise, believe me, I am willing to kill some trees.

 

[ShadyStump]

It is absolutely the fact that it's my daughter's tree.

Otherwise, believe me, I am willing to kill some trees.

Well good luck!
Keep us posted, and an eye out for something pretty to replace it for her if you have to.