Delonix Regia struggling with new growth this year.

[senshisoldier]

My Delonix Regia was planted back in 2019. I leave it outside in the summer at a south facing side of the house so it gets lots of sun. I would do a monthly pellet fertilizer. Right now it is placed back outside so there is shade most of the day. In the winter it comes inside and is placed under a grow light. It typically would go dormant during the winter without much new growth but then liven up in the summer. This summer I brought it outside and the new growth of leaves/branches are tiny, less than an inch, that then turn brown and curl. New bud attempts are also browning. I attempted to change the soil a month ago and about 25 percent of the bottom of the roots fell off in my hand. It seemed fragile so I placed it back in the old soil and left it be for a few weeks before adding fertilizer.

Does the burning/drying leaves mean I need to bring my tree inside? Is it getting too much sun and the leaves are burning? Does this seem like root rot? Do I need to change the soil? Is the fertilizer harming it? Or is it just dying?

Currently, right after I trimmed the browned dead leaves. You can see the dead budding attempts on the left branch.




Earlier this summer you can see the very, very short new branches/leaves and you can see some of the browning/dying starting on the top right. This seemed a bit concerning as the size was much smaller than previous years but it is not as concerning as it is right now with the extreme browning.



Here it is last year with growth that seemed far more consistent with my other delonix regia for outside in the summer.



I'm a bit sad because two years ago this was my beautiful small tree forest, home to a praying mantis family that guarded all the trees from pests. I've tried many different types of trees since I started growing them in 2019 but this delonix regia was my very first that has survived longer than any other tree. From the kit I started with this tree and two other delonix regia were the only trees that even sprouted. Its two siblings died over the winter and never even started budding this summer. Is there anything left I can do to save it or do I have to give up and start again? Picture of happy forest from two years ago. Featured tree is in the middle.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Maybe root issues. Thats my guess Be careful with watering and see if it recovers.

 

[SWfloirda]

I don't want to be a downer but that's exactly what one of mine did this spring. It kept developing buds, turning black and getting new buds, that would also turn black. It eventually died. I am now down to four of them.

 

[Paul F.]

I’ve grown a lot of these trees. I have them in potting soil though especially in the beginning stages. Yours looks much older. I live in the Florida Keys and I keep them suckers in full sun (8 hours, at least) I let the soil dry out before watering. They usually close up their leaves when they get too much sun. Mine are about 3 months old. I just started a new batch because I lost all my good ones during hurricane Irma.. just getting back into it. I just transfered them from 4 inch pots into much bigger pots.

If I water mine too much the leaves start turning yellow and they drop. They grow super quick down here. More sun, more heat, faster growth.

We don’t have a winter so don’t have to worry about bringing it inside. I’m not sure that’s the best thing for them, honestly. They like also like humidity. I’m just guessing that might be your issue, not sure though. I’m not an expert but I’ve literally grown so many of these trees. I walk around my neighborhood and just pick up the giant pods on the ground. I have like 500 seeds…

Anyway, That’s my whole two cents.