I bought a monkey puzzle tree around a foot high and planted it in a very
large tub in my garden in the north of scotland, I have seen other mature
trees around my area so know that they will grow.

It seemed to be ok and looked like new growth was slowly happening but just
lately i have noticed that the ends of a few of the fronds ( sic ) have gone
brown for about an inch or two and look like they are rotting, if i touch
them the brown spiky leaves come off in my hand.

Could I have overwatered or should so young a tree be indoors in our winter
?

TIA
Bob

"..... Could I have overwatered or should so young a tree be indoors in our
winter ......."

I would have thought that the heavy rains in the last few weeks could have
made your compost to wet,

--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk
***2004 catalogue now available***

The message
from "woodco" contains these words:



I bought a monkey puzzle tree around a foot high and planted it in a very
large tub in my garden in the north of scotland, I have seen other mature
trees around my area so know that they will grow.

It seemed to be ok and looked like new growth was slowly happening but just
lately i have noticed that the ends of a few of the fronds ( sic ) have gone
brown for about an inch or two and look like they are rotting, if i touch
them the brown spiky leaves come off in my hand.

Could I have overwatered or should so young a tree be indoors in our winter
?

TIA
Bob

Bob,

I live in the NE of Scotland have around 15 around a foot height and had
the same problem. Whilst hardy, they do require some protection from
cold winds in their early years and do not like their roots in very wet
soil. I have mine in fairly freeing draining soil, so all I did was
relocated the pots to a semi-sheltered spot. We lost the brown fronds,
but new growth started to appear the following year. However, we did
lose a couple I'm sorry to say.

--
Stuart Wright
Artloch Fishery - Huntly

The message
from "woodco" contains these words:



I bought a monkey puzzle tree around a foot high and planted it in a very
large tub in my garden in the north of scotland, I have seen other mature
trees around my area so know that they will grow.

It seemed to be ok and looked like new growth was slowly happening but just
lately i have noticed that the ends of a few of the fronds ( sic ) have gone
brown for about an inch or two and look like they are rotting, if i touch
them the brown spiky leaves come off in my hand.

Could I have overwatered or should so young a tree be indoors in our winter
?

TIA
Bob

Bob,

I live in the NE of Scotland have around 15 around a foot height and had
the same problem. Whilst hardy, they do require some protection from
cold winds in their early years and do not like their roots in very wet
soil. I have mine in fairly freeing draining soil, so all I did was
relocated the pots to a semi-sheltered spot. We lost the brown fronds,
but new growth started to appear the following year. However, we did
lose a couple I'm sorry to say.

--
Stuart Wright
Artloch Fishery - Huntly

In article , woodco
writes


I bought a monkey puzzle tree around a foot high and planted it in a very
large tub in my garden in the north of scotland, I have seen other mature
trees around my area so know that they will grow.

It seemed to be ok and looked like new growth was slowly happening but just
lately i have noticed that the ends of a few of the fronds ( sic ) have gone
brown for about an inch or two and look like they are rotting, if i touch
them the brown spiky leaves come off in my hand.

Could I have overwatered or should so young a tree be indoors in our winter
?
If your tub has drainage holes it's more likely that it got to dry at
some point. I've never seen them grown in tubs - don't know how they'd
feel about that.

They are a bit tender when young - particularly unhappy about wind in
winter which dries them out. It's a bit early for winter to have had
that effect - I'd expect that to show in the spring - unless it's *last*
winter that did for it.

I killed our first one over winter, so when I replaced it, I erected a
windbreak around it in the autumn - twigs vertically in the ground,
interwoven with old montbretia foliage. That was enough to break the
force of the wind, and for the next two years I made slightly flimsier
windbreaks. The tree is now about 7 ft high and I don't anticipate it
needing any particular care in the future.
--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

[quote]Originally posted by Kay Easton
[b]In article , woodco
writes[color=blue]


Hi
I have got a Monkey Puzzle Tree which is now approx 4 feet in height.
Mine is potted up in a "large" Plant Pot and touch wood is doing well.
Good Drainage is important so you will need holes in the bottom of the container/pot.
Also it is advisable to protect them from Frost and Cold Winds, though mine is left out all year round it is in a very sheltered spot during the winter.
Regards and Fingers Crossed
Chris