Question
Hi,  I found my NIP in a crispy state this morning.  It is not near a baseboard heater, but with the recent cold here in Mass, the heat is on (about 65) and the humidity is low. It sits near a window that gets direct sun all afternoon and indirect sun all morning.  I put the plant into the tub and soaked the water and sprayed all the leaves.  Is my beautiful plant a lost cause?  Will all my leaves fall off?  is there anything that I can do to assist it in recovery?

Answer
Hi Jean,

I doubt that cold or low humidity are the cause of the problem. The light seems about right. That leaves soil moisture and root damage as the likely source of the problem.

If the soil gets too dried out, even once, the needles will dry up and eventually fall off. On the other hand, if the soil was kept too moist for an extended period of time, eventually the roots rot and can no longer absorb water, causing the needles to dry up.

Give your tree a good vigorous shake and run your hands over the needles. Any needles that fall off easily are beyond recovery so you might as well remove them now rather than let them fall off each day.

Other than watering properly, there is nothing you can do. The damaged fronds will not recover. If the cause of the problem is corrected, then new growth should be healthy in the future.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.
   
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

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