Question
We live in the Memphis area.  I bought a Dawf Alberto Spruce tree about 4ft tall 2 1/2 months ago.  I transplanted it into a large cast stone pot, it was doing great for a 2 months until my husband read about putting dishwashing liquid solution (used was Dawn Antibactera) on plants to keep any bugs off (there were no bugs on the tree), so he sprayed much of my flowers, shubs, and trees. From that point on some of my flowers either died or the leaves turned brown, the needles on the spruce started turning brown, we transplanted it in the ground, within a weeks time the tree turned completly brown (is it dead?).  Also, we got alot of rain and the pot did not have drainage so the soil stay wet most of the time.  The pot was up against a brick wall that faced the west side which received alot of sun/heat. We want to replace this tree for one of the same kind but want to know what we did wrong?

Answer
LuAnn,
There are three things that I can say were done wrong.
The first is spraying the plants with a soap when it wasn't needed. Horticultural soaps such as neem or safer, are more refined and processed than dishwashing soap. They need to be applied when temperatures are cool and highly diluted in order to allieviate a phytotoxic reaction to the soap. Phytotoxicity causes the cell walls in the plants to explode, leaking their fluids and causing death. The fact that not only was the Alberta effected, but also the flowers around it, leads me to beleive that the spray solution was not diluted enough.
Second, Albertas are prone to root rot. So if the pots had no drainage, this would have stressed it out.
Third, the heat that is reflected off the brick wall behind it would eventually stress the plant, and encourage Spider Mite activity.
If you want to replace this plant, make some adjustments and do not spray them unless there is a problem.
Good luck.
Ed Gulliksen