It’s only a couple months old. It’s being grown under grow lights because it is now fall and it would not grow well outside. It was doing absolutely fantastic and then one day it started rolling its leaves downward. I am really afraid to overwater because I don’t want to cause root rot, but I don’t know if it’s overwatered or underwater because everything I look at on the Internet is telling me the signs for both are similar.
I am pretty new to growing plants of any kind, but I really wanted to grow a beautiful tree with my kids and plant it in our yard when we get a house in the future. I would feel awful for so many reasons if I kill this little tree. Can somebody please help me understand how to help it and what to look for the future with watering needs?
The top few leaves, to my knowledge, look fairly healthy! It’s common for a seedling to lose its lower leaves as it ages and needs more energy for nice, new, bigger leaves. Kind of like losing baby teeth.
Also, some plants require a dormancy period. Depending on what zone you are in, the plant likely needs this resting time to focus on it’s roots while waiting for the spring.
I agree. If you’re in a climate where it’s hardy through winter, you might want to consider putting it outside or at least in a cooler place like a garage. If you do put it outside you’ll need to gradually acclimate it to outside temps.
Seedling looks healthy enough right now but growing most trees indoors is difficult. Get it in the ground as soon as you can is my advice. Since it’s so small you could also wait until spring but there is a risk with keeping it indoors as well. Personally I like to grow my seedlings in batches because you’ll usually lose some but that way some make it through. You can alway give any extras away if you have too many.