Loquat Plant Troubles

Question

Hi, I have a couple of loquat plants that have been growing slowly from seeds for about 2-3 years now. they were in a pot with a big palm tree. it was doing not great but ok – sometimes a new leaf would spring and then some would fall but was growing taller to about 2 feet or so. the palm started outgrowing the pot a lot – sticking up and and up from the soil so i took both plants out and left the palm tree in a separate pot and put the loquats in another bigger pot with some new soil, hoping since they have their own big pot and soil will settle in better and grow much faster. it wasn’t the case sadly. taking the loquat out of the palm tree pot was a bit complicated, their roots were tangled with the ones of the palm (the palm tree roots by the way are huge and swirl in the pot many times) but was able to separate them with i believed to be the minimum damaged possible. i just had to cut one ling thin root of one of the plants. so then the problem is that they did not settle at all in the new pot. i put some more corse soil mix to allow water to drain faster (i read they don’t like to sit in water) and watered very frequently hoping to get to a point where they settle an then switch to less watering. that didn’t work, tried it for 3 weeks or so, the plants got more and more droopy, the leaves got more dry and started falling, so about a week ago i took one of the plants and put it water, just water in a container with just a bit of soil floating on top, to see if that will do anything. seems it doesn’t, so i’m not sure if there’s anything else i can do to save them. i do think the problem is that they are very dry (the leaves get very dry and brittle) but maybe it’s something else? i have watered them a lot, i don’t think they are overwatered – the roots are very firm, not rotten at all. hope someone has some suggestions. tnx.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Answer 1

That soil is very overwatered!!! I would advise starting with a fresh plant and putting it into a planter that has drainage holes to allow all extra water out.

Overwatering without a thorough dry out between (at least down to 2 or 3 inches) will not allow gas exchange to the roots. This will mean root suffocation, rot, and death.

If you would like to make an attempt at saving this one- Put it into a pot with drainage holes, and a saucer, to allow the water out. Then let it dry, very thoroughly, down to 2 or 3 inches or so. It should be bone dry down to that depth before watering again.

Here is an article that will help:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/loquat/growing-loquat-fruit.htm

Here is an article to help you with testing soil moisture:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/testing-moisture-in-plants.htm

Answer 2

hi - thanks for replying. so actually the plants are separated - one is with a container with just water and very little soil on top, the other one is in a pot with soil with a proper drain hole, i took one and put it a water container because they were not doing well in the pot with soil. when i did that, i inspected the roots and there's no rott at all, in fact hey seem very dry, hence i put them in a container with water. hte one in the pot i left and i'm not watering at all but neither are recovering at all - leafs are very dry and almost pulverize to the touch after a few days.