Have I Killed My Holly?

Stephcrossland

Bit random/very stupid I know but I found a bucket of water at the back of my garage so, as we were in that warm phase the week before last, I watered my Holly with it which is in a container outside my front door. Within a week every single leaf has died and fallen off. With hindsight, I suspect there was probably some bleach or cleaning fluid in the water that my cleaner had used for mopping the floor. Is there any chance of it coming back or do I accept it is dead and bin it?

Dovefromabove

Oh what a bu$$er!   We've all done something stupid like that once upon a time 

Save some pennies and treat yourself to another holly (I love hollies) and replace all the soil in the container and give it a good scrub out before planting the new one ... and don't beat yourself up about it 

Stephcrossland

Thanks for responding. I thought it might be beyond redemption. Such a shame as it had it's best year ever in producing berries.   Look like a trip to the garden centre is required! Thanks again. 

Fire

If it's a possibility, maybe put the pot in a quiet, out of the way place for a year. See what happens.

Dovefromabove

Yes, if there's a chance that the bucket may not have contained anything noxious, I'd put it in a quiet corner ... there's always the chance that it's brown leaves may be the result of the rotten winter/spring.  

But if you're sure it was nasty stuff I'd bin it.  

Stephcrossland

I am fairly sure. It literally went from very healthy to very dead within a week, that seems to be too fast for it to be weather related or other natural causes. However, I like a challenge so I do agree I should not give up fully. I'm going to re-pot it, I'll thoroughly wash the rootball, (but not with bleach this time), give it some new food and compost then stick it in a corner and see what happens. #prayforsteph'sholly. 

nutcutlet

Stephcrossland said:

Thanks for responding. I thought it might be beyond redemption. Such a shame as it had it's best year ever in producing berries.   Look like a trip to the garden centre is required! Thanks again. 

A trip to the garden centre.   

Argyranthemum

Did you water it while the hot sun was on it, if so it could be what caused it I would leave it until you can snap of a twig and it brown inside

Stephcrossland

It would have been about 6ish in the evening. It was a red hot day but not too bad by then.

Have re-potted it. There are 5 leaves remaining, all of which look healthy. Maybe only 98% dead.  Fingers crossed!

Thanks for everyone's comments.