I have a Panachee, overwintered in the garage, has been outside since April 1, has broken dormancy and seemed fine. Squirrels kept digging around the roots so I covered the container rim in black plastic bag with bungee cord, but I've been watering daily around the roots. Starting yesterday, the leaves have looking sad, sickly and droopy. They look worse in person than in the pics. I opened the plastic to ventilate. Help! Any suggestions?

I would move it indoors or shade untill it heals itself

Daily watering? Plus plastic covering? Too wet would be my guess, Rafael.

I agree with too wet ! 

We'll try dring her out then!

Although I have to wonder, if the container drains well, the plant is not "drowning." A daily spritz during growing season is supposed to be normal. So am not sure about this.

last yr, i got some Panachee cuttings from jon. it was too many, gave away most and kept 3. only one made it. rest all died in 1 gal. i think Panachee is rather sensitive to water.

While I agree it could be too much moisture, I would think heat build up would also be an issue.  You may want to cover the containers with something that breathes such as window screen material or hardware cloth.

Not sure how old the plant is and how cold it was in your garage?

Also you should be able to stick your finger in the pot and tell if the soil is too moist.  If it is then the bottom of the plant could have started to rot.  In that case you are in an emergency situation.

Another scenario depending how cold it got in your garage is that the stem could have suffered winter kill and now that it has broken dormancy and the bud leafed out the stem can't support the canopy.  That whole stem may die but you should get a new shoot coming up from the roots later.

Good luck with it.

Hottest day of the year so far (87f) Put it in the shade and take off the plastic bag.

I echo RichinNJ.  I've had this problem many times here in CO and it was because of our intensive sun/heat on a young tree with very little root system. Put it in the shade for a bit until it builds back up from the squirrel issues, then slowly return to sunlight. Can almost guarantee you heat/sun is the issue. Especially with a BLACK plastic bag to absorb even more heat from the sun at the roots too, which should be cool. A light colored fabric or something similar should do.

Hope that helps.

Hi rafaelissimo,
How many stems does the tree have ?
Did they all wilt ?
On my biggest ufti fig tree, I have one stem where its higher five centimeters with 3 shoots decided to dry out . Under that height the stem is still healthy and making leaves ... So if it is only one (part of a/) stem, it should be ok .

You don't tell about what kind of pot you have the tree in. Do you have a reservoir/plate with remaining water. If so remove the plate for now if your climate is still rainy - as mine for the moment.
Check the dirt . is it dry near the trunk ? Root bound pot ?
I would try putting the tree in a shady position for one or two days . Tell us if the leaves perk up .
Is the potting mix fine pine bark ? Too much draining perhaps ? The tree would perhaps want more water - then put a plate with water under the pot ... :P

Thanks Edoukas, I brought it inside to a sunny place and sprayed a little nutrition on the droopy leaves last nite. They look like they are dying still.

JDS this is a 10-gallon pot, well draining. It is filled with a mixture of Pro-Mix Mycorrizae, Mushroom Compost, Sand and Pelletized limestone, plus my fertilizer combo. And Pine Bark mulch on top. The plant is not root bound, I just transplanted it this spring, it is a fairly small root mass. But it is a 3 foot tall single branch with two terminal buds at the tip, like a grilling fork. Both leafed out, both are drooping and wilting. I put my finger in the soil, it was moist but not drenched.