HI Chops, I have checked the two Celeste trees in question and they have not gone dormant. The upper two/thirds of the trees are bare, while the lower third still has it's leaves. The tips of the bare branches are blackish in color. I found this in a Q&A on the ND State Univ site: "That black, sooty stuff is aptly described as "sooty mold." Sooty mold is a charcoal black fungus that appears as a black coating on the surface of leaves, fruits, twigs and the branches of many deciduous and evergreen shrubs and trees. This fungus is not pathogenic to plants, but obtains its nourishment from insect honeydew. Honeydew is a sweet, clear, sticky substance secreted by insects, such as aphids, mealybugs, scales and whiteflies. The honeydew drops from the insects to the leaves and twigs. Wind-blown sooty mold spores (seeds) that stick to the honeydew then have a suitable medium for growth. When spores germinate, they send out black fungus strands (mycelial threads) that bring about the discoloration. A heavy coat of black mold may build up on twigs during more than a growing season. To control or prevent sooty mold, control the insects causing the honeydew deposits. The insects have to be in large numbers somewhere, on the infected plants or tree branches overhead. They will not disappear without some intervention on your part." I have had problems with just about every kind of bug this year. I guess it should be no surprise about the sooty mold. I will try dormant oil once the trees go dormant to see if it helps the situation next year. ~james

Because of the timing and circumstances surrounding this planting, I'd be very hesitant to immediately assume it was some sort of disease issue. We are more likely looking at transplant shock and an early dormancy, which can often be triggered by planting late in the season. Excessive rainfall during this period could certainly account for what you describe as well. Retaining dried, dead foliage is pretty common for this selection also. As long as the container is filled with a high quality, fast draining potting soil and offers adequate drainage, I'd wait until spring to see how these trees bud out before I'd do any thing else. They will probably be just fine.

3 tips have peeled off now. Looks like a 4th will in a few days. I do see signs of life that could turn into a result similar to outdoorgirl's last post. I have not watered at all. Baby leaves on other tips are still falling off at first growth. It's been hot and humid here for a month now with lows in the mid/upper 70s. Her sister is doing amazing with an inflo about 1.5 inches long and healthy leaves. The one black tip she has looks to be containing itself and hardening over. Her sister: this growth tip never turned the dark redish color like the tips on the other plant So frustrating to have two plumies going I'm opposite directions! Maybe it's just time for a third :)

Wow, thank you for all the information Lynn! I'm so glad to hear yours pulled through! I'm sure with the same love and care it'll grow big again! As for mine, I didn't get all of the soil off when I repotted, because it was quite potbound and it was a spider web of roots! But hearing your story, I might take the risk of stressing my spider plant just one more time to check the roots more thoroughly and plant in new soil again! I did water a little bit more frequently as spring began, maybe I've been a bit too quick to do so... So you never know it might have rot somewhere too! Will definitely check it out hearing your story! Thanks again for your quick and thorough response!