Starting to panic! I purchased a FLF tree at the very end of February. It had appeared to be doing beautifully until I went to water it (on March 21) and seven leaves dropped (three had dropped the previous week.) I then moved him into the dining room with my other, smaller FLFs, since they were all doing well in there — which is when I saw the webbing. Spider mites! (Glad I had kept him quarantined!) I took him immediately upstairs and sprayed with the cold-pressed neem oil and water and left him in the (dry) tub overnight. Unfortunately, my daughter didn’t like the smell of the neem and thought she’d open a window to air out the room . Luckily I caught it at all, but the window was probably open for at least a good hour prior to that (still pretty cold here in Bucks County, PA) So, cold room, but no real “wind” coming in. Since then, leaves are dropping rapidly—some don’t even get brown or shrivel up first anymore, they just drop!

According to the “dowel test” I did today, it did need water, so I (flushed and) watered him. I am normally very conscientious with my plants, so I hate to admit it, but in retrospect, I fear I likely under-watered him as well.

Can this tree even be saved? I’ve been searching and reading everything I can find on this forum but I’m still not sure if he is going to make it or exactly what I should be doing next...spray again with neem, or insecticidal soap or 2:1 water and alcohol solution? And, how often? I haven’t seen any evidence of spider mites after the neem was applied.

I feel like I’m just watching him die a not so slow, agonizing death...I’m hoping there is a chance of turning this around? Wondering what the pros on this forum i.e., @tapla think? Any help would be so very MUCH appreciated!!!!