heymikey(deceased)

hey BrendanOZ; One possible problem to consider may be the black plastic container which during the summer can get very hot, specially if it receives any direct sunlight. The high temperature of the plastic is transferred to the adjacent roots, cooking them, plus it causes the root ball to shrink away from the inside of the pot. Subsequent watering runs rapidly right down this 'crack' and does not properly get to the entire rootball. This effect is compounded to even a greater degree if the rootball is dense and contains a lot of peat moss which shrinks alot when dried and doesn't rewet easily. I would recommend watering by submerging in a tub of water to ensure that the entire rootball is properly wetted and then each day checking the center of the rootball with the chopstick method or with a moisture meter probe to determine when it needs to be watered again. Ultimately it needs to be in a better container or as a quick-and-dirty adjustment make the outside of the plastic pot white (paint, contact paper, etc.) until you transplant. On a hot day a black plastic pot can get to over 150 deg F. if it is exposed to the sun's rays and a white one will likely be about the same as the air temp.