Acalypha hispida disaster

[Laisla87]

In a matter of days, my acalypha hispida has gone from this:

To this:

And I have no idea why.

The plant has grown like crazy up until a month ago, when winter set in. The plant has been outside but the weather has not been terribly cold (8C to 17C daily, with a couple of unusually cold maximums of 13C). The plant seemed unaffected by this. Later on, it started to look droopy, as if it needed a drink. So I gave it water. But it continued to look dessicated regardless, and now cannot stand up on its own, the leaves are all brown and dry and the stem wrinkled - symptoms common in thirsty plants.

As these plants are now rare in Australia and not carried by nurseries, I started to get worried about my other one (in the ground) although it lost a few lower leaves, it was generally firm and healthy. Worried the cold might get it, I dug it up and brought in inside. I didnt damage the root ball. Now it is drooping and looking very dry too, although it has water and is in a warm spot.

Acalypha wilkesiana is common in my city and grow very well. I never thought of hispida as fragile. But this has got me baffled. The symptoms do not look like cold damage (usually shown by black patches on the leaves and stems) but just that the plant can't drink.The roots are firm and although some smaller roots may have broken in the move, the main root ball is untouched. No signs of rotting

I did take a cutting a few months ago that has been inside all winter and it looks firm and healthy.

Has anyone had this experience before? Is there a way to save the plant?

Edited July 13, 2012 by Laisla87

[fastfeat]

Looks like cold damage to me.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

In a short freeze event that warms quickly, they will come back from the roots or little stumps. Longer cold I don't know about.

[tropicbreeze]

First I've heard of Acalypha hispida not being sold. I bought one just late last year. The nursery had a range of Acalyphas.

[Laisla87]

First I've heard of Acalypha hispida not being sold. I bought one just late last year. The nursery had a range of Acalyphas.

You're right; they are sold in the NT but my nursery contacts in the eastern states have said that no-one stocks it anymore.