Foxglove Tree Unhappy

[PhilR]

Hi,
Bought my wife a foxglove tree recently as she's always wanted one. We have it on a large half oak barrel that originally aged whiskey. It's in good quality compost with good drainage and recently we moved it into a slightly more secluded spot from any wind....it does have full sun all day and is watered regularly and fed fortnightly.
As you can see from the leaves it seems unhappy about something. The leaves start to brown and curl and then drop. Does anyone have any ideas?
The only extra thing I can add is that the brewery burnt the inside of the barrels originally to give the whiskey a smokey taste. Perhaps it's that or the whiskey? At a bit of a loss to explain.
Any help appreciated. Thanks (don't seem to be able to attach photos)

 

[cpp gardener]

Does the barrel have holes in the bottom?
How long has it been in that container?
What fertilizer are you using?
The burnt lining and whiskey aren't the problem.

 

[PhilR]

Does the barrel have holes in the bottom?
How long has it been in that container?
What fertilizer are you using?
The burnt lining and whiskey aren't the problem.

Hi,
Yes plenty of holes for drainage in the bottom of the barrel.
It has been on the barrel since early May.
It's in multi purpose compost like John Innes with some grit mixed in to help it. And it's fed with either a seewed liquid fertilizer or soluble miracle grow at recommended dilution.

 

[Sheal]

It's a Paulownia and has an expected mature height of 8-12 metres and spread of up to 8 metres. I honestly don't think it will survive in a barrel and will probably continue to be sickly, sorry.

Multi purpose compost will not be enough for it. Now peat has been banned in England the content won't be enough to maintain the tree. Ideally it should be in the ground, but if that's not possible then I suggest a mixture of either garden or bought soil with perhaps a quarter or third of the compost mixed in. Even so, I don't think it's chances of survival are good.

 

[PhilR]

Thank you.
We have some large deep raised beds from sleepers with excellent soil that we had brought in especially so perhaps we will plant it out then. Thank you.

 

[Sheal]

That's a much better idea. Please think about the size of its mature trunk when/if planting close to a fence. So many people fail to think of this when planting a young tree and have problems later.

 

[PhilR]

Will do. Thank you all