Hello from Dubai, UAE. please help my tree is dying

[Lidiia S]

I’m happy to be here and hi to everyone! i wish to get advice from someone to help me with my dying bottlebrush tree. I am only a beginner

 

[Lidiia S]

I’m not sure if i should describe here all my queries or on a specific forum, nevertheless here it is:

Two months ago i got a gift - bottlebrush tree and it was perfectly fine. I repotted it same night to the bigger concrete pot and added some soil around, watered it and kept on my balcony on the sunny spot.
I was watering it almost every day in a small quantities, and i started to see that a lot of branches on the inner side started to get dry and brown very soon. I got scared, thought the sun is too strong and moved it a meter away towards the semi-shadow. I kept watering it and even misted for a few nights, because i thought it lacks water.
Eventually the flowers all became brown and it never bloomed again. I cut off some dry branches, however soon remaining leaves started look grey and new green growth was wilting badly. There were whitish mold looking small patches.
I also sprayed the tree with mix of vinegar and dish soap. It looked better, white patches disappeared but these grayish hair-looking mold is growing more. I thought i probably watered it too much and that’s why the mold.

Now i am watering the tree only once a we ek, no misting and its back on the sunny spot. Leaves are still looking bad and I’m afraid i killed the tree i am not an experienced person with growing trees so i was trying to find a clue online but i feel like I’m running out of time to save it.
I am attaching pictures of how it looked before with flowers, what happened a month ago and now. Please help

 

[cpp gardener]

When you water it, make sure it is fully soaked and some water comes out the bottom. Outside plants need more water than indoor plants. The white stuff might be mealybug but you've probably already controlled it. Bottlebrushes can grow in full sun as long as the get sufficient water. In nurseries here, they are usually watered every day during the warm season. As long as the leaves aren't crispy crunchy the plant is still alive.

 

[Lidiia S]

When you water it, make sure it is fully soaked and some water comes out the bottom. Outside plants need more water than indoor plants. The white stuff might be mealybug but you've probably already controlled it. Bottlebrushes can grow in full sun as long as the get sufficient water. In nurseries here, they are usually watered every day during the warm season. As long as the leaves aren't crispy crunchy the plant is still alive.

Thank you, ill start watering it deeper and more frequently, really hope it helps

 

[Lidiia S]

Hi @cpp gardener ! I just wanted to come back here to let you know that due to your free advice here on this forum I have been able to save my tree! I can’t describe how happy I am, that now, after a nearly week of deep watering it every day I’ve noticed a new growth! Thank you so much I am incredibly grateful.
hope attached photos will be a joy to you as they are to me!!!

 

[cpp gardener]

You are so very welcome! Seeing that some of my advice has helped someone save a plant or succeed in gardening raises my spirits when things get me down like this last week has. Keep up the good work!

 

[Lidiia S]

Hope everything gets better for you too @cpp gardener.