What's going on with my avocado?

[bbates123]

5 gal Wurtz planted about a month ago in SW FL.  It was looking great for the first 3 weeks or so then I left on a business trip for a week.  When I got home I looked at it and it looked wilted, like it didn't get enough water. I asked my wife what was up and she said we had been getting soaking rains most days so that didn't make sense.  I stuck my finger in the soil and it felt moist.  At any rate, I watered it for a good long time last night.  This morning it looks exactly the same.

It's weird. It looks like a plant looks when it hasn't gotten any water.  No bugs that I can see.  No leaves falling off.  No spots on the leaves.  Everything looks good but dry, but it's obviously not a lack of moisture.

Any thoughts on what might be going on?  Root disease? 

[zephian]

Sounds like the same mistake I made with some avocados in pots. Too much water! I lost two trees (Holiday, Lamb-Hass) but one made a recovery. I recommend pulling back any mulch and letting it dry, weather permitting.

[spaugh]

Roots need to dry out, its drowning.

[bbates123]

Thanks for the advice...I'll give that a shot.  Seems strange that it would look dried out when it's in fact drowning.  It's partially out of my control due to all the rains we've had but hopefully pulling back the mulch will help.

[zephian]

Mine were the same, over watering looked like it was thirsty! Good luck!

[spaugh]

It looks thirsty when the roots get rotten and cant supply the tree w water. 

Pull the mulch back and look at the roots.  They should be white.  If they are brown they are rotting.