Why does my myrtle have brown leaves?

[rosiepumpkin]

I bought a myrtle from the National Herb Centre in July and potted it up. Since the weather got cold the leaves have turned color. I thought it was meant to be evergreen? Is it ill?

[Jeanied]

It is evergreen so there must be a problem - is it losing all its leaves?

[rosiepumpkin]

They're all still there -just brown.

[elleme]

Myrtle leaves don't change in autumn, but if they get frost damage the younger leaves can turn brown/black at the tips. It doesn't sound right to get brown leaves like that at this time of year. Although they are supposed to be tender, I've had snow on mine in winter and the vast majority of the plant was still green underneath. Could you post a pic of how it's looking now?

[rosiepumpkin]

It's starting to go green again after I watered it a bit more. It's in a pot outside so must have been very dry and it's not meant to need watering. I repotted it yesterday.

Is it a good idea to put it in an unheated greenhouse when frost is forecast? I live in north London and it's on my allotment in a sheltered pocket at the bottom of a slope. I don't know yet if I have a frost pocket or a warmer pocket as it'll be my first winter there.

Thanks.

[elleme]

I'm in south London and mine is outside all winter, but it's in the ground and was already a large shrub before I moved in several years ago. Also it's next to a west-facing wall hence probably gets some protection and warmth from that. I don't know if it's a risk while younger and in a pot. So I'm not sure.

[Ocelot]

Mine often do that. Sometimes all their leaves fall off and regrow. Maybe it was a bit dry.

[rosiepumpkin]

It's probably adjusting. I'll put it in the unheated greenhouse if it looks like going near zero.