Baby Bay Leaf Tree--Dead or Alive?

[Green Mantis]

Well I was so happy with the growth on my little Bay Leaf tree, and then in about January? I think it was, it all of a sudden decided to dry up??? The leaves went all dry and the weird part is, the leaves haven't fallen off?

I decided to transplant it into a slightly bigger pot, mixed the soil with worm castings and am still watering it periodically.

This is what I don't understand, the Leaves have never fallen off, just staying on the plant looking dry, I even tried to gently push down and up to get a leaf to fall off, but it didn't.

Is it dead? It is still full of leaves, just like when they were green, only now looking dry.

Any ideas anyone???? Darn I was so thrilled with that plant. Still trying, but maybe with a dead plant?

[Marlingardener]

Gently scratch with your fingernail a small area of the tree's trunk. If you see green, it's still alive. Perhaps it took a chill and the leaves died but the tree is still living.
I have two that were babied through the winter--no new growth and the leaves got "tough" but stayed green. Now with spring warmth and sun, there is a lot of new growth. This may happen with your bay, also.

[Green Mantis]

Well I just tried that. The stem looks kind of white? But certainly not brown, doesn't seem dead? But I really don't know?
Leaves sure smell good though. Well I guess I will just keep looking after it, and might eventually find out if it's dead or alive.

The branches were very brittle though.