The plant dying may not directly affect the outcome of your spell, but it is a sign, and not a good one. As Miss cat wrote earlier in this topic thread, "Generally speaking, if you bury spell remains under a plant -- from any kind of a spell, not just a candle spell -- and the plant dies, the spell is considered to have failed. Buying a new plant is not an option."
Without getting too far into Magickal Theory, the power of Magick and the way it works is not affected majorly by little events of our world here. The power of Magick is the belief and Intention behind it. It all is in play in the realm of Spirit, and that is where the work is really being done.
In our reality it is all through representation, to aid us in putting our belief into the spirit realm. Though here we have more distractions and events that can happen that can sometimes not at all be related to how the Magick is working.
For instance, if the plant dying was not because of the Magick, but simply because of your mishandling of the plant, then it does not represent how the Magick is working. It may be simply that the plant died because of shock. But we are taught to watch for signs, and the death of the plant, like a candle tipping over and burning an altar, or a glass candle holder breaking and spilling wax, is a sign -- and generally not a good one. If nothing else, it may indicate your lack of focus on the needs of the plant which you have called to be your ally.
As far as your target saying, "He needs some time" and your question about whether this represented "movement," I would say that this is definitely an effect of the work. If he had previously said he would never return and now he says he needs time, then this is movement toward your goal. If he was previously cordial and now asks you to leave him alone, this is movement away from your goal and may accord with the sign of the plant dying.
Results manifest differently in every case, and this one seems to me that he is starting to conflict with himself. Don't push him, just keep up the Magick, and believe in your goal.
There is no guarantee, but positive manifestation and faith in your work is key to your success.
By the way, you are actually asking for a divination or reading on your work, and not directly addressing the topic of this thread, which is moving candle spells.
For more information on divining the results of candle spells, see this Forum thread:
Candle Divination: Flame, Wick, Wax, Glass, Remains
candle-divination-flame,-wick,-wax,-gla ... t8537.html
We do not provide readings in the Forum, but you can pay a small fee for a consultation and your rootworker will be able to help you with the divination process.
There is a long list of candle divination signs in the free online book "Hoodoo in Theory and Practice." It is on the "Divination Signs from Candle-Burning" page, here:
http://www.luckymojo.com/candlemagicdivination.html
For more information on the disposal of candle spell remains, see this Forum thread:
Candles: Disposal of Ritual Remains
candles-disposal-of-ritual-remains-t7525.html
[Edited by cat for expansion of the topic.]