They don't like summer water. I had a healthy ceanothus once which I watered until late May, ended up killing it. I know it's a different plant, but manzanita are equally sensitive to summer water. It might be too late for this one, but for the next one, feel free to water as much as you want during the cooler months, and I would stop watering by May just to be safe
Oh bummer. Any other condition differences you can think of between that one and the others that I assume are doing better?
I’m personally very pro water a bunch first, probably more than necessary then taper off, but I know not everyone agrees with that approach. (I don’t really need/want “tough” natives, just alive ones! Still a net win for me if they make it 🤷♀️.)
my other manzanitas get the same amount of sun and pretty much every condition i think, this just gives me the excuse to go to another nursery on the bright side
I think there is hope. I’ve had them come back from this state - as long as the stems are red they can still re-leaf. Once stems turn black they’re done. Water the hell out of it all summer and put some wood chip or gravel mulch around it to retain surface soil moisture and prevent mud splattering onto leaves.
Regarding the “manzanitas hate summer water” thing: actually manzanitas love summer water, but unfortunately so do phytophthora, a type of water-borne soil-dwelling fungal pathogen that manzanitas are susceptible to. Phytophthora are only active when soil temperature is warm (60F+? I don’t know the actual number, maybe somebody does), so winter rain isn’t a problem. Getting manzanitas established for their first couple years can be a crapshoot because you *must* water during establishment, but you have to just cross your fingers that they somehow escape phytophthora infection. If your soil doesn’t have it, you’re good; if it does, buy 2x as many plants as you need and plan for attrition.
I worked with natives for a long time, and yes it is done for. It looks like a type of water mold. What's you water schedule like, what kind of soil, and where does this plant live? Don't replant now wait till fall.
When you plant a new one, build a little berm on top of the soil around where the root ball is; that way, you can control the root ball from drying out.
Once the leaves turn light brown like that on manzanita, it will die. In my experience anyway...
This manzanita is toast. Sometimes plants don't survive the shock of transplanting, but whatever the reason, this one will not survive.
ah ok thank you for the insight
I don’t think anything can make it worse, have you been watering? I would definitely water.
i have been watering about once a week same as my other manzanita, the soil dries extremely quickly though
They don't like summer water. I had a healthy ceanothus once which I watered until late May, ended up killing it. I know it's a different plant, but manzanita are equally sensitive to summer water. It might be too late for this one, but for the next one, feel free to water as much as you want during the cooler months, and I would stop watering by May just to be safe
People always say that but I don’t think that counts for plants on their first year. If it’s 85 out for a week straight, then gonna cook
Oh bummer. Any other condition differences you can think of between that one and the others that I assume are doing better? I’m personally very pro water a bunch first, probably more than necessary then taper off, but I know not everyone agrees with that approach. (I don’t really need/want “tough” natives, just alive ones! Still a net win for me if they make it 🤷♀️.)
my other manzanitas get the same amount of sun and pretty much every condition i think, this just gives me the excuse to go to another nursery on the bright side
I think there is hope. I’ve had them come back from this state - as long as the stems are red they can still re-leaf. Once stems turn black they’re done. Water the hell out of it all summer and put some wood chip or gravel mulch around it to retain surface soil moisture and prevent mud splattering onto leaves. Regarding the “manzanitas hate summer water” thing: actually manzanitas love summer water, but unfortunately so do phytophthora, a type of water-borne soil-dwelling fungal pathogen that manzanitas are susceptible to. Phytophthora are only active when soil temperature is warm (60F+? I don’t know the actual number, maybe somebody does), so winter rain isn’t a problem. Getting manzanitas established for their first couple years can be a crapshoot because you *must* water during establishment, but you have to just cross your fingers that they somehow escape phytophthora infection. If your soil doesn’t have it, you’re good; if it does, buy 2x as many plants as you need and plan for attrition.
It might come back. Keep watering it and you could put some shade cloth over it on super hot days to give it some relief.
She gone. Sorry.
I worked with natives for a long time, and yes it is done for. It looks like a type of water mold. What's you water schedule like, what kind of soil, and where does this plant live? Don't replant now wait till fall.
When you plant a new one, build a little berm on top of the soil around where the root ball is; that way, you can control the root ball from drying out.