Pittosporum Problems

[Louis A. D'Amario]

At my request, my gardener recently planted a long row of pittosporum
undulatum shrubs along one side of my property. Several of the shrubs are
turning yellow and wilted. The affected shrubs are getting a fairly large
dose of water about 3-4 times per week. Is the problem overwatering? I
live in Southern California (Pasadena). The daily high temperatures here
have been in the 90-100 degree range during the past week or so. Just
recently, it has cooled down somewhat.

--
Louis A. D'Amario
louis....@jpl.nasa.gov

[kathieh]

Pittos are a native of New Zealand. They grow here in temperate
climates with plenty of moisture in the air from prevailing winds that
whip over the country. They don't like extremes. The young pittos
prefer growing up in shade. Afte a few years they emerge above the
canapy and are very "tough" against the elements. I cam from Whittier
once so I know your area. You'll have to put in overhead watering or
dig them up and ship them off to your very best friend in San Franciso!

[Edie L. Tanem De Anda]

In <4vk12v$l...@celebrian.otago.ac.nz> kat...@libhub.southnet.co.nz

I don't think I would go that far Kahie. They do just fine where it is
dry up here in San Rafael, without any humidity.

[Bunyip]

Pittosporum undulatum is native to Australia (so am I!). My native
gardening book says:

1. Moderately drained garden soil
2. Climate temperate to tropical, frost tolerant.
3. Water: Liberal but tolerance to long dry spells.
4. Do not feed.
5. Prune only if needed to restrict growth - can be done any time
6. Aspect: Anywhere except indoors.

Note the "Water - Liberal but tolerance to long dry spells". A liberal
watering here in Australia certainly does not mean a large dose of water
3-4 times a week! I would say the problem is overwatering. Another
reference to the "tolerance to dry spells" is usually a reference to use if
they are not extremely young plants.

Seeing you live in California (very similar climate to here), these plants
could have withstood just one watering during that week of high
temperatures. See, that's the beauty of Australian native plants - unless
they are rainforest species most prefer not too much water!

Good luck and Cheers!

Louis A. D'Amario <louis....@jpl.nasa.gov> wrote in article
<louis.damario-1...@ldamario.jpl.nasa.gov>...

[Louis A. D'Amario]

In article <4vl4pj$i...@dfw-ixnews2.ix.netcom.com>,

I do think the "growing up in the shade" suggestion from Kathie may be a
key point. The two plants that have died were the ones that get a large
amount of direct sun. The plants that are in areas that get a combination
of direct sun and some shade show damage, but seem to be surviving. The
plants that are in shaded areas seem to be doing the best. The problem
starts with yellowing of the leaves, proceeds to wilting of the leaves and
finally to death (for two plants). The uppermost leaves are the one that
show the greatest damage. I originally thought I had a watering problem,
but now I think I have a "too much direct sun" problem.

Lou

[Roger Vortman]

I think that the recommendation for lower watering applies to
established trees. If these are recently planted, watering a
couple of times a week for a couple months, and then going to
weekly watering for a couple of years is probably a bit better.
I have several pittosporums in my backyard, and they do fine with
watering every 2 weeks in the summer. However, they've been in the
ground 3 years, and are pretty well established by now. They do
show effects when I overwater them (once a week these days seems to be overwatering for them), but wilting and yellow leaves aren't included.
What happens with them is that I get blackened edges on leaves when
they've been overwatered.

I also have a tobira variety of pittosporum that likes to be watered
a couple of times a week still, even though it is 2 years old. But it's
doing great with that amount of water.

Your pittosporum are a different variety than mine, so the effects of
overwatering could be different. One additional thing is that
summer is not a good time to plant these sort of things, since a
heat spell like what you had can easily come along and knock them
out. Fall seems to be the best time around here for planting
trees and shrubs, and spring is second best. When you plant trees
and shrubs ins the summer (around here, anyway) in summer, you're
taking a risk.

-Roger

|> Pittosporum undulatum is native to Australia (so am I!). My native
|> gardening book says:
|>
|> 1. Moderately drained garden soil
|> 2. Climate temperate to tropical, frost tolerant.
|> 3. Water: Liberal but tolerance to long dry spells.
|> 4. Do not feed.
|> 5. Prune only if needed to restrict growth - can be done any time
|> 6. Aspect: Anywhere except indoors.
|>
|> Note the "Water - Liberal but tolerance to long dry spells". A liberal
|> watering here in Australia certainly does not mean a large dose of water
|> 3-4 times a week! I would say the problem is overwatering. Another
|> reference to the "tolerance to dry spells" is usually a reference to use if
|> they are not extremely young plants.
|>
|> Seeing you live in California (very similar climate to here), these plants
|> could have withstood just one watering during that week of high
|> temperatures. See, that's the beauty of Australian native plants - unless
|> they are rainforest species most prefer not too much water!
|>
|> Good luck and Cheers!
|>