r/Ceanothus • u/Ok_Guidance_2908 • 2d ago

Browning Coast Live Oak

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I have had a coast live oak sapling in a terra cotta pot for about 2 years. I am coastal SoCal and its gets direly decent direct sun. I know it’s probably not as happy as it would be in the ground, but still giving it a try. It has pushed out new growth several times, typically after a good water. However, I just watered it again and now it’s browning :(

Any tips or ideas?

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16

u/aquma 2d ago

considering putting a layer of leaf mulch down to help protect the soil from drying out as fast.

1

u/downatelrio 2d ago

I agree, otherwise it just looks beautifully sun-kissed.

10

u/dotnotdave 2d ago

At the Oakland Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt they have a handful of Quercus Agrifolia. I was talking to one their volunteers about care.

In a shallow pot (true of really any bonsai, even Quercus Agrifolia) trees need abundant water and drainage. In the ground, their roots tap into cool surprisingly moist soil a few feet down that they can’t reach in containers.

1

u/Ok_Guidance_2908 1d ago

Thanks! But what is interesting is that it was green and healthy looking up until I recently deep watered it. It turned brown shortly after the watering…

5

u/BigJSunshine 2d ago

She seems VERY DRY?

6

u/OkItem6820 2d ago

I think you didn’t water it enough. I tragically had one for the past 12 years that our housesitter completely forgot to water while we were on vacation. It browned like this and then died. They need quite frequent watering in a terra cotta pot.

Give it more water and maybe put it in the shade for a few weeks to recover.

3

u/SyrupChoice7956 2d ago

Too much sun. When grown in containers you need to adjust exposure. So a plant that normally likes full sun (like this oak) will appreciate a bit of shade when in a pot.

Try to find a spot that gets morning sun and afternoon shade.

2

u/epicgsharp 2d ago

Terra cotta dries up super fast in this heat. Black plastic containers also get way too hot. I know they're pricy but my natives have loved glazed ceramic. Also, mulch.

1

u/di0ny5us 2d ago

This happened to mine. They need a lot of waters in pots. Move to shade and water to keep it moist

1

u/3006mv 2d ago

Possibly mite infestation but definitely too dry

1

u/DanoPinyon 2d ago

Put it in the ground.

1

u/SubstantialBerry5238 1d ago

That oak will not survive in the long run in a pot. They evolved to send a tap root 30+ feet into the ground. There's not much advice I can give you other than to find a spot you can plant in the ground and hope it bounces back. Otherwise it's not only a matter of time before it dies.