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I had a few conversation with Greg Brenden, the instructor, and he said that he didn't believe that the altitude is a factor either.

Also, there is a native tree nursery here in Topanga Canyon near Los Angeles (The Theodore Payne Foundation - see website), where they grow dozens of different manzanita species. The altitude is close to sea level and the manzanitas look in top health all the time.

Maybe Peter can pitch in here (aka. Maria Capra), he actually took the workshop.

What I've learne from Greg is that these shrubs are lime haters (ericaceous plants) and it's better to water them with distilled water or rainwater. They love acidic soil and if you hard prune a branch it will probably die back all the way to the trunk. You have to handle them in the least intrusive way. They love sun and don't mind heat, and grow extremely slow. A trunk of a collected tree about 1 inch thick may well be over a hundred years old.

10-Nov-2005	#4
Attila Attila Soos Join Date: Jan-2002 Location: Los Angeles, California Country: USA Posts: 1,946	I had a few conversation with Greg Brenden, the instructor, and he said that he didn't believe that the altitude is a factor either. Also, there is a native tree nursery here in Topanga Canyon near Los Angeles (The Theodore Payne Foundation - see website), where they grow dozens of different manzanita species. The altitude is close to sea level and the manzanitas look in top health all the time. Maybe Peter can pitch in here (aka. Maria Capra), he actually took the workshop. What I've learne from Greg is that these shrubs are lime haters (ericaceous plants) and it's better to water them with distilled water or rainwater. They love acidic soil and if you hard prune a branch it will probably die back all the way to the trunk. You have to handle them in the least intrusive way. They love sun and don't mind heat, and grow extremely slow. A trunk of a collected tree about 1 inch thick may well be over a hundred years old.