r/Ceanothus

Hi all, I wanted to ask if anyone knows what ratio I should mix my ingredients at for these calochortus bulbs I am planting in my anderson deep trays. I have coarse DG (1/16”-1/4”), washed sharp sand (1/16”-1/8”), pumice (1/16”-1/4”), and red lava (1/16”-1/4”) for grit. Should I use my trays to sift out everything smaller than the drainage holes (3/16”)? For organics, I have a mix of (70%coco coir/30%coco chips), and mini fir bark at my disposal. I am aware PBS articles say everything above 1.6mm (1/16”) is ideal for grit size, but I have seen different people recommend so many different things for grit size as well as overall mineral:organic ratio. My goal is to grow these mature bulbs as well as seeds to flowering age (I know this will take years), and then plant them in ground. They will be exposed to natural Morgan Hill rainfall and will be moved to shade and kept dry by May. What ratios and grit sizes work for you - if you have done this? Thank you so much guys!

Folsom, CA. So hot summer, watered deeply six weeks ago. Drainage is ok but not great.

I can’t find my planning sheet for what I planted and the ID tag is gone. Can anyone help me with an ID? Located in Pasadena, so I would have bought from either Theodore Payne or Hahamongna nursery.

I have about 15' x 5' on the north side of our rear fence that I'd like to do something with. We currently have a few raised beds, a small berry patch, a few fruit trees, a vermicompost setup, and natives. We get a significant squirrel population along the property lines. Anything people recommend?

Hi r/Ceanothus,

This is a July 2026 update for my DIY front lawn replacement with native plants.

With a few days in the high 90's and even 100F, this was the first month I started to see a few of the perennials go dormant/semi-dormant. There aren't quite as many color blooms but I am happy that most sections still have one or more plants in flower along with other foliage or structural elements to support.

July Image Album: https://imgur.com/a/OjfNznb

History

June Post: June Reddit Post

May Post: May Reddit Post

Original DIY Tutorial Post (April): Original Lawn Replacement Tutorial/Journey Post

Highlights:

* CA Goldenrod has begun its 'show' and its yellow spikes offer a welcome addition to the garden

* A few locations of Purple Three Awn grass are really filling out and providing some much needed texture. I will be adding more grasses (and trying to grow some indoors from seed) this Fall as their movement and ability to fill in gaps is so nice

* CA Buckwheat and CA Fuchsia are still in full flower

* White Penstemon continues to stay strong in most of its locations, months past the other purple colored penstemons like Margarita BOP

* Plants behind the bench (Baja Pitcher Sage, Fragrant Pitcher Sage, Western Redbud) continue to get bigger and bigger

* Yarrow and other small plants around the Dry River continue to fill in

Departures/issues:

* Black Eyed Susans in most locations are really nearing the end of their life and not looking so good. Leaving some for insects but will be thinning them down.

* Most of the volunteer Coreopsis are no longer producing as many blooms

* Coral Bells are all dead, was too sunny of a spot even behind the bench

* Canyon Prince Wild Rye on one side continues to be noticeably more dried out. Hoping it comes back.

Plans for fall are to add more grasses, add more plants around the edges of the Dry River, and to plant more annuals (CA Bluebells, Poppies, Baby Blue Eyes, Clarkias). I plan to start many of these indoors from seed, does anyone have any experience or tips on this? I've got lots of experience with it for veggies and flowers but have only done CA Bluebells and Yarrow from seed as far as Natives are concerned.

There are a couple of sections where the summer heat is revealing that I need either some succulent plants or something in-flower during summer as there are gaps once Penstemons, Yarrow, Poppies aren't looking as good.

I've spent some time on the Waterwise Community Youtube channel learning about Fall maintenance and looking forward to giving some plants a pruning.

Thanks for looking!

We dug a 5x5ft hole in Albany/CA (coastal side) about 15 feet from the house. I absolutely love the California buckeye or Ceanothus 'Ray Hartman', but I want to make sure they fit the space and our coastal fog. Thanks!!

In front yard, with afternoon sun, in zone 10B. Does not get any water directly, but since it butts up against a small section of the lawn, it does get water from there. And how to fix this? We are slowly converting the whole lawn area to natives, but it is stuck there for the time being. Thx.

Morning sun, partial shade. South coastal California

Only 1 Gallon (18cm diameter)

evergreen with nectar for hummingbirds and warbler is preferred

Found a 40ish foot tall black walnut in Palos Verdes that was loaded with fruit. Grabbed about 15 to germinate and grow out. I have a happy specimen that I planted as a seedling a couple years ago, but the genetics in the tree I saw today looked special.

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?