Are you irrigating it at all? What is the pH and phosphorus content of your source water (water company should list this info)?

Hi Hoovb,

Our water is high in pH. Around 8, maybe higher. We water once a week, deep and long.
I emailed the water company about phosphorus and pH. It is not on their website.

Should be able to locate how-to-grow info online. Perhaps your county's Extension Service office has info.

To locate your county's office, use this clickable map
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/

How to grow, see this
http://californiaprotea.org/CPApublications.htm#protea_book

and this
http://www.smgrowers.com/info/protea.asp

and this
http://www.californiaproteamgmt.com/planting_protea.html

Lots more out there.

Here is a link that might be useful: locate your county's Extension Service office