New Zealand Tea Tree is dying I fear!

I live in Ocala Fl. and just bought a New Zealand tea tree at a garden show and love it but noticed today there is some brown leaves at the bottom. I can't seem to find any info on how much to water. One site said water alot another said not too much. I have been water every other day a good soak for about one hour. Someone please help me save the tree or bush! Any information would be much appreciated.
Thanks for any help!
Cyndigail

Can you post a picture? Chances are it's just transplant shock, I'm guessing your weather's a bit on the warm side by now and that can be hard on plants. I try to avoid planting things in warm weather but of course every year I always have a few plants that I do it with anyway, and I've had pretty poor luck with planting Leptospermums in warm weather. There are other plants I've had decent luck with but I think I had at least 3 of these die on me when I planted them too late in the spring. Your best shot is to regularly check the soil--stick your finger down a few inches, if it feels dry then give it a good long drink, but if it feels wet then leave it alone. Once they're established, they do not need a lot of water...they're not the sort of plant that will survive our dry summers without any water, but they definitely don't need what I'd call a lot of water.

Thanks for the swift reply. The area I live in is north central Fl. So its just becoming warmer weather. 80's during the day and upper 50's or low 60's at night. I planted it on the 11th of March and just today noticed the brown area. Its not big but still not a good sign. Hopefully your right and it is just some shock but would that take 3 weeks to show up? I will try to attach a pic if not now , it will be after my roomate comes home, as I am not as computer savey.
Thanks so much. I will post a pic later
Cyndigail

going to give you a picture -hopfully! Your honest opinion please!

another pic

Unfortunately the pictures don't lead me to anything other than what I already suggested on transplant shock. I would doublecheck your watering...make sure you're only watering them when they need it, but also don't let it get completely bone dry. As I said earlier though, I've found these plants to be rather challenging to get established during warm weather--when I plant them in the fall I've had a 100% success rate with them (except for one that the gophers got!), but when I've planted in late spring or summer I think I'm 0 for 3. Sometimes if you plant during warm weather, you can do everything right and they still won't make it. But if you've been watering it too much or too little, then there's still hope if you can fix that, the majority of the plant still looks healthy so it could be it'll just lose those leaves and that's it.

I can only agree with Ecrane about the transplant shock, also there are a good few roots showing at the bottom so I wonder if you set it into the soil deep enough when you planted, maybe your washing away the top soil when you water too, add a mulch around the root ball area, to give it a) protection from the strong sun and b) to help maintain some moisture for longer after you water, I recommend in your type of heat for new planted things, cut the bottom off a juice container and set it upside down in the planting hole, that is the narrow neck end into the soil, then when you water, all the water is going to the roots where it is needed, maybe try watering later in the day also when the heat is out of the sun, evaporation is less and the soil cools slightly too, but after a few weeks, you should see the plant settle down a bit, it is never really a good idea to plant out in hot summer weather, better early spring or autumn, then the plants are not dehydrating too fast with the hot temps. good luck. WeeNel.

I'm in central (almost coastal) California and bought two of these lovelies at Lowe's in early April and both seem to be dead. I'm extremely disappointed and will be taking the advice to plant these in the fall this year instead (if I can find them!). So sad since I thought I would have pretty pink flowers all summer :(

This is a really old thread you might get more help if you start another thread, of your own. Good luck!