Pieris japonica problem

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Cearbhaill Russell, KY(Zone 6b) Sep 08, 2008

I know that Pieris are prone to root rot- is there a possibility of knowing if this is what happened to my plant?
This Pieris japonica 'Shojo" was installed last fall and has done very well until about one month ago. We had a very dry spell and I was watering twice a week, deeply. There are three others right next to it that are doing fine.
My soil is very slightly acid in the 6.8 range, and the site gets morning sun until about 10 am, bright indirect thereafter.

I am replacing this one- once. If it happens again I will relocate the remining three and call it a bust.
There are no insects apparent, although I did have lacebugs nearby. I caught them early and dealt with them.

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Cearbhaill Russell, KY(Zone 6b) Sep 08, 2008

And a close up-

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trackinsand mid central, FL(Zone 9a) Sep 08, 2008

if it's been in the ground about a year, i would think a twice weekly watering might be too much but since the others are doing well, i'd say it looks like some kind of fireblight. i think i would remove it right away so as not to infect the others.

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Cearbhaill Russell, KY(Zone 6b) Sep 08, 2008

I pulled it out right after I took the photo.
Off to research "fireblight".

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ceejaytown The Woodlands, TX(Zone 9a) Sep 09, 2008

It could be phytophthora - Pieris japonica is susceptible to it. Scroll down for photos.
http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/hot04/3-15misc/pictures_symptoms.pdf

Here is more about the disease.
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/pp/notes/oldnotes/odin13/od13.htm

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