PlantFiles Pictures: Pincushion Flower Leucospermum 'Tango', 0 by wallaby1

wallaby1 wrote:
Nhulberg, I have just potted my 4 remaining protea cynaroides into larger pots, they had been in small 3" pots from the start. It doesn't seem to have harmed them, and the roots had nicely filled without going in circles, and I was careful not to disturb them. They looked to be just starting to get new roots. I have read they make a long tap root for a start, and should be planted in the ground as early as possible, but that wasn't an option for me.

The P. magnifica, and recently P neriifolia have died, but P cynaroides now branching. I have potted them into a mix of river soil, leafy compost and wood ash. You shouldn't give them artificial fertiliser with phosphorus, it will kill the roots. In their natural habitat they grow after bush fires and feed on the ash left from burnt vegetation, hence the need to germinate them in a soak with special smoke papers.

This is my little lot, taken on the 11th before repotting

This message was edited Jun 19, 2006 12:42 PM

This message was edited Jun 19, 2006 12:43 PM