Protea Flower Growing

The young protea plants appreciate some well matured compost mixed into the soil that you fill the hole with.

Protea flower growing. Newer varieties burgundy sunset and gypsy. One of the first things necessary in growing protea is soil. When proteas are propagated by means of seed the following procedures should be practised. Research the particular variety that you are growing to find out how big it will be once it s fully grown.

After the seed has been harvested and sorted it must be stored in a cool dry place until it is sown in autumn. Take care to leave the protea roots undisturbed during planting out. Dig a hole twice the width of the container and one and a half the height. As an alternative to the common red photinia hedge consider using leucadendron safari sunset or inca gold with its mellow yellow hues.

If water is allowed to sit and pool on the surface the roots will become waterlogged and the plant will die. When establishing a protea or leucadendron pruning is a marvellous idea. Protea plants are generally hardy but should be protected from frost. Protea plants must have well drained soil.

In about a year the plant will grow to about 2 5 metres high and 2. There is a structural problem too. This means that once the flowerheads are made the branches stop. They also have a different leaf structure from other types of flowers as they are arranged in a spiral form in the center surrounding the stem.

Closely related to proteas leucadendrons sometimes called cone bush are grown for their attractive tulipshaped flowers and vibrant leaf colour intensifying to fabulous bursts in autumn and winter. They re versatile and can be used as specimen shrubs in containers or as screening plants. If your garden soil is well drained and acidic and your climate frost free choose a sunny spot and plant the proteas out in square holes 500 mm deep. Proteas like to receive air from all angles making it important to spread them out when planting.

Cuttings should be taken from semi hardened plant material usually the new growth from the last growing season either autumn or spring which has hardened off for a few months. Planting proteas on slopes or on slightly elevated mounds is often beneficial because water runoff decreases drainage problems. The sowing time for proteas is from march to may. Their roots grow mostly horizontally just below the surface of the soil.

In winter they can usually handle frosts around 25 30 f. Harvest the seedbuds nine to 12 months after the plants have flowered that is when the plants flower again. Proteas can either grow as shrubs or tall trees depending on where they live. Protea plants can grow to be anywhere from 3 13 feet 0 91 3 96 m depending on the exact species.

Growing proteas from cuttings is usually very successful and thus rewarding.