Proteas
Not just any old blossom, protea flowers are blooms with attitude. If you can give them full sun and reasonable drainage, proteas will love you.
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If you’re looking for some spring colour, then look no further than Ixia (Ixia paniculata). These are attractive spring flowering bulbs that produce small clusters of star-shaped flowers that sit on stems high above the grassy leaves. Available in a variety of colours from yellow, gold, pink, orange, blue and port wine.
How to grow Ixia in a garden
- Choose a position in full sun with well drained soil.
- Enrich the soil with Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed.
- Place corm (bulb) directly where the plant is to grow, at a depth of about 5cm, spacing at least 10cm apart.
- Position in hole and backfill, gently firming down. Form a raised doughnut shaped ring around the plant, creating a well so that water will go where it’s needed most. Water in well.
- Once corms (bulbs) have sprouted, mulch with an organic mulch like woodchip or pea straw, keeping it away from the base of the plant.
- Water deeply, once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions. Ixia prefer a lightly moist soil - avoid overwatering.
- During the growing and flowering season feed with Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Granular Plant Food. TIP: for an added boost apply Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food.
How to grow Ixia in a pot
- Choose a pot at least 200mm wide with adequate drainage holes.
- Position in full sun.
- Fill pot with quality potting mix such as Yates Premium Potting Mix.
- Place corm (bulb) directly where the plant is to grow, at a depth of about 5cm, spacing at least 10cm apart.
- Position in hole and backfill with potting, gently firming down.
- Water in well.
- Water deeply, once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions. Ixia prefer a lightly moist potting mix - avoid overwatering.
- During the growing and flowering season, apply Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food. Throughout the year apply Yates Thrive Fish Blood & Bone Plant Food Concentrate.
Growing tips
- Ensure that the soil is well prepared and fertilised prior to planting.
- Ixia prefer a lightly moist soil, allow to dry out a little in between waterings.
- Allow the plants to die right back before removing the bulbs. This will give you stronger growth for the next season.
Azalea
Azaleas vary from small, delicate shrubs that are happy in pots, up to hardy 1.5m shrubs ideal for border planting. Here's how to grow azaleas in your garden.
Lavender
Lavender are hardy perennial plants with silvery-grey, aromatic foliage & dense spike of flowers in shades of purple, blue, pink and white.
Echinacea
Echinacea is a hardy herbaceous perennial with large fragrant pink daisy-like flowers. Used for therapeutic purposes and as a delicious tea.
Recommended products
Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Granular Plant Food
Specially formulated to grow all types of flowers. With high potassium for large & abundant flowers, added calcium & iron for stronger flowers.
Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food
Provides your flowers & roses with the balanced nutrients they require for healthy growth and flower production.
Yates Premium Potting Mix
A premium potting mix, ideal for all potted plants and shrubs, including ornamentals, fruit trees, vegies and herbs.
Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed
A certified organic garden input boosted with NZ Seaweed to gently nourish plants, enrich the soil and encourage a strong healthy root system.
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