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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Sparaxis or Harlequins (Sparaxis spp.) are the ultimate easy care spring flowering bulb. They provide happy blooms that come in an array of colours from orange, pink to white. The best thing is that they require little care once planted. Perfect for boarders or in pots and great for the beginner bulb grower!
How to grow sparaxis in a garden
- Choose a well-drained spot in the garden that gets full sun to part shade.
- Enrich the soil with some compost and Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed before planting.
- Place the bulb directly where the plant is to grow at a depth of 5cm and spaced 10 cm apart. Water in well.
- Water sparingly initially after planting.
- Once shoots start to appear, water regularly and feed with Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Granular Plant Food. TIP: For an added boost, apply Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.
How to grow sparaxis in a pot
- Choose a pot that has adequate drainage holes and place it in a position that gets full sun to part shade.
- Fill the pot with Yates Premium Potting Mix.
- Place the bulb directly where the plant is to grow at a depth of 5cm spaced 10 cm apart. Water sparingly initially after planting.
- Once shoots start to appear, water regularly and feed with Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food. TIP: For an added boost, apply Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.
Growing tips
- Sparaxis can remain in the soil season after season. Overtime, plants can become overcrowded. Bulbs can be divided after flowering and once the leaves have started to yellow.
- Use a mass display around garden edging and borders. They reach a maximum height of around 40 cm.
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 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.
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 Premium Potting Mix
A premium potting mix, ideal for all potted plants and shrubs, including ornamentals, fruit trees, vegies and herbs.
Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate
A complete plant food enriched with natural fish, seaweed, humates, molasses and more - boosted with NPK to improve plant and soil vitality.
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