Tips on Growing Protea Plants
One of the first things necessary in growing protea is soil. Protea plants must have well-drained soil. Their roots grow mostly horizontally, just below the surface of the soil. If water is allowed to sit and pool on the surface, the roots will become waterlogged and the plant will die. If you’re planting your protea outside, mix bark and grit into your soil to improve drainage. If you’re planting it in a pot, use a mixture of even parts peat, bark, grit, and styrofoam beads. Water your established plants every two to three weeks. If your plants are just starting out, water them more frequently. Proteas can stand a range of temperatures, from 23 F. (-5 C.) to 100 F. (38 C.), though they may not survive long exposure beyond that. Protea plants thrive in acidic, nutrient-poor soil. Avoid fertilizer; an abundance of phosphorus, in particular, will kill them. If you have a dry, acidic, rocky part of your garden that can’t seem to support life, you may find protea plant care fairly easy. Protea flowers come in large clusters surrounded by bright, spiky bracts that make for a very unusual and striking appearance. The flowers can be easily dried for flower arrangements. Pick them at their peak, strip away the bottom leaves, and hang them upside down in tightly bound clusters in a dark, breezy spot for two weeks. The flowers retain their color very well and are particularly popular in Christmas wreaths.
