Royal Protea has flowers of impressive size, the diameter of which can exceed 30 cm. In Poland, it is usually grown as a houseplant, but in summer it can successfully decorate terraces, balconies or gardens. In winter, it should be moved indoors.Due to their original beauty, protea flowers are used in live and dried bouquets.No wonder - they will add a bit of exotic charm to each composition.
Protee in pots is most often imported to Poland from Italy, from the heart of the world's nursery in the Pistoia district in Tuscany.You can also buy the seeds of this plant without any problems. The uniqueness of protea is evidenced by their price - one seed costs several zlotys! Nevertheless, it is worth trying your hand at the cultivation of protea.If we provide her with the right conditions, and above all, as much sun as possible, she will repay her with royal flowers.
The protea owes its name to Charles Linnaeus, an 18th-century Swedish botanist, although it alludes to ancient traditions.Proteus in Greek mythology was a sea deity who took various forms.This feature is also characteristic of the protea, the inflorescence buds of which resemble large decorative cones, and when unfolded reveal a plate-shaped, domed interior consisting of long tubular flowers surrounded by long pink, purple or cream-colored hairy leaves that look like impressive flower petals.
Protea's natural homeland is South-West Africa.It grows between mountain slopes and coastal lowlands, forming a plant formation known as fynbos. Shrubs grow up to 1.5 m. Protea is popularly called a sugar shrub due to its strongly honey-bearing flowers. It grows in full sun on well-drained soils.
In its natural environment, the protea has evolved to adapt to spontaneous fires occurring in those areas, producing a thick underground stem with numerous dormant buds.Interestingly, they develop after the threat has passed.
Protea - varieties
- 'Little Prince' grows to a meter high. Its flowers appear in spring and autumn.Lures useful insects and birds.
- 'White Crown' grows up to 45 cm. The diameter of the inflorescence ranges from 10 to 15 cm. This variety is perfect for rock gardens.
- 'Red Baron' is 50 to 70 cm tall. Its inflorescences can be cut into vases.
- 'Pink King' boasts the largest flowers among all protea varieties, so it should be provided with a representative place on the terrace. You can grow up to 1.5 meters, it is not frost-resistant.Will stay in the vase for a long time, but remember to change the water every day.
Cultivation requirements of exotic protea
Substrate preparation
Protea needs a well-aerated soil with good drainage.The substrate must be fully permeable. It must not be too wet or too dry.
Seed preparation
Seeds should be soaked in lukewarm water for 24 hours. Then we treat them with a fungicide and plant them to a depth equal to the size of the seed. Germination can take up to 3 weeks.
Watering
The soil should be well watered from the very beginning.Water can not be poured with a strong stream that may break the delicate, young roots.The soil must be well sprinkled. Protea is sensitive to alkaline s alt water.Fungal diseases are the greatest threat to the plant, which usually dies when attacking the roots. Therefore, they should not be irrigated with rainwater or water from natural sources.Water the plant in the morning, never in the evening.
Fertilization
Protea requires slow-acting, organic fertilizers such as compost or peat. Chemical fertilizers or manure can burn her delicate root system.The plant does not tolerate fertilizers containing phosphorus.Twice a season, you can sprinkle the ground with ammonium nitrate and then water it abundantly. This fertilizer maintains the slightly acidic pH of the substrate.
Job title
Protea grows best in the sun, in a place with constant air circulation.Not afraid of windy places.
