Hello, dedicated caretaker. We, the Grevillea family, are a resilient and sun-loving bunch, native to the diverse landscapes of Australia. While many of our kin thrive in warmth, some of us can adapt to your cooler realms with a little understanding and the right winter preparation. Here is what we need from you to see us through the cold months.
Above all else, our roots demand to be dry and breathe. We abhor having our feet constantly wet, especially when it's cold. Soggy, cold soil is a death sentence, leading to root rot which we cannot recover from. Please ensure we are planted in sharply draining, sandy, or gravelly soil. If we are in a container, it must have excellent drainage holes. Consider raising our planting bed or mixing grit into the soil around us. This single act is the most crucial winter care you can provide.
We can handle a chill, but we are not fond of harsh, freezing winds. A relentless winter gale can desiccate our leaves, causing unsightly browning and die-back. If possible, please position us in a spot that receives winter sun but is protected from the prevailing wind, perhaps near a wall or fence that can radiate some residual warmth. A sudden, hard frost is our nemesis. For young or more tender varieties, be prepared to shield us on the coldest nights with a frost cloth or hessian sack. Please avoid plastic, as it can trap moisture and scorch our foliage.
Our growth slows significantly as the days shorten and temperatures drop. Our thirst diminishes almost completely. You must resist the urge to water us on a schedule. Only check the soil a few inches down; if it feels moist, do not water. We would much prefer to be a bit too dry than even slightly too wet during this dormant period. Overwatering is the most common mistake and one from which we may not awaken in spring.
You must withhold all fertilizer during the winter months. Feeding us now would encourage tender new growth that is highly susceptible to frost and wind damage. This soft growth would be killed back, wasting our precious energy and potentially opening pathways for disease. Let us rest naturally. You may resume feeding us with a low-phosphorus, native plant formula in the spring once the true warmth returns and we show signs of new growth.
While we may look a bit windswept or have some frost-tipped leaves, please do not give us a heavy prune in autumn or winter. Those older branches and leaves offer some protection to our core structure from the cold. Pruning now would stimulate new growth at the wrong time. The ideal time to shape us is in late spring, after the last frost has passed, when we are bursting with energy and can recover quickly.
