Grevillea, a vibrant and resilient genus native to Australia, can thrive magnificently in containers, bringing a touch of unique flora and a hub for pollinators to your patio or balcony. From our perspective as plants, this controlled environment can be ideal if our fundamental needs are understood and met. Here is a complete guide to ensuring we flourish in our pots.
Our root systems are sensitive and require specific conditions. The most critical factor is excellent drainage; we despise having constantly wet feet. Please choose a pot with ample drainage holes—the more, the better. A pot that is too large will hold excess moisture, so select one that is only slightly larger than our current root ball, allowing for a few years of growth. As for the soil, a standard potting mix is often too moisture-retentive. We prefer a very sharp-draining, slightly acidic to neutral mix. A perfect blend for us would be a native plant potting mix, or you can create your own by combining a quality potting soil with coarse sand, fine gravel, or perlite to ensure it is loose and fast-draining.
We are sun-worshippers at heart. To produce our spectacular, spider-like blooms and maintain dense, healthy foliage, we require a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight each day. A north or east-facing patio or balcony is often ideal in many climates. Without sufficient light, we will become leggy, our growth will be sparse, and our flowering will be significantly reduced or cease altogether. Please place us in the sunniest spot you have; we will reward you with a spectacular display of color and vigor.
Once established, we are remarkably drought-tolerant, but in a pot, our world is limited. The goal is to let the top few inches of soil dry out between waterings. Please do not stick to a rigid schedule. Instead, check the soil with your finger. When it feels dry, give us a deep, thorough watering until it runs freely from the drainage holes. Then, let the pot drain completely. Never let us sit in a saucer of water. In winter, when our growth slows, you will need to water us much less frequently.
We are sensitive to phosphorus, an element common in many standard fertilizers. High levels of phosphorus can be toxic to us, damaging our roots and potentially killing us. Please feed us only with a fertilizer specifically formulated for native Australian plants, as these are low in phosphorus. A slow-release, low-phosphorus fertilizer applied in spring and autumn is perfect. Alternatively, a light application of a certified organic, phosphorus-free fertilizer will keep us healthy and blooming without causing harm.
Regular pruning is beneficial for us. It encourages a bushier, more compact form and promotes more prolific flowering. The best time to prune is after a flush of blooms has finished. Simply tip-prune the stems, cutting back by about one-third. This not only shapes us but also prevents us from becoming woody and sparse at the base. Regularly deadheading spent flowers will also encourage us to produce more blooms. Always use clean, sharp secateurs to make clean cuts.
