SITE:
Proteaceae require a sunny, well drained, open, well ventilated position.  A north facing slope is ideal, but raised beds will help to prevent 'wet feet'. They grow well in poor acidic soils and deeply resent the presence or addition of fertilisers and compost.  Choose your site carefully, as these plants truly detest having their roots disturbed and once in the ground, rarely transplant successfully.

PLANTING:
Water the plant well several hours before planting. The hole should be dug much deeper and wider than the bag size and then back-filled to about the depth of the bag. The loosened soil will allow easier penetration of new roots and prevent water-logging in the hole. Cut the bottom out of the bag and place the plant in the hole. Carefully slit the bag up the side and fill in the hole while removing the polythene. This minimalises root disturbance. Thoroughly firm down the plant and the soil.  Water in well at planting and again  within the next 48 hours. Young plants need water during their first couple of summers - deep watering every week or so is more beneficial than little and often. Established plants need less water, but you'll get longer stems if they get some extra during the growing season.

MULCHING:
Proteaceae have shallow roots as well as very deep roots and don't like close cultivatiion. Three or four large rocks around the plants form an ideal mulch:- reduces weed growth, traps moisture, prevents soil becoming too hot in summer and provides radiant heat in winter, helps firm the plant as it becomes established. Staking is not generally recommended as the plant needs to move a little in the wind to develop a strong enough root and trunk system to support a large shrub.

PRUNING:
Young plants should be pruned to promote sturdy growth. They need to be 'tip-pruned' when the main stem and shoots are longer than 30cm.  Simply pinch out the growing bud or trim off about 2.5cm with secateurs.  This will prevent the plant becoming straggly and gives a nice bushy shape. Weak side shoots, spindly branches or branches growing toward the ground should be pruned off flush with the stem.  Mature bushes are generally pruned through picking. All flowers and bracts should be removed at some stage of the season, leaving a stem of at least 4-6 healthy leaves.  Proteas generally don't shoot from bare wood, so cut above healthy leaves where growth is wanted.  Giving a good trim and shape in Spring promotes a attractive shrub with lots of new flowering branches and bracts for the following season.

Enjoy!!
Jenni & Pete