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Xanthorrhoea - potted in sand
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Posted by ascernia Sydney (My Page) on Sat, Jan 12, 08 at 20:04
| We've just moved to a new home and discovered a little Xanthorrhoea tucked away under a big shrub. We think it hasn't been getting much sun though it looks well established and reasonably healthy. Its stump is about 6 inches high, and it doesn't have many leaves but they do look green and healthy. It looks like it was potted in pure sand - no apparent potting mix. When we water it, a lot of the sand doesn't seem to get wet.
We'd like to give it a new start. Any suggestions? We've moved it to a sunny area. Should we re-pot it in sand with potting mix, or something else, or just leave it as it is?
Thanks! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Xanthorrhoea - potted in sand
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They tend to dislike root disturbance. It looks as though yours is one of the Xanthorrhoea species that comes from naturally infertile sandy soil. I wouldn't mess with it!
Are you sure it needs watering at all? These are very drought-hardy plants, and the water it gets from the sky may be all it needs. It may be even more than it gets in its natural habitat. If it's thrived on neglect there's not much point in wasting water on it. We do tend to overwater our gardens!
Trish |
RE: Xanthorrhoea - potted in sand
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| Thanks very much for your thoughts, Trish. Afraid to say it's not exactly thriving - it really looks like it should have many more leaves - though what's there looks healthy.Based on what you've said, it's probably more the lack of sun than anything else that's been a problem, though we thought maybe it had been incorrectly potted in sand in the first place. We also read elsewhere that grass trees should be watered once or twice a week, but your experience shows different? |
RE: Xanthorrhoea - potted in sand
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- Posted by mallee South Australia (My Page) on
Wed, Jan 16, 08 at 6:52
| Once established, if the particular species that you have comes from your region, be guided by the normal rainfall. If in drought try to give it the occasional water. You will cause rot in the plant if you water unnecessarily. Your non wetting sand can be treated with a soil wetting agent, but only give extra water to the plant if the soil is bone dry. |
RE: Xanthorrhoea - potted in sand
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If you move it to a sunny dryer spot you may have to check it for water more often.
That non wetting sand will mean there is a lot less usable soil in the pot, you could wet it as trish_g said. |
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