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Re: Re: Pest and Disease
by
Mark Taylor, Wollemi Pine UK
Hi Luis, I have been in contact with the Nursery in Australia regarding your question as we never experience temperatures of 60oC in the UK. Below are some suggestions and comments from the nursery manager in Australia, where the Wollemi Pines are grown.
We have found that the Wollemi Pine is quite hardy and suits a range of conditions. There are a few things that we have found that Wollemi will not tolerate. This includes over-watering, use of high Phosphorus fertilisers and excessive shade. In your circumstances I think we are really pushing the limit as far as high temperatures go. We do not believe that Wollemi will tolerate 60oC for extended periods. High temperatures can cause stem girdling at the base of the tree and root damage as the soil heats up. Wollemi has been tested from temperatures ranging from -12oC to 45oC and has done well in these situations.
WP will not tolerate being kept moist. In its natural environment it grows in mulch over sandstone rock so has very little soil to grow in. In this environment it has evolved to handle very dry periods. We recommend that Wollemi only be watered when it becomes dry. On the nursery in Queensland temperatures in the growing area reach 45oC. The large trees are only watered twice weekly. Each watering is a drench. During winter watering is reduced to once weekly but only if the mix is dry.
Wollemi pine is also an Australian native plant and is very efficient at utilising Phosphorus. Use of high Phosphorus fertilisers will result in toxicity and results in yellowing of foliage. We recommend that you only use low phosphorus fertilisers. A good NPK ratio for Wollemi is 18:3:10. It could be that the Conifer fertiliser used has much higher P levels.
We have also tested Wollemi in shady positions. If it is kept indoors it needs to be in a high light environment but is hardier when there is no active growth. For indoor or low light positions its best not to fertilize and maintain the plant in a dormant condition. It will still grow, but very slowly. Smaller pot sizes are hardier than large and we think this is because the small pots dry out quicker. The lower the light the less water use and the pots stay wetter for longer which causes death. Again rule of thumb is only water when the plant is just dry.
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