Kangaroo Paw seed advice

[cheerypeabrain]

;DSplit from: Houseplants%3F

cheerypeabrain said:

mickthecactus said:

I do have a Kangaroo paw as well. Several in fact.

oooh where did you get the kangaroo paw? I want to get one for my sister...she spends a lot of time in Australia and NZ and LOVES the native plants.

The LOVELY gorgeous Sweetleaf has sent me some Kangaroo Paw seeds ;D and I would be very grateful if anyone has any advice about sowing them, aftercare etc....don't want to stuff up.

[mickthecactus]

Think I can help here. Sow as other seeds in propagator. They will come up like grass and stay pretty small. Keep them well watered throughout summer. The first winter is when it is tricky. I had pricked them all out into individual pots which may have been the wrong thing and perhaps community planting would have been better. It was very difficult balancing between not letting them dry out and keeping them too wet and I lost a fair few. Kept them in the warmer part of the greenhouse at about 50f. The following summer though they grew like mad, they've all flowered and I have had to split them up as they are getting too big. Tough as old boots now and I have left one out to see how hardy it is. The leaves get rather floppy and scruffy so I just cut them back with shears to keep them tidy and they go into my unheated shed with a glass front and are quite happy. In about 6 weeks time (maybe 4) I will bring them out, tidy up the dead leaves, repot and split again.

The flowers make excellent cut flowers and last for ages.

[cheerypeabrain]

Thankyou Mick, I would like to sow them this weekend but may wait for a couple more weeks.
My sister is jumping up and down but wants ME to sow them...she just wants a plant when they're established....I'll tell her that she's probably got a long wait

[mickthecactus]

So did they come Ok Cheery?

[cheerypeabrain]

My sister has both plants now Mick...I think they're OK....no flowers yet tho.