Leucospermum oleifolium

Hi Ann

Thanks for the information. The first reason for wilting is when a plant has transpired too rapidly and this is easily remedied by the addition of water after which the plant perks up. From your description, this is not appear to be your problem, or the plant would have recovered by now.

The two other reasons for wilting leaves both have rather more dire outcomes. A plant may wilt as a result of loss of water past the point of recovery, or the wilt may be the result of a disease organism that reduces or even prevents the uptake of water.

On reading that the plant is in a pot only 15 cm by 15cm (is it really that small?) rings alarm bells. That seems way too small for a Leucospermum of flowering age. It is quite possible that you may indeed have erred too much on the dry side. The protea family does cope with dry soil but it is able to do so only because it has a large network of surface roots spreading all round the shrub, just below the surface of the ground. These roots are fed by every tiny bit of moisture, even heavy dew. In a container the plant cannot develop these surface roots so must get more water artificially. The container should be quite large and deep and hold at least30 - 40 liters of a good protea soil mixture.

I have noticed that in many of our nursery 'factories' plants are sold in full bloom for instant colour etc, but are not potted so as to live past the blooming period. Kind of like a living bunch of flowers. Ideally the plant should immediately have been transplanted into a larger container, but as it was already in flower, you could not have done this anyway. I really do feel that the supplier should have sold this plant in a much larger container.

If your plant is still alive, there is the possibility it may yet recover. If it does, I would suggest it be re-potted as soon as it seems strong enough to cope with the move. Make sure the roots are not in any way disturbed when you do this. Just ease the plant out of the container and into its new container, carefully settling the whole ball firmly into the soil.

If the plant has contracted a wilt disease there is little you can do and it is almost certain the plant will die. This is usually a sudden death within two or three days.

The leaves of the protea family are usually very leathery but not dry or yellowing. At a nursery or wholesaler, plants are kept in a very stable, artificial environment, often forced into fast growth and flowering for a quick turn-over of stock. Once the plant is out of this environment its chances of survival are reduced, even more so if the plant is not supplied with the soil nutrients and container it actually needs - which would cost them money. (I do not have much faith in the system, as you can see). Leucospermums also like some direct sun and are very partial to windy conditions and low humidity.

My apologies for this lengthy reply. I hope you are able to save your plant, but if not you will know what to do next time. Better to obtain one well before the next flowering season.

Kind regards
Lorraine