Growing protea from seed has never been easier. The Protea Starter Packs are imported directly from a Protea farm in South Africa. Each pack contains an assortment of Protea seed and is beautifully presented in an eco-friendly recycled envelope containing everything you need to grow indigenous South African Protea. The pack contains seeds, smoke primers and full growing instructions along with all the individual plant details. We have successfully grown Protea from these Protea Starter Packs and therefore offer this product with confidence although we cannot guarantee the successful germination of every seed in the Protea Starter Packs,
The Proteaceae family is found in a vast variety of vegetations, from savannas and grassland to heavily overgrown hillsides. They thrive in areas that are prone to periodic veldt fires. Many of the Proteaceae have evolved specialized survival techniques in response to these fires. Their strong root systems and thick bark on some varieties, have given these extraordinary plants the ability survive the heat and smoke generated by fires. In fact, fire and smoke provide the major trigger in the wild for the Protea seeds to start the germination process. Seed can lie dormant for years waiting for the right conditions, usually brought on by wild fires. For these fire-sensitive species, habitat burning is the single most important cue for triggering germination of the dormant seed.
In growing fire-prone floras commercially, particularly those of Mediterranean zones, a solution had to be found to germinate the Proteaceae seed, without burning your growing fields every year. Following the discovery that smoke stimulated germination of this rare South African Proteaceae; the exploration of the benefits of smoke-mediated germination has expanded to different parts of the world and has been applied in nurseries and in rare flora conservation.
It became clear that seed dormancy of Protea seed is broken when 1) the seeds absorb water; 2) the seed are subject to relatively low temperatures; and 3) the seeds have been exposed to smoke. Various methods have been tried; aerosol smoke, smoke dissolved in water and solids (activated clays or sand particles) that have been smoked have all been effective in promoting Proteaceae seed germination. Various chemicals have also been found to break dormancy in the seed, and even soaking the seed in green tea have been reported to trigger germination in some varieties.
The Protea Starter packs contain Smoke Primer Disks to aid germination of the Proteaceae seed. These paper disks are impregnated with the chemicals found in bushfire smoke, as well as other components found to help Proteaceae germinate. When you soak seeds in a solution of these chemicals, you recreate conditions similar to the start of the rainy season after a fire. This triggers germination.
Although challenging to grow, Protea plants are undemanding once established. Proteas are fairly specific when it comes to growing requirements. Generally they need open, sunny areas and free-draining gravelly, sandy or basaltic loamy soil. The soil is generally acidic with a Ph of 5 to 6.5 for optimum growth and production, and a climate with mostly winter rainfall. Summer humidity is resented by the plants. Best suited for USDA Plant Hardiness zones 8 to 10. They will not tolerate fertilizers rich in phosphorous. While pruning is not essential, regular flower removal encourages less straggly growth. Propagation is from seed, cuttings or grafting. Hybrid cultivars are usually grown from cuttings. Light frost is tolerated, once established. Cultivation of the soil surface surrounding the plant is not advised as the root system is just below the soil surface and is sensitive to disturbance such as weeding around the plant. Good air circulation discourages fungal disease.
Proteas do best in a full sun location with good air movement around the plants and cool nights. Adequate water drainage is the most critical factor in growing Protea; if the soil drains well, good results can usually be achieved. Planting Protea on slopes hills or on slightly elevated mounds is beneficial, because water runoff decreases drainage problems.
In growing fire-prone floras commercially, particularly those of Mediterranean zones, a solution had to be found to germinate the Proteaceae seed, without burning your growing fields every year. Following the discovery that smoke stimulated germination of this rare South African Proteaceae; the exploration of the benefits of smoke-mediated germination has expanded to different parts of the world and has been applied in nurseries and in rare flora conservation.
It became clear that seed dormancy of Protea seed is broken when 1) the seeds absorb water; 2) the seed are subject to relatively low temperatures; and 3) the seeds have been exposed to smoke. Various methods have been tried; aerosol smoke, smoke dissolved in water and solids (activated clays or sand particles) that have been smoked have all been effective in promoting Proteaceae seed germination. Various chemicals have also been found to break dormancy in the seed, and even soaking the seed in green tea have been reported to trigger germination in some varieties.
The Protea Starter packs contain Smoke Primer Disks to aid germination of the Proteaceae seed. These paper disks are impregnated with the chemicals found in bushfire smoke, as well as other components found to help Proteaceae germinate. When you soak seeds in a solution of these chemicals, you recreate conditions similar to the start of the rainy season after a fire. This triggers germination.
Although challenging to grow, Protea plants are undemanding once established. Proteas are fairly specific when it comes to growing requirements. Generally they need open, sunny areas and free-draining gravelly, sandy or basaltic loamy soil. The soil is generally acidic with a Ph of 5 to 6.5 for optimum growth and production, and a climate with mostly winter rainfall. Summer humidity is resented by the plants. Best suited for USDA Plant Hardiness zones 8 to 10. They will not tolerate fertilizers rich in phosphorous. While pruning is not essential, regular flower removal encourages less straggly growth. Propagation is from seed, cuttings or grafting. Hybrid cultivars are usually grown from cuttings. Light frost is tolerated, once established. Cultivation of the soil surface surrounding the plant is not advised as the root system is just below the soil surface and is sensitive to disturbance such as weeding around the plant. Good air circulation discourages fungal disease.
Proteas do best in a full sun location with good air movement around the plants and cool nights. Adequate water drainage is the most critical factor in growing Protea; if the soil drains well, good results can usually be achieved. Planting Protea on slopes hills or on slightly elevated mounds is beneficial, because water runoff decreases drainage problems.
