Pohutukawa And Rata Information & Advice

Caring For Pohutukawa

How To Care For Pohutukawa

The most important part starts with planting, and our article, How To Plant A Pohutukawa, provides sound advice on how to do this properly. So, let’s now assume your plant is growing well and you want to keep it that way!

Winter is the perfect time for mulching your plants. Organic matter such as compost or sheep pellets should be spread liberally around the plants and then overlaid with mulch. The Plant Company has three very good options for mulch. The first is coco fibre matting which is made from the husks of coconuts. The second is Earth Mat which is made from recycled paper. Both of these break down to become part of the soil within two years. The third is black plastic matting which will last 20 years or more. Whichever mulch is used, The Plant Company recommends stones, bark chip, or other similar products be spread over top for aesthetic purposes. The Plant Company does not recommend adding fertiliser during winter as this is better applied in spring so less is wasted. However, adding organic matter such as compost is quite okay.

Spring is the perfect time for fertilising the plants as they start to bounce into life. The Plant Company has fertilisers which have been specially blended for different plants and in this instance, our Native Plant Fertiliser will give them the correct boost and keep them fed for 12-months. A suitable alternative is our organic fertiliser which will also keep them well fed but they will require a secondary application in autumn.

Summer is when the plants need regular watering and this should be undertaken every second or third day on the hottest days. Plants that are establishing need particular attention as their root system will not have penetrated deep enough to secure consistent moisture yet.

Caring for Pohutukawa in autumn is about keeping the plants healthy. Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken during spring, summer, and autumn if you have time but this is not essential if solid fertiliser and/or good amounts of organic matter have already been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser won’t hurt.

Plants should be checked for pest or disease issues during each season. If anything is looking a little bit unusual, refer to our articles under Pohutukawa Issues And Troubleshooting.

How To Care For Pohutukawa In Autumn

Caring for Pohutukawa in autumn is all about weed control and keeping the plants healthy. Keeping the weeds down around the plant and removing poorly stems will help keep the plants tidy.

Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if Native Plant Fertiliser and/or good amounts of organic matter have previously been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong which will aid the plant immensely as it shoots new growth in spring. You can apply Native Plant Fertiliser but this should only be done it if can be watered in well.

Finally, monitor for pests and diseases, and if anything is looking a little bit unusual, refer to our articles under Pohutukawa Issues And Troubleshooting.

How To Care For Pohutukawa In Spring

Spring is the perfect time for fertilising and mulching around Pohutukawa plants as they start to bounce into life. The Plant Company has fertilisers which have been specially blended for different plants and in this instance, our Native Plant Fertiliser will give them the correct boost and keep them fed for 12-months. A suitable alternative is our organic fertiliser which will also keep them well fed, but they will require a secondary application in autumn.

Organic matter such as compost or sheep pellets should be spread liberally around the plants and then overlaid with a mulch (if not done already) during winter or spring. The Plant Company recommends an organic mulch is used as this breaks down over time to provide nutrients and improves the soil. The Plant Company has three very good options for mulch. The first is coco fibre matting which is made from the husks of coconuts. The second is Earth Mat which is made from recycled paper. Both of these break down to become part of the soil within two years. The third is black plastic matting which will last 20 years or more. Whichever mulch is used, The Plant Company recommends stones, bark chip, or other similar products be spread over top for aesthetic purposes.

Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if solid fertiliser and/or good amounts of organic matter have already been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser won’t hurt. If anything is looking a little bit unusual, refer to our articles under Pohutukawa Issues And Troubleshooting.

How To Care For Pohutukawa In Summer

Summer is when the plants need regular watering and this should be undertaken every second or third day on the hottest days. Plants that are establishing need particular attention as their root system will not have penetrated deep enough to secure consistent moisture yet.

Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if Native Plant Fertiliser and/or good amounts of organic matter have previously been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong and encourages more foliage as the nutrition is right where the plant needs it. Please note: The Plant Company does not recommend using solid fertilisers at this time of year unless plenty of water can be applied.

The other required activities for Pohutukawa during summer are weed control and monitoring for pests and diseases. Keeping the weeds down around the plant will produce a better plant overall. If anything is looking a little bit unusual, refer to our articles under Pohutukawa Issues And Troubleshooting.

How To Care For Pohutukawa In Winter

Caring for Pohutukawa in winter is all about weed control and keeping the plants healthy. Keeping the weeds down around the plant and removing poorly stems will help keep the plants tidy.

Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if Native Plant Fertiliser and/or good amounts of organic matter have previously been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong which will aid the plant immensely as it shoots new growth in spring. You can apply Native Plant Fertiliser but this should only be done it if can be watered in well and is best held off until spring.

Finally, monitor for pests and diseases, and if anything is looking a little bit unusual, refer to our articles under Pohutukawa Issues And Troubleshooting.

Pohutukawa Hedge Care

Caring for a Pohutukawa hedge has several key elements to ensure the hedge grows healthily and looks amazing. The most important part starts with planting, and our article, How To Plant Pohutukawa, provides sound advice on how to do this properly. So, let’s now assume your plant is growing well and you want to keep it that way!

Weed control is vital. Therefore, mulch should be applied at outlined in our article, How To Mulch Around Pohutukawa. Hand weeding is also effective if you have the time.

Fertiliser is also essential. Too often The Plant Company sees Pohutukawa hedges that are weak and looking sparse because the plants are short on nutrition. Our articles, Fertiliser For Pohutukawa, provide advice on the best way to go about this task correctly.

Trimming the hedge during early spring and late summer is key to achieving a dense hedge. Our articles under Trimming And Hedging Pohutukawa, provide great insight into how to grow amazing hedges.

Finally, the plants should be checked for pest or disease issues during each season. If anything is looking a little bit unusual, refer to our articles under Pohutukawa Issues And Troubleshooting.

Fertiliser For Pohutukawa

Best Fertiliser For Pohutukawa

Pohutukawa require feeding to keep them growing optimally. The Plant Company’s Native Fertiliser has been blended to give plants the boost they need and then sustained nutrition for the next 12 months. We recommend the fertiliser is applied to the soil surface in spring just as the plants start to grow actively. More importantly, we advise that no fertiliser is placed in the hole at planting, but rather spread around the soil surface so it can wash through the roots as it releases. The Plant Company’s Native Fertiliser ensures that nutrients remain in the soil around the plant rather than being lost through the soil profile to where the plant cannot reach it. This also applies to plants grown on sandy soils. The Plant Company’s Native Fertiliser is therefore very environmentally friendly and longer lasting than most other products in the market.

Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if Native Plant Fertiliser has been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong and lush.

Best Fertiliser For Pohutukawa Grown In A Pot

Pohutukawa grown in containers require different fertiliser to those grown outdoors in soil. In this instance, the correct fertiliser to use is either container plant fertiliser or fertiliser tablets. Each of these will provide safe, sustained, and complete nutrition to the plant for the next 12-months. Using other types of fertilisers can be detrimental to the plant and may result in plant injury or death.

Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if container plant fertiliser or fertiliser tablets have been used. If you think the plant needs an extra boost or has some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong and lush as the nutrition is right where the plant needs it.

Best Organic Fertiliser For Pohutukawa

Pohutukawa are showy plants that do require feeding to keep them looking amazing. A lot of articles have all sorts of advice on this subject which often requires multiple applications so you use more of their products. The Plant Company prefers to take a simpler and more environmentally responsible approach. We believe the best organic option is The Plant Company organic fertiliser which is applied in spring and again in autumn and will keep them well fed. You can safely apply generous amounts of this fertiliser without risk of injuring the plants. More details about this organic fertiliser are provided with the product.

Best Soil pH For Pohutukawa

The soil pH refers to how acid or alkaline the soil is. Pohutukawa prefer a soil pH within the range of 6.5 to 7.5 which means they can tolerate both slightly acidic and slightly alkaline soils. As the pH of the soil moves away from this optimum range, the nutrients the plant is taking up (or not taking up) through the roots changes. If the shift in pH is too far, this can result in deficiencies of some nutrients and toxic levels of others. In either case this can cause the plant to become sick or even die a slow death.

The best way to know whether the pH is correct for your plant is to do a test. The Plant Company has pH test kits available that are easy to use and only take a few minutes to get a result. Preferably this test should be completed before planting so any pH issues can be corrected without risking the plant. A pH less 5.5 should have sparing amounts of dolomite lime applied along with Native Plant Fertiliser. A pH above 6.8 should have small amounts of soil acidifying fertiliser applied. In both instances the fertiliser should be thoroughly mixed into the soil before planting. A retest of the soil pH should be undertaken after four weeks and small adjustments made again. If the pH is in the optimum range, just use Native Plant Fertiliser thereafter.

Planting And Growing Pohutukawa

Are Pohutukawa Easy To Grow?

Pohutukawa are very easy to grow, but you need to have the basics right. Choose a sunny spot and prepare the soil by adding compost or sheep pellets. Feeding your plants in spring with Native Plant Fertiliser will replenish nutrients and keep them fed for 12 months. They should also be watered regularly during dry periods to keep them flourishing. The Plant Company has produced a suite of articles that covers everything you need to know about growing Pohutukawa.

Are Pohutukawa Hardy To Frost?

Most Pohutukawa can tolerate light frost once established, but you need to be careful. The low growing plants such as Metrosideros Tahiti and Metrosideros carminea will be injured by a moderate frost, and are more susceptible to damage when they are young. Similarly, Metrosideros Maori Princess and Metrosideros Mistral can generally tolerate moderate frost once they are taller than 50 cm.

Frost Cloth is a good option for protecting vulnerable plants if you are worried. Be careful to harden off recently purchased plants if you intend to plant these during winter and frosts are likely. Do this by gradually exposing them to the cooler conditions over a 2-3 week period or until such time as you think that a frost won’t damage them. The Plant Company recommends holding off planting until spring if you are at all worried that new plants might get frosted.

Best Soil For Pohutukawa

Soils rich in fertility and organic matter that are well-drained will grow an amazing Pohutukawa. plants. The soil should be well prepared with either compost or sheep pellets mixed in at planting or spread on the soil surface after planting. It is important that the soil being planted into won’t restrict root growth and for this reason, clay soils are not well suited to Pohutukawa. Clay soils also tend to be very wet which will negatively impact the performance of the plant, and can ultimately result in plant death. The Plant Company recommends that poor draining or clay soils be avoided for Pohutukawa.

Feeding your Pohutukawa in spring with Native Plant Fertiliser will replenish nutrients and keep them fed for 12 months. Liberal amounts of organic fertiliser can also be used. Do ensure that plants are watered regularly during dry periods to keep them flourishing.

Can Pohutukawa Be Grown In Coastal Environments?

Pohutukawa can cope with coastal environments and salt spray. However, if the soil is too saline, this can prove detrimental to the plants and result in them becoming stunted and not performing. If you elect to plant in this environment, The Plant Company recommends ensuring the soil is well prepared with organic matter such as compost, and water regularly during dry periods, especially while the plant is establishing.

Can Pohutukawa Grow In The Shade?

The answer to this question depends on how much shade. In shaded conditions Pohutukawa tend to become “stretched” as the branches extend to chase light and flowering performance diminishes. In full sun they tend to be more compact with better leaf colouring and flower performance. That said, Pohutukawa will grow well with just 4-5 hours of direct sun during the day, or with large amounts of dappled light.

Please note that a Pohutukawa hedge that extends under a large tree or through a shaded area will generally differ in the colouring when compared to other areas in full sun.

Can Pohutukawa Grow In Wet Areas?

Pohutukawa do not grow well on wet or heavy soils, including clay soils. In such circumstances, they are likely to die a slow death. In these environments the plants are likely to succumb to the root rot disease, Phytophthora. The article, Why Is My Pohutukawa Dying? affords more information on this disease. You might find articles, How To Test If My Soil Is Poorly Drained and Fixing Poor Drainage On A Clay Soil useful.

Can You Grow Pohutukawa In Pots?

Pohutukawa look amazing when grown in pots and managed appropriately. Metrosideros Tahiti, Metrosideros Dalese, and Metrosideros Vibrance are commonly used for this purpose.

To grow a Pohutukawa in a pot, choose a pot that is no less than twice the size of what the Pohutukawa is currently growing in and that has plenty of drainage holes in the bottom. Fill the bottom of the pot to about 1/3 of the way up with potting mix. Do not use soil or compost when growing plants in a container and do not add fertiliser. The Plant Company potting mix has all the nutrients required to sustain the plant for the next 12 months.

Remove the plant from the container it is growing in by either pulling it free or by cutting the bag. We recommend cutting the bag, especially for larger grade plants, to minimise any chance of damaging the roots. Place the plant in the hole without removing any of the growing media or cutting the roots. You can tease them apart if you want but this is not essential. If the roots have been circling the inside of the pot or they look totally root bound, you don’t need to cut them (refer to, Managing Rootbound Plants, for why we don’t cut them). Add more potting mix and firm this around the plant using gentle pressure, then water well. They should be watered twice a week during hot weather and weekly or fortnightly during cooler periods.

The key to having an amazing Pohutukawa in a pot is to both keep it fed correctly (see article Best Fertiliser For Pohutukawa Grown In A Container) and not to over-water it. Over-watering is the most common reason Pohutukawa fail.

Design Ideas For Pohutukawa

Pohutukawa owe their popularity to not just their great aesthetics, but also to their versatility and ability to cope where other plants would struggle. Some common uses and popular varieties include:

Ground covering and rock gardens: Metrosideros carminea, Metrosideros Carousel, and Metrosideros Red Carpet.

Growing in a pot: Metrosideros Tahiti, Metrosideros Dalese, and Metrosideros Vibrance.

Specimen trees: Metrosideros Mistral, Metrosideros Maori Princess, and Metrosideros Aurea.

Pool and living areas: Metrosideros Red Carpet, Metrosideros Tahiti, and Metrosideros Dalese.

Please be aware that Pohutukawa trees have root systems that can lift concrete as they mature and grow into drainage pipes. The Plant Company therefore advises planting them at least 15 m away from anything that could be impacted.

Do Pohutukawa Attract Birds?

Pohutukawa and Rata attract a good range of NZ native birds. Importantly, Tui, Bellbirds, and Kaka all benefit from Pohutukawa flowers and seeds. Bees, bats, and native lizards will also feed on the nectar during flowering.

Do Pohutukawa Have Invasive Roots?

Pohutukawa trees do have invasive roots when compared to most other tree species. The roots will quicky grow into soil drainage lines and mature Southern Rata trees can lift concrete paths. Metrosideros excelsa varieties such as Metrosideros Maori Princess tend to be relatively less invasive, however.

How Fast Do Pohutukawa Grow?

Pohutukawa are generally regarded being of medium to high vigour. A healthy Pohutukawa should more than double in size each year until it reaches maturity if grown in the correct conditions. Be sure to start with strong and healthy plants at the outset as a sickly plant can take a lot of time to recover. This can be particularly important if you are growing a hedge, as poorly plants will likely result in an uneven hedge. Our article, What To Consider When Buying Pohutukawa provides sound advice on this subject.

How Tall Will My Pohutukawa Grow?

Pohutukawa varieties differ in their mature heights. Some will grow to just 30 cm tall and others to 40 m or more! The Plant Company has put a lot of effort into determining how big each plant will grow in an unrestricted growing environment. Far too often we see people planting a garden too densely and then having to spend a lot of time trimming or removing plants later. This is something we want our customers to avoid and we therefore provide size information so the planning can be right from the start. Be sure to check out our Pohutukawa varieties and the detailed information that accompanies both this, and our other plants.

How To Grow Pohutukawa

Choose a full sun position for your Pohutukawa. The hole should be dug to at least 50-75% deeper and wider than the container the plant is currently growing in. The Plant Company recommends incorporating compost or sheep pellets into the soil to provide additional organic material, but this is not essential. Do not put fertiliser in the bottom of the hole, rather spread Native Plant Fertiliser on the soil surface after planting, and preferably do this when the plant is actively growing in spring.

The Plant Company has produced specific articles to help you grow amazing Pohutukawa: How To Plant A Pohutukawa, How To Trim A Pohutukawa, Best Fertiliser For Pohutukawa, When To Water Pohutukawa, How To Mulch Around Pohutukawa, and Pohutukawa Issues And Troubleshooting.

How To Mulch Around Pohutukawa

Placing mulch around Pohutukawa helps keep the soil moist and significantly reduces weeds. The Plant Company recommends an organic mulch is used as this breaks down over time to provide nutrients and improves the soil. It is also better for the environment than the plastic-based alternatives. Whatever type of mulch is used, it needs to be free draining so the soil can “breathe” and allow water to penetrate quickly and easily. Heavy rates of lawn clippings are therefore not a good option as they hold too much moisture. The Plant Company has three very good options for mulch. The first is coco fibre matting which is made from the husks of coconuts. The second is Earth Mat which is made from recycled paper. Both of these break down to become part of the soil within two years. The third is black plastic matting which will last 20 years or more. Whichever mulch is used, The Plant Company recommends stones, bark chip, or other similar products be spread over top for aesthetic purposes.

Bark chips or shredded bark makes for an effective mulch provided it is laid thick. A minimum of 6 cm is required to effectively suppress weeds. However, over time this mulch will decompose, so it will need to be topped up every year to continue being effective.

Compost is not considered an effective mulch as weeds germinate easily and it is only short lasting. It is, however, a very good method of adding organic matter to the soil and should be applied before the mulch is put down.

How To Plant A Pohutukawa

Choose a full sun or partial shade position with good drainage for your Pohutukawa plant. The hole should be dug to at least 50-75% deeper and wider than the container the plant is currently growing in. A planting spade makes the hole digging a lot easier. The Plant Company recommends incorporating compost or sheep pellets into the soil to provide additional organic material, but this is not essential. Do not put fertiliser in the bottom of the hole, rather spread that on the soil surface after planting, and preferably do this when the plant is actively growing in spring.

Remove the plant from the container it is growing in by either pulling it free or by cutting the bag. We recommend cutting the bag or container, especially for larger grade plants, to minimise any chance of damaging the roots. If the roots have been growing in a circle or are all bound up you can tease them apart if you want but this is not essential. Similarly, you don’t need to remove any of the growing media. The Plant Company does not recommend cutting the roots, even if the plant is root-bound as this offers no benefit. This is explained in our article, Managing Rootbound Plants.

Now place the plant in the hole and make sure it is level with the soil surface before filling in around it. If it is above the soil surface, dig more out. If it is below, put in more soil and retest the level. Once the plant is set level with the soil surface, add more soil gradually and firm it around the plant using gentle pressure as you go. Scatter Native Plant Fertiliser across the soil surface after planting and the give the plant a good watering.

Northern Rata

Northern rata (Metrosideros robusta) is a flowering tree commonly found in the North Island. It grows in the hollows of other trees as an epiphyte and sends roots to the ground. Eventually it will kill the host tree. It can grow to between 25 and 40 m tall with a 2.5 m diameter trunk that is often hollow. 1000-year-old trees have been found in native forests. The flowers are orange-pink coloured and have a bottle-brush style.

Plants To Grow With Pohutukawa

A wide range of plants can be grown with Pohutukawa. The Plant Company often recommends using other plant colours and textures to add variety and interest. Such plants include Lomandra, Astelia, Phormium, Westringia, Libertia, Dianella, and Coprosmas. When they are grown in pots, The Plant Company will often have Dichondra Silver Falls trailing from the sides.

Southern Rata

Southern rata (Metrosideros umbellata) grows from a seed that has fallen to the ground and eventually grows into a tree about 15 metres high with a trunk 1 metre wide. It is the most widespread of the rata and is found from sea level to about 750 m. It is naturally found through Northland down to the West Coast of the South Island, usually in higher rainfall areas. Trees up to 500 years old can be found in native forests.

What Is The Best Soil For Pohutukawa Grown In A Container?

Only potting mix should be used when Pohutukawa are grown in a container. Often people will try and cut corners and use soil or mixes that contain both soil and potting mix with poor results. The same applies to when plants are potted up with compost as it holds too much moisture. Soil also contains weeds and tends to become compacted in a container, hence why it is not used in this manner. The Plant Company has nursery grade potting media which is pre-loaded with the correct amounts of fertiliser and micro-nutrients to keep the plant sustained with nutrition and actively growing for the next 12-months. After 12-months, simply add a couple fertiliser tablets to keep the plant fed for the next 12-months.

What Is The Difference Between Rata And Pohutukawa?

Rata and Pohutukawa are common names that refer to species of Metrosideros, and are often used for the same plant, somewhat erroneously. This can create confusion and interesting debates!

New Zealand has three tree species, one shrub species, and six climbing species that all belong to the genus, Metrosideros. Northern Rata (Metrosideros robusta) and Southern Rata (Metrosideros umbellata) are generally the most well-known of these and their difference are explained in, What Is The Difference Between Southern Rata And Northern Rata? Pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa) has smaller and more rounded leaves with a velvet-like texture on the underside of the leaves. Flowering is similar, though clusters are typically larger with Pohutukawa.

Unless otherwise stated in these series of articles, The Plant Company will refer to Rata and Pohutukawa as Pohutukawa as this is the more widely accepted common name for Metrosideros.

What Is The Difference Between Southern Rata And Northern Rata?

There are three fundamental differences between Northern Rata (Metrosideros robusta) and Southern Rata (Metrosideros umbellata). Those are the way it establishes itself, the size at maturity, and the flower colour.

Northern Rata normally grows in the hollows of other trees (an epiphyte) and sends roots to the ground. Eventually it will kill the host tree. Southern Rata does not grow as an epiphyte, but rather establishes from seeds dropped to the ground.

Northern Rata can grow to between 25 and 40 m tall with a 2.5 m diameter trunk, whereas Southern Rata typically grows to 15 m tall and have a 1 m wide trunk.

Southern Rata has flowers that are dark red, whereas Northern Rata tend to be orange-pink coloured flowers.

When Is The Best Time To Plant Pohutukawa?

Pohutukawa are best planted any time from mid-autumn until late spring. During this time, they can cope with the stresses associated with planting (root damage mainly) more easily than if they have to also cope with heat and moisture stress as well. They can be planted in summer provided they are well-watered and the roots have plenty of growing media attached when planted. If watering is a challenge, The Plant Company advises planting any time from late-autumn through until early-spring. Make sure you have a good planting spade to make this job a lot easier.

Where Do Pohutukawa Grow Best?

A full sun position with good drainage and some shelter is essential for getting the best results with Pohutukawa. In shaded conditions they tend to become “stretched” as the branches extend to chase light, and they become less dense with less prolific flowering. On poorly drained soils they will struggle and may die a slow death. The planting position should also be moderately sheltered which will help with establishment and the overall plant shape. The Plant Company recommends staking trees to offer support and to reduce any chance of wind damage.

The Plant Company has produced a suite of articles about growing and looking after Pohutukawa to help you get fantastic results.

Which Pohutukawa Makes The Best Specimen Tree?

The best specimen tree among our Pohutukawa varieties is Metrosideros Maori Princess. This variety is popular with landscape designers due to its prolific flowering, fantastic form, quick growth, and great aesthetics. It is closely followed by Metrosideros Mistral.

Pohutukawa Issues And Troubleshooting

Myrtle Rust On Pohutukawa

The most common disease problem with Pohutukawa is Myrtle Rust. It shows up as rust-coloured spores, usually on new growth. The leaves will then develop yellow spots before eventually turning brown. The disease will spread throughout the plant and can affect other plants in the same family. It is generally not fatal for the plant, but is quite unsightly.

Myrtle Rust is most prevalent during spring, summer, and autumn, and is spread by water droplets and insects. Therefore, it is most prevalent in high humidity areas, or where plants are regularly sprayed with water.

Treatment for Myrtle Rust is two-fold. Localised infections are generally trimmed off and the material burnt or sent to landfill in a well-sealed bag. The plant is then sprayed with a copper fungicide at weekly intervals for the next three weeks.

Despite all the hype around Myrtle Rust, it is an easy disease to control with spraying. However, the key is to identify the issue quickly and respond in the same manner. The Plant Company uses Wetcit in normal nursery operations to take advantage of its fungicidal and insecticidal properties. When used in a preventative manner, it is one of the safest and least toxic products in the market. Rarely do we see Myrtle Rust in the nursery with our plants sprayed every four weeks between spring and autumn. If any signs are noticed, however, a Copper Fungicide will be used. Please ensure you read the label carefully and use the appropriate safety gear when using any agrichemical.

Root Rot In Pohutukawa

When Pohutukawa are grown in wet soils or exposed to prolonged wet through over-watering, the disease, Phytophthora, can take hold. Phytophthora attacks the roots and causes the plant to eventually die. The tell-tale symptoms are yellowing of the leaves, drooping foliage even when the soil is moist, discolouring of the stems, and plant collapse. This can happen over several months during any season and progressively gets worse. This is all resulting from the root system being progressively weakened by the pathogen. Gardeners will often mistakenly think the plant needs more water. Unfortunately, adding water only accelerates the problem prolonged wetness was generally the cause in the first place.

Often the disease will start to show several weeks after a prolonged rain event. It can also occur when plants are regularly over-watered, or planted in soils that are poorly drained or that hold too much moisture (e.g., clay soils). Therefore, good drainage is essential and sites where drainage is poor should be avoided. The article, Fixing Poor Drainage On A Clay Soil gives good advice on how to correct drainage.

Treatment for Phytophthora can be a hit and miss exercise as there are no silver bullets. However, if picked up early, The Plant Company has experienced some success using Transformer. Transformer has fungicidal properties and when used as a soil drench 2-3 times, plants can sometimes recover. However, if the plant is too far gone, The Plant Company recommends removing the plant entirely, and using Transformer as a soil drench before putting in a new plant. Of course, the drainage or watering issues will need to be addressed so the problem does not manifest again.

What Is Causing The Pohutukawa Leaves To Yellow?

Leaf yellowing in Pohutukawa can result from over-watering, being grown in poor draining soil, Myrtle Rust, or Phytophthora root rot. Other common causes are too much shade, or the plants have not been fed for a number of years. A liquid fertiliser can be used to correct issues quickly and should be supported with Native Plant Fertiliser during spring if you think this is the cause.

On dense bushes the internal leaves will often yellow before being shed. This is due to a lack of light and is normal.

Some articles you might find useful are: Myrtle Rust On Pohutukawa, Root Rot In Pohutukawa, and What Is Wrong With My Pohutukawa?

What Is Wrong With My Pohutukawa?

There can be many reasons why a Pohutukawa looks sick or is dying and it is often an iterative process to determine why. The most common reasons are presented below and organised from most likely to least likely based on The Plant Company's experience.

Myrtle Rust is the most likely issue. It shows up as rust-coloured spores, usually on new growth. The leaves will then develop yellow spots before eventually turning brown. The article, Myrtle Rust On Pohutukawa elaborates further.

Plants drowning in clay or heavy soils is very common. Plants are put into soils with nowhere for the water to escape to. Consequently, when it rains the hole fills up with water and drowns the plant. Fixing Poor Drainage On A Clay Soil affords good advice on how to remedy this.

Root rot disease is quite common. The leaves will wilt even when there is plenty of moisture in the soil or suddenly turn brown. The article, Root Rot In Pohutukawa affords more detail.

Fertiliser placed in the bottom of the hole at planting. Doing this can draw moisture away from the roots and cause root burning. The best solution here is to generously water the plant every day. See the article, Best Fertiliser For Pohutukawa, for more information.

Wrong fertiliser or too much fertiliser applied. Killing plants with kindness is very common. The best solution here is to generously water the plant every day and flush the soil with water repeatedly. See the article, Best Fertiliser For Pohutukawa, for more information.

Herbicide misadventure. Spraying too close with glyphosate is quite common and plant death is often imminent.

Plants have not been watered or watered too infrequently. See the article, Watering Pohutukawa, for more information.

Excessive shade – Pohutukawa require some light of good amounts of dappled light to grow well. If you think this is an issue, simply move the plant to a spot with better light. Do not move it into direct sunlight from heavy shade as this can also damage the plant. Rather, transition the plant to the brighter light by placing it is semi-shade for a week first.

Why Is My Pohutukawa Dying?

Myrtle Rust is highly likely to be causing your Pohutukawa to die or be looking sick. This disease shows up as rust-coloured spores, usually on the new growth. The leaves will then develop yellow spots before eventually turning brown. Our article, Myrtle Rust On Pohutukawa affords detail on this issue and its control.

There are a host of other reasons that might be causing issues with your plant, and our article, What Is Wrong With My Pohutukawa? details other likely causes.

Propagation

Can Pohutukawa Be Propagated In Water?

Pohutukawa do not root well in just water and are more likely to rot. There might be the odd success, but The Plant Company says, “don’t waste your time!” Our article, How To Propagate Pohutukawa will give you a lot better chance of success!

How To Propagate Pohutukawa

Pohutukawa are propagated by stem cuttings between autumn and mid-spring. A stem about 10 cm long is trimmed into a cutting using secateurs with a couple of leaves left at the top. The leaves are cut in half to reduce transpiration losses and prevent the cutting drying out. The base is cut just below a node, then dipped in rooting hormone. The cutting is then inserted into propagation growing media, and the tray of cuttings is placed under mist. Bottom heat is applied for the first four weeks while the cuttings root. A fungicide is generally applied every week with the cuttings usually ready for potting at week 10.

Purchasing Pohutukawa

Buying Big Pohutukawa

Sometimes you just don’t want to wait for a plant to grow, and you want the instant display now. The Plant Company has large grade Pohutukawa available, and often has even larger grades available that are not listed for sale on our website. Please contact us and our amazing team will let you know options and pricing for delivery to your desired location.

Pohutukawa

Everything you need to know about Pohutukawa is covered in our suite of articles about Pohutukawa. The Plant Company prides itself on providing expert advice to accompany our plants so you get the best result possible. Let The Plant Company impress you both with our quality and service. Our impressive Google Rating shows we are excellent at what we do! Feel free to explore our Pohutukawa varieties and be impressed.

Pohutukawa Plants

The Plant Company has the best Pohutukawa plants in NZ that are both competitively priced and of fantastic quality. Accompanying this, we have a suite of articles that covers everything you need to know about growing Pohutukawa. Our goal is for you to achieve awesome results and to impress you both with our quality and service. Our impressive Google Rating shows we are good at what we do!

Southern Rata

Everything you need to know about Southern Rata is covered in our suite of articles about Pohutukawa and Rata. The Plant Company prides itself on providing expert advice to accompany our plants so you get the best result possible. Let The Plant Company impress you both with our quality and service. Our impressive Google Rating shows we are excellent at what we do! Feel free to explore our range of plants and be impressed.

What To Consider When Buying Pohutukawa

A cheap Pohutukawa plant usually comes in a very small pot and has both small foliage and small roots. The small plant can be appealing when you are on a budget, however, think of such plants like babies. They only have a small root system, so they need careful attention for watering. They are also more vulnerable to diseases such as root rot, and our article, Root Rot In Pohutukawa, explains how devasting this disease can be. The Plant Company therefore recommends you only buy plants in a 2L pot (preferably bigger) to have the greatest chance of success, even if you are on a budget. Any savings by buying small are lost when they die, and you have to replace them! Moreover, the plants need to be “chunky”, have a strong root system, and show no signs of disease. Be sure to check out our competitively priced Pohutukawa and buy from the best!

Where To Buy Best Quality Pohutukawa Plants

Buying quality plants can be a challenge at times. However, The Plant Company makes this job easy by offering high quality Pohutukawa. We appreciate that buying online is somewhat of a leap of faith given you are putting your trust in us. Therefore, we only ship plants that we would happily buy and plant ourselves. We propagate and nurture plants ready for their new home, and take pride in exceeding our customers’ expectations. Our impressive Google Rating shows we are good at what we do!

Where To Buy Bulk Pohutukawa Plants

The Plant Company has a large-scale production nursery and produces large numbers of Pohutukawa. If you are after bulk lots of plants, please be sure to contact us for pricing and availability. Our talented staff can not only manage all aspects of getting the plants to you, but any other plant related enquiries you may have. Our impressive Google Rating shows we are good at what we do!

Where To Buy Pohutukawa

The Plant Company has great stock of high quality Pohutukawa plants. We appreciate that buying online is somewhat of a leap of faith, given you are putting your trust in us. Please rest assured that we only ship plants that we would happily buy and plant ourselves. Trust in The Plant Company to supply your Pohutukawa needs and allow us to impress you both with our quality and service. Our impressive Google Rating shows we are good at what we do!

Trimming And Hedging Pohutukawa

Growing A Pohutukawa Hedge

Pohutukawa make amazing hedges, both formal (i.e., trimmed), and informal (not trimmed). To create an outstanding hedge The Plant Company recommends spacing them 45 cm apart. The faster you want the hedge to fill in, the closer they should be planted is the general rule. With this planting regime they will close in quickly and also push each other upwards as they compete for light. The result is a fabulous hedge every time.

You can go out to 60 cm if the budget is tight but that will often result in a gap at the bottom between plants which is hard to fill. The gap results from the natural vase shape with which these plants grow. In this situation opt for smaller grade sizes and plant more of them rather than going with bigger plants as this will make the money go further and produce a better result in the longer term.

The key to an amazing hedge is to trim them little and often. This helps keep them dense and encourages the fresh, new growth. The best hedges are trimmed 2-3 times per year. The Plant Company has produced articles on trimming Pohutukawa, fertiliser for Pohutukawa, and Pohutukawa troubleshooting to help you grow amazing plants.

How Far Apart Should Pohutukawa Be Planted For Hedging?

Pohutukawa make amazing hedges (both formal and informal) and to create an outstanding formal hedge, The Plant Company recommends spacing them 45 cm apart. The faster you want the hedge to fill in, the closer they should be planted is the general rule. With this planting regime they will close in quickly and also push each other upwards as they compete for light. The result is a fabulous hedge every time.

You can go out to 60 cm if the budget is tight but that will often result in a gap at the bottom between plants which is hard to fill. The gap results from the natural vase shape with which these plants grow. In this situation opt for smaller grade sizes and plant more of them rather than going with bigger plants as this will make the money go further and produce a better result in the longer term.

If 25L grades (or bigger) are purchased which are 1m tall and lush, you can space these 1 m apart without issue. These grades have generally been manicured to ensure they are bushy to the base and will therefore branch and fill in more easily.

How Hard Can I Trim A Pohutukawa?

Pohutukawa will usually sprout when cut right back, even up to 10-15 cm above ground level. However, this relies on the plant having heathy shoots at the outset. This activity is best undertaken during spring or summer using secateurs or a pruning saw. Please note: Pohutukawa grown in shade environments may struggle to re-establish when cut back severely. Similarly, plants growing sub-optimally due to disease or nutritional issues may also struggle to regrow. The Plant Company does not recommend cutting plants any lower than 15 cm above ground level to ensure a better chance of success with this procedure.

How To Grow A Pohutukawa Hedge

To create an outstanding Pohutukawa hedge The Plant Company recommends spacing them about 45 cm apart, as discussed in our article, How Far Apart Should Pohutukawa Be Planted For Hedging?

It is important to understand that the hedge is generally pruned in early spring and late summer with about 10-15% of the exterior vegetation removed. The amount removed depends on how much you need to contain the hedge. The best Pohutukawa hedges are trimmed twice per year with a little and often approach to keep the plants dense and lush. That said, they still look fine with once-a-year trimming. See our article, How To Trim A Pohutukawa Hedge for finer details on this subject. Further, The Plant Company has produced expert advice on Trimming Pohutukawa, Fertiliser For Pohutukawa, Pohutukawa Troubleshooting, and many more Pohutukawa articles to help you grow amazing plants.

Variety selection is also very important as not all varieties grow as tall as each other. Check out The Plant Company's range of Pohutukawa varieties to make sure you get the right one. We have taken great care to provide accurate information and detail about how each one grows. The Pohutukawa most commonly used for a formal hedge are Metrosideros Mistral and Metrosideros excelsa varieties. Metrosideros Dalese makes a beautiful hedge in warmer climates.

How To Grow An Informal Pohutukawa Hedge?

Pohutukawa make amazing informal hedges (i.e., minimally trimmed) and to create an outstanding hedge, space plants about 1 m apart. The faster you want the hedge to fill in, the closer they should be planted.

Variety selection is very important as not all varieties grow as tall and wide as each other. Check out our range of Pohutukawa varieties to make sure you get the right one. The Plant Company has taken great care to provide accurate information and detail about how each one grows.

The hedge can be trimmed as little or as much as you want given it is the informality you are wanting. The Plant Company normally trims only to shape and contain informal hedges.

How To Make A Topiary Standard Pohutukawa

Creating a Pohutukawa topiary standard requires both patience and a straight, single-stemmed plant to start off with. The plant is staked to grow with a straight trunk to just past the mid-height of the topiary (i.e., ball). All the side branches are trimmed off to about 10 cm above the mid-point of the topiary. The top of the plant is cut off just above the mid-point of the ball to encourage sprouting just below the cut. As the new stems grow, they are routinely “tipped” (i.e., the top bud is pinched out) to encourage more shoots. All the time, the ball is progressively shaped until the desired size is achieved. This process can take three years (or more) to complete. If all this seems too hard or you don’t have the patience, contact us and we can generally supply your needs.

How To Trim A Pohutukawa Hedge

Trimming a Pohutukawa hedge so it looks perfect is quite easily achieved with some attention to detail. It does, however, start at establishment if you want a truly awesome hedge. As the hedge is establishing, keep trimming the outer branches lightly. Removing the tips of the branches during this process encourages more branching and a denser hedge overall. It is essential while doing these light trimmings to keep in mind what width you want the hedge to be when fully grown. Given about 5-10 cm of growth will be removed at each trimming when it is fully grown, the light trimming needs to occur inside the maximum width of the hedge by about 15 cm. Only when the hedge thickens should it be taken out to its maximum width.

Trimming typically occurs in early spring and again in late summer with a little and often philosophy. Taking off too much will make the hedge look bare, but it will grow back. To get straight lines better than trimming by eye, you can use a string line after the initial cut is complete. When The Plant Company trims hedges, we will often do a light cut over, then stand back and look along the lines to determine the high points for removal. Good luck!

How To Trim Pohutukawa

Pohutukawa are trimmed to remove excess foliage and to shape the plant(s). This is best done during early spring, late summer, or both. You can be as gentle or aggressive as you like when trimming. A mistake often made is to trim the plants hard enough. This error generally results in a woodier plant and a much larger plant that can be difficult to contain. Pohutukawa are very forgiving plants, and even if you get the trimming wrong, they will usually recover!

The Plant Company recommends trimming frequently (at least one per year) and cutting the plants back no further than where you can see leaves. If you remove all the foliage, the plant will need to sprout again from those stems to regrow and this can be quite unsightly. The Plant Company also recommends removing any dead or unsightly stems at this time.

The articles, How To Grow A Pohutukawa Hedge, How To Trim A Pohutukawa Hedge, and How Hard Can I Trim A Pohutukawa?, provide further information.

When Is The Best Time To Trim Pohutukawa?

Pohutukawa can be trimmed at any time of the year, though early spring and late summer to early autumn are the times recommended by The Plant Company. At these times the plants will produce good amounts of fresh, new growth. Moreover, the growth in autumn will not be at risk from frost injury. Please note that trimming will remove flower buds, so keep this in mind as you contemplate this task.

Light trimming to remove unsightly foliage can occur at any time of year.

Watering Pohutukawa

When To Water Pohutukawa

Pohutukawa require good levels of soil moisture to stay fresh and keep growing actively. They require watering both during establishment and during dry periods. The Plant Company recommends a generous watering every third day during summer, or every third day if the soil is a bit heavier. If plants start to wilt, you need to water immediately. The Plant Company advises watering in the morning or in the evening for water conservation purposes.

If your Pohutukawa is being grown in a pot, watering every second day during summer and once every week during winter is the general rule. This will depend on how hot the growing environment is and the size of the plant of course. A word of caution, over-watering is the most common cause of plant death with Pohutukawa.