Banksia seratta thanks for the good advice

[craigw60]

For the last 3 years I have had some banksias growing in the ground. I have been putting the spade around them twice yearly to keep the root ball compact. They are a mix of serrata integrifolia and marginata. This summer I dug them up and potted them. All have been a great success except the serrata which is looking a little on the yellowish side. It has lots of fibrous roots. I don't really want to loose this tree as its got a lovely curved trunk and good taper. Any suggestions would be great.
With thanks from Craig

[Jarrod]

My only suggestion is, don't let it die! Though I think you have already taken that on board.

Guessing you seasol'd it already.

[craigw60]

Hi Jarrod,
No ferts of any sort as yet, and I have been trying to keep it slightly on the dry side of moist if that makes sense.
Craig

[NBPCA]

Sounds like you have already been doing all the right things already.

How long ago did you dig them?

Grant

[craigw60]

Hi Grant,
Would be about a month ago. All the others are throwing out lots of new growth.

[Jarrod]

Is it in the poly tunnel?

Did you have any problems with it while it was growing?

[NBPCA]

Hi Craig,

If you had been spading the roots twice yearly for three years you should have a nice compact , fibrous root system.
Some people have collected from the wild and cut back to a "slug" but I don't like that with Banksia. I lost all that I dug that way. I prefer to dig them and keep foliage.
Ones that had been transplanted in to the ground and then dug up are usually fine.

Now back to yours. It is obvious!It simply shouldn't be sick! Therefore you are mistaken!Ha Ha.

Seriously, you are certainly in the corridor of uncertainty; ie after one month it has worked and budding like crazy as they mostly are, or some problem is manifesting. You already know all this of course.

Hmm, what could it be? Too wet? Unlikely. To dry? Also not likely as you are an experienced grower.
Roots should have been fine. Pests like borer, curl grubs it sounds too quick if it all looked fine a month ago when you dug.
Soil mix? All the others are fine so why would only one suffer? I am at home and I have forgotten what your mix is. Your two Banksia bonsai at the collection dry out quickly and are in a fine mix but that is usual and fine. We water the water weeds more than the others. The roots on your dug serrata should be beginning to work and suck moisture.
Root Rot? Don't know but you would know the signs. Treat with Fongarid just in case?
Sunburn?

Are all the leaves going yellow, only those in the interior, only those at the tips? If it is only the interior then it may be fine as it is just dropping off old leaves but you would also know that as well.
Any bud activity evident?

Lots of questions and nothing readilly comes to mind.

Some may ask if mid summer is OK for Banksia and I would say yes. I repotted one and chopped off about two thirds of the roots about the same time you dug. Its doing fine.

After repot 17012010.JPG

Keep us informed.

Grant

[NBPCA]

Is it in the poly tunnel?

Did you have any problems with it while it was growing?

Good point about the poly tunnel. I don't know if they would like those conditions.

Grant

[craigw60]

Hi Grant,
The tree has a nice fibrous root system, I was very confident. I have it out side in a semi shaded position. Do you think a move to the poly tunnel is in order? It is the new growth which is not looking good and thats as you know alarming.
Craig

[Bretts]

Jarrod suggested seasol. Is there any reason you should not use this when transplanting?
Wouldn't expect it to create miracles though if there is another issue!

[Jarrod]

It might be better in poly tunnel? at least you could track the moisture a bit easier with the funny weather. Might be the humidity we had which is unusual?

[craigw60]

Hi guys,
I usually hold off on any ferts until I see some movement. Yes I think the poly tunnel may be the answer. The tree is not looking like death just not so flash.
Craig

[Bretts]

Seasol is not a fert

[Jarrod]

Knew that was coming!

[NBPCA]

Hi Grant,
The tree has a nice fibrous root system, I was very confident. I have it out side in a semi shaded position. Do you think a move to the poly tunnel is in order? It is the new growth which is not looking good and thats as you know alarming.
Craig

If it is the new growth that is yellow or weak that sounds a problem. Black or brown would be even worse of course. Outside in semi shade sounds good and most of them are responding. Has the old foliage changed at all or dropped off?

Inside a poly house at this time of year? I don't know; very hot and very humid. I only ever had a small glass house for overwintering fig cuttings and fig bonsai and never put a banksia anywhere near it.

Seasol, Fongarid, misting with water/seasol?

I have brought a very weak, sick B integrifolia back from the dead with Seasol after a cut down rotted off a bit. It eventually recovered and regrew right over the damaged area very vigorosly.

B serrata is slightly more twitchy than B integrifolia.

Grant