The truth is natives don't like manufactured or chemical based fertilisers that are high in phosphorous. But they do like to be fed, ideally in spring and autumn, either with a specifically designed Australian native plant food or an organic based fertiliser such as blood and bone or pelletised chicken manure.
Blood and Bone
An organic fertiliser suitable for all gardens including Australian natives. Provides nitrogen for healthy leaf growth and phosphorus for strong root development.
The best fertiliser for native plants
Phosphorus-sensitive plants such as waratahs, banksias, grevilleas and others should be fed with a specially formulated native plant fertiliser such as Neutrog Bush Tucker.
Soil Preparation
They need well draining soil. Prepare you soil by mixing in some low-phosphorus fertiliser such as blood and bone. If planting in a pot use a good quality potting mix designed specifically for growing natives.
To make a homemade fertiliser for native plants, DIY organic mulch or compost is best. You can create homemade mulch from low-phosphorus organic matter such as pine bark or blood meal, or use manure compost or clippings from street trees.
Are Seasol and PowerFeed safe to use on Australian Natives? Yes, because Seasol is virtually phosphorous-free it is safe to use on phosphorous sensitive native plants. You can use it on every type of plant in the garden.
Fertilising Grevilleas
Only use organic fertilisers which state on the label they are safe for natives or that contain no more than 2% phosphorus. OCP eco-aminogro is suitable for all natives including grevilleas. It contains only 0.4% phosphorus and encourages growth and health in plants.
The best plants to use blood and bone for maximum productivity are veggies, like tomatoes, peppers, and aubergines, which really do benefit from the iron and calcium, which will enhance flavour and help them to fight off both fungal and bacterial infections throughout the season.
Can you overuse blood and bone? Like all fertilisers, you should only apply blood and bone at the recommended rates. If you add too much, the excess may eventually leach out of your garden soil and end up in local waterways which is not good for the natural environment.
Blood & Bone
It is well suited to most gardens and while more frequent application is required than that of a slow release fertiliser, it is a great method to keep your plants and soil healthy all year round.
But they do like to be fed, ideally in spring and autumn, either with a specifically designed Australian native plant food or an organic based fertiliser such as blood and bone or pelletised chicken manure.
Watering Young grevilleas in well-drained soil enjoy regular watering. Seasol and Seasol Super Soil Wetter & Conditioner are beneficial during plant establishment; when it is dry or during other periods of stress. Mulch plants to keep the roots cool and retain soil moisture.
Yates 7kg Dynamic Lifter is used to gently feed all types of garden and potted plants, including Australian native plants. It releases nutrients slowly, improving the structure and moisture retention of the soil as well as encouraging earthworms and beneficial soil micro-organisms.
Blood and bone meal is best applied during soil preparation from February to November. Sprinkle it over the soil in an even layer or add it to the compost pile and mix it in thoroughly.
The good thing about blood & bone is that it is an organic product which will not burn your plants as the nutrients are released slowly.
Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food can be safely applied around native plants however avoid use around Proteace plants such as grevilleas, banksias, hakeas, waratahs etc.
Fish, Blood & Bone provides both a rapid boost and long-lasting results so a single application lasts up to six weeks to keep plants in best condition and encourage flowering.
Plants that don't need bonemeal include the soil builders. Soil builders are plants that fix nitrogen, such as legumes. Leafy vegetables like lettuce, spinach (Spinacia oleracea), cabbage (Brassica oleracea) and broccoli (Brassica oleracea) tend to need more nitrogen than phosphorus.
A regular, generous application of well rotted animal manure or compost and blood and bone are perfect for roses.
For the organic gardener, blood meal, fish emulsion or bone meal work well. Apply fertilizer once in the spring after the threat of frost has passed, and again six weeks later.
It is called Yates Dynamic Lifter Liquid Concentrate. It can be applied at the lowest rate, 1/2 capful per 9 litres of water every 2 weeks while the plant is actively growing. It is still autumn, so the plants will enjoying receiving the nutrients before winter sets in.
Cure: This is relatively simple to fix by adding nitrogen. In theory, the easiest and simplest way is to use a nitrogen fertiliser such as sulphate of ammonia or urea. However, both these products are pretty concentrated and it is very easy to overdo it and kill your plants.
Brown leaves that are hanging or falling generally means that the Grevillea isn't being watered enough. This can happen during droughts, or it can happen because roots are damaged and the Grevillea isn't able to take in as much water as it should.