Are my Kangaroo Paws dead or dying?

11 years ago

WARNING:I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to gardening.

I bought some kangaroo paws a few months ago from a nursery. Planted them into pretty dry/sandy soil.

They were doing pretty well when I first planted them. Growing new shoots, flowers, etc. Then they appeared to be dying after I planted them. Leaves were browning, flowers were drying out. So without doing any research whatsoever I assumed it was because they weren't being watered enough. So I watered them everyday for about 10 minutes.

Now I realize that I was probably killing them. I've since then allowed the dirt dry up and only water 3 times a week for 3 minutes.

I have a corrugated metal fence that they are planted against. The metal amplifies the sun's heat and sunlight. So I'm wondering if they are being "burned"?

Anyways, the plants do not look healthy and I think they are dying. Anything I can do to save or salvage them? Soil, adjust pH?

Featured Answer

hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA

11 years ago

Well, count me as a "Kangaroo Paw Killer", too. Sigh. I have 3 or 4 very established yellow Kangaroo Paws, cultivar unknown that are doing extremely well in my front yard, there when we bought the house. But any I've planted I've managed to kill either with too much or too little love - not sure which it is. I would LOVE to grow the deep red ones, and I see them growing here in San Diego county everywhere, and in commercial plantings, too. Makes me feel rather inadequate. I'd love to try, again. Maybe in my one area that gets some pretty serious afternoon sun, as long as I can get the water right.

Patty S.

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Comments (13)

calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
11 years ago
A close up of one plant would be more helpful It looks like you are watering with a seeping type hose which would give very little water in the times you mention. Dig down along the hose and just see how moist the soil really is. Al
hosenemesis
11 years ago
I find them difficult to grow. They always get black tips on the ends of their foliage.

That said, you can cut off the spent blooms now and the plants might look better. There is a strong likelihood that they are being cooked by the metal fence, but that would not explain why the others are looking sad.

Sorry I can't help you with water advice. I think the plant likes to be drenched in a spot with excellent drainage, then left to dry out a bit. My mom has one on a bank that does well but all of her other ones have died.

Your fences are beautiful, and your design goes well with them. These dang plants sometimes mess with our plans!

Renee
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Hoping there are some of you still following this thread since it's a few years old. I bought some kangaroo paws a few months ago from a nursery. Planted them into pretty dry/sandy soil. (note: I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to gardening) They were doing pretty well when I first planted them. Growing new shoots, flowers, etc. Then they appeared to be dying after I planted them. Leaves were browning, flowers were drying out. So without doing any research whatsoever I assumed it was because they weren't being watered enough. So I watered them everyday for about 10 minutes. Now I realize that I was probably killing them. I've since then allowed the dirt dry up and only water 3 times a week for 3 minutes. I have a corrugated metal fence that they are planted against. The metal amplifies the sun's heat and sunlight. So I'm wondering if they are being "burned"? Anyways, the plants do not look healthy and I think they are dying. Anything I can do to save or salvage them? Soil, adjust pH?
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A 5 gallon nursery can with crammed roots in a south facing spot and only getting handwatered twice a week; you killed it from lack of water, plain and simple. I agree that Kangaroo Paws can be temperamental to grow with regard to drainage and proper watering, but the Anigozanthus flavidus cultivars are among the easiest to grow. Do amend the soils for good drainage, give it full sun and good air circulation and avoid overhead spray on the foliage if you want to minimize the Ink Spot disease, and regularly prune off infected foliage to the ground, especially if it isn't getting full sun and/or good air circulation. I have found that some species/cultivars of Anigozanthus are much more tolerant of clay soils than others, and any of the A. flavidus cultivars are fairly tolerant of clay, as well as it is sloped or amended slightly so that it doesn't stay saturated. Not a good candidate for planting where it gets constant overhead spray irrigation which in combination with too little full sun can lead to the fungal disease. While this plant is rather drought tolerant in the ground once it is established, as a container plant in its original size container from the nursery, twice a week watering in full hot sun just isn't enough, and you cooked it. Get another one now that it has cooled down, get it into the ground in full sun with good drainage, and the twice a week watering regimen will probably work just fine. If you prefer to keep it in a container, buy a smaller one gallon, repot into a larger 5 gallon container, and hook it up to an automatic drip irrigation system so that it gets a little bit every or every other day, or keep an eye on the plant so that it doesn't ever go bone dry between waterings.
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Hi there That sounds a bit sad, limp and hanging over the edge! I am intrigued that the kangaroo paw is sold in areas such as yours, do people have them in their gardens ? Knowing where they come from, I am amazed that they would grow in such a cold place, with low levels of light. I guess your summers might be hot and sunny so it could be enough for the plant to survive well. I have grown Kpaws in my garden north of Sydney and they are pretty tough plants. I have known people who just run the lawn mower over them at the end of the summer and they survive and flower well the next season. I guess you could store the rhizome over winter. If all else fails you could buy another plant next spring. What colour was the flower ? I think KP's look their best when they are grown in swathes. Sorry I am not much help to you. Popi
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hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
11 years ago
My experience agrees with the cultural information on the San Marcos growers site--read through this and see if that helps at all. I've found the species A. flavidus is much the easiest--the hybrids are more difficult.

Do not feel bad. Sometimes it takes a few tries to get the right plant in the right place. That is part of the fun!

Here is a link that might be useful: A lot of info on Kangaroo Paws including cultivation
laila_2009
11 years ago
Mine have recently finished the flowering season (about 3 months ago). are they just done flowering? in that case trim the stocks back to the ground, and let the energy go to the foliage.
skrip
11 years ago
I live in So. Cal and I cannot for the life of me grow these. I've tried different areas, different times of the year and they will grow a little and then disappear. I've put them in Full sun and partial sun, watered every few days and they still dont last me 6 months. Perhaps I've tried only 'hybrids'? It amazes me that I can see them many places, but I dont know what Im doing wrong. Everything else I plant works.
hosenemesis
11 years ago
You're in good company, skrip. I've planted quite a few, and the only one that has survived is barely hanging on.
Down at the Marie Callender's on Tampa in Northridge there's a thirty foot long raised planter with tall deep red ones that bloom like mad. Sigh.
stereotypeq
11 years ago
so sad no one knows the secret to these guys! I have dying Kangaroo paw too. I think anyway.

{{gwi:545851}}
hosenemesis
11 years ago
That's a nice healthy kangaroo paw, sterotypeq.

The flowers are done blooming and should be cut off. It will get new ones in the spring.
Renee
bahia
11 years ago
No real secret to growing the easiest hybrids with Anigozanthus flavidus parentage, but they do prefer both good drainage and regular warm season irrigation. In habitat they even well tolerate seasonal winter flooding and summer wild fires. Full sun, good air circulation, planting out in cooler months to minimize drought stress,(typical nursery container mixes for them very quickly dry out if you aren't adequately wetting the root ball, and probably accounts for most plant deaths). They are extremely easy once established, but don't crowd the foliage or insist on overhead spray irrigation which encourages ink spot disease.
bahia
11 years ago
No real secret to growing the easiest hybrids with Anigozanthus flavidus parentage, but they do prefer both good drainage and regular warm season irrigation. In habitat they even well tolerate seasonal winter flooding and summer wild fires. Full sun, good air circulation, planting out in cooler months to minimize drought stress,(typical nursery container mixes for them very quickly dry out if you aren't adequately wetting the root ball, and probably accounts for most plant deaths). They are extremely easy once established, but don't crowd the foliage or insist on overhead spray irrigation which encourages ink spot disease.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
11 years ago
LOL! One of my favorite plants and if you think they are tough to grow in SoCal, you ought to try in the PNW!! Actually, I grow them in containers and they do surprisngly well and even overwinter for me. Not much of a label came with them but I believe they are A. rufus (dark red with a lime green interior), which I understand is maybe one of the more cold tolerant species
Janine Romeo
3 years ago
I bought them as orange and after one season they came back red. What can I do to make them orange again???

Are my Kangaroo Paws dead or dying?

hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA

Comments (13)

calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9

hosenemesis

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