Hi CoralCoast, Fair enough - the guy at Rocky Palm Farm told me that lawn fertiliser was good for them. Unfortunately, my one serious ambition in the garden is to completely eliminate anything resembling a lawn altogether :) If you've got a backyard that looks like a jungle / rainforest, then thats the look I aspire to. Palms are just one component of the canopy that I'm in the process of putting together, and I expect that the neighbours will begin to wonder if there is still a house on my block within 3-4 years :) Cheers, Artie

Experimentation is fine if it is based on understanding the peculiar aspects of what ever plant we are dealing with. When it comes to Australian native Proteaceae plants there are unique considerations that need to be taken into account. Once we have an understanding of these characteristics then by all means we can take advantage of them. Experimenting blindly is not nearly as constructive. Australian Proteaceae plants are sensitive to Phosphorous to varying degrees. BUT it all makes sense if we are aware of what their original environment was. Proteaceae from the skeletal sandstone soils that have always been very low in nutrients, especially phosphorous, have over thousands of years, developed special adaptions known as proteiod roots. They are noticeably different. (I shall spare you further details about Proteiod roots, but a Google might give you more.) Plants developed these in order to maximise the surface root area so they can absorb the scarce nutrients that may be present in these sandstone derived soils. However in the more nutrient rich rainforest zones it is quite possible that Proteaceae are more tolerant of nutrients and maybe even Phosphorous. I always err on the side of avoiding common fertilisers with high rates of phosphorous. Even chook poo can cause problems, although I do give my rainforest plants a dose of Dynamic Lifter once a year. For example, I find Banksia ericifolia to be very sensitive while some Grevilleas are a bit more tolerant. As for your last remark Nathan I assume it is a joke. Anyone being wrong, should not inferr anyone is not wanted.

Remember they are deciduous. You haven't had a cold span have you?

Hello Amato.Our mains water usually has a ph of 7,9 -8.We buy very concentrated sulphuric acid (96%).We add 500 ml to our water tank wich holds 4 cubic metres (4000 litres). This works out as 1 ml for 8 litres of water.Battery acid is usually 35%,so my guess would be that you should probably add 2,5 ml for 8 litres of water.In any case, it would be wise to have this checked by a laboratory ,unless of course you've got ph testing paper (or a reliable ph meter).Greetings Tunilla. PS:I forgot:I don't know what your water ph is of course,so,some experimenting would be advisable.