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?

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.

Hi Jeff. The seed is formed at the base of the flower. A small capsule like structure forms as the flower matures. When the flower is withering the structure begins to dry out and become brittle. Save these (ie the old flower from where it attaches to the stem)in a paper bag. When dried out you should be able to shatter the base with your fingers to release the small seed. When spring arrives you can sow the seed. Be aware that if you have a hybrid plant you may not get much seed. The flowers last quite a while on the plant, that is one of the good things about growing Kangaroo Paws.

Yes, you should. I don't know about kangaroo paws (aren't they a CA native?) but I'm quite familiar with cutting into / planting in the delightful and rock-ridden SouCal clay pan. I'd contact a local garden club through their website to see if they have tips (normally I'd suggest you join a C&S club or at least attend a meeting, but they're not happening now). Short answer - no sand. NONE, as it's not useful in this situation. The best would be small gravel/decomposed granite and pumice, along with some sieved top soil to use as soil amendments - what you want is some of that clay in the mix, but mostly the other things, particularly the DG and/or pumice. Amend the yard as you need to - the planting locations need it, not necessarily all of it. Oh, and get a digging bar if you're going to do a lot of this. It's invaluable in punching planting places into the ground. I think your chalk plants are Senecios.