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Australian Native Plants

Stuart Desert Peas in my garden

13 years ago

Hello there,

I live in the Canary Islands/Spain. From seeds I grew four groups of Stuart Desert peas, three groups in the garden (semi-sunny location), one in a pot. All have sand/soil mixtures. Now my questions, please:

1.) Although being desert plants, my plants (now 15-20cm high) need lots of water (mixed with anti-fungus liquid and liquid fertilizer). As soon as I stop watering, the plants start looking dry. But with my heavy watering I am afraid, that in the very humid soil/sand mixture they will soon fade away, as it happened during last year.

2.) The leafs do not seem to tolerate rain: Whenever its starts raining I have to rush outside to cover the plants with an upside-down pot. How is the rain tolerance of the Stuart Desert Pea?

So what to do, please?

Thank you for any good advise

Yours Karl

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Comments (2)

tropicbreezent
13 years ago
I don't grow them (wrong climate). But although they come from desert regions you can get long periods with no rain (10 to 15 years), at other times you get very heavy rain. On "average" the rainfall looks very low. You being on an island could be a problem, the air there will always be more humid than a continental climate. Plants not used to that constant humidity could be more susceptible to fungus that thrives in those conditions. That's my thoughts on the matter, amyway.
alisonoz_gw
13 years ago
Karl,
It seems a difficult plant to cultivate. Outside its habitat, there have been attempts to graft plants onto the New Zealand Clianthus to give better tolerance to fungus etc.
Because of that difficulty and the others, a lot of people seem to treat the plant as an annual only.
You have done the right thing in terms of drainage, I am sure. In a garden situation the ideal would be a raised bed as well as a sandy mix.
But, as you say, in the open situation, they really do not like rain on the leaves, they are used to rain initiating germination and growth, and only that. Once in growing phase they are not used to either humidity or rain.
In pots, you have the problem of a smaller area for rooting and, if in a sunny position, then the pots may grow too hot. Also the mixture might need to be heavier in sandy soil (less humus) to resist rot.
I would suggest that perhaps you are perhaps providing more fertilizer than they need, or can absorb, and for that reason they are needing more water. Also, as I say, the drying effect of heat on a pot.
One tiny correction, the proper common name is Sturt's Desert Pea (no "a" in Sturt" ) so if you search for articles you have have been missing some relevant ones.)
I have copied some links that I found by searching, below.
I would suggest that you try again in pots, but as someone in the article suggests, growing in a position which gets sun but protection from rain (like under the eaves of the house). Also I would suggest using a larger pot, or perhaps place the planted pot inside an even bigger one, and fill the open space with just gravel. this might aid in keeping the roots cool in extreme heat, but still allow good drainage.
Replacement seed is always possible, don't despair!

http://www.anbg.gov.au/emblems/sa.emblem.html

http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsheets/flowering-plants-and-shrubs/sturts-desert-pea/1723

http://www.aussie-info.com/identity/flora/sturtpea.php
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