I applaud you for the effort you have gone to, to get your grevillea growing in a pot. When you water the pot, perhaps you could try immersing it in a bucket of water, until all the air bubbles stop coming out of the pot. This really is the best way to water pots. Sometimes potting mixes become "hydrophobic" which means they repel water, and it is difficult to water pots from above when this is the case. Perhaps you could try buying a smaller Grevillea banksii, the one in the picture is large and does look like it should be in a bigger pot. A smaller plant might be easier to handle and would have a greater chance of getting used to its situation, early on. If you buy a plant that is reasonably advanced it has become used to its place in the nursery. Then you take it home and plonk it on your balcony and it could go into shock. A word about the cow manure, make sure it is well rotted. You sound like you are interested in plants, perhaps you could do some research into your "local species", I am sure there are horticulturists in Brazil who must be interested in preserving the local plants. Sounds fascinating. Drainage is important too, so let the pot drain when you have done the immersion in the bucket. It is equally important to make sure the pot does not have too much watering. So make sure there are dry periods between watering. You could stick your finger into the potting mix to get an idea as to how wet the mix is. I have seen this tree growing near me and it is huge. Here is a link that might be useful: Plants of Cerrado region.

I've never grown grevillea from seed and unless you can be sure that both parents are g. venusta - if that's species you want - you won't know until the seedling flowers that that's what it is, although with venusta the leaf form maybe an indication. Best means of cultivation, I think, would be from cuttings taken now to late summer. It's the only way you can be sure that the cutting will be the same (a clone) as the parent.

Hi Suzi. I live in its native habitat (Grevillea robusta, 'silky-oak') and although I don't have it growing in my garden there are quite a few up and down my street. It is the tallest of the grevilleas, growing to 60 feet (18 metres) and, like many Aussie natives their residue will inhibit the growth of other plants beneath them. However the ones near me give very little indication of that, which makes me think that the soil in that raised bed in your picture might need enriching - garden compost, etc. I feel certain that once the tree is removed and the garden there dug over and enriched, you should have no problems. Mind you, palm tree fronds can also inhibit growth beneath them but it appears the area is clear of them. Regards B.

Prune the shrub, and maybe the deeper roots. The bit that Grevilleas really hate is having the surface and near-surface roots disturbed. Your chances are better if you can get a good wide cut, and don't even disturb the mulch layer. Keep the surface good and moist for a while after the move. Don't fertilise at all at all! Trish rish