Hi all, I have a Phormium Tenax (New Zealand Flax) plant which has been doing well. But now the leaves are starting to droop. Is this normal :?: When I got it, about 5 months ago, the long, slender leaves stood upright and straight. Now they are dragging on the ground. Any help appreciated. Thanks Craig
Yes I believe this is normal looking. I think gravity takes over when the leaves get too long It all depends on your definiion of 'drooping' though. Have they are strength at all or are they drooping at a certain length of the leaf?
Are there any new shoots Craig? Can't make out if there are from the photograph. Hve you repotted it recently? Maybe all it needs is moving to somewhere cooler or maybe some more shade. Do you feed it and if so with what? Sorry for all the questions but it's hard to know why it's drooping without knowing the background of the plant.
Tenax Hi Eileen, No there are no new shoots. It has only been potted once, when I got it about 5 months ago. (Maybe the pots too small?) The location I have it in is semi-shade (under shade cloth so it is filtered sunlight) yes I feed it fortnightly with a liquid fertilizer called Nitrosol which is absorbed through the leaves as well as the roots. it is 12.2% nitrogen, 2.9% phosphorus, 8.5% potassium & 2.1% calcium + other trace elements (it doesn't say what they are) Thanks Craig
Hi again. Well I've asked a few friends with Phormiums and evidently they are supposed to droop a bit as they get bigger. I didn't know that. It's only the new shoots that remain upright until they become too big and heavy. They did say, however, that if the leaves begin to go brown at the tips, dry up or show signs of cracking then you may have a problem. They also said (I showed them your piccies) that the pot is a tad small. So repot with a good quality multi-purpose compost (but make sure there are plenty of drainage holes covered with crocks as they don't like soggy roots) and carry on as you're doing. Oh and one other thing, place the plant on a base full of gravel and water from below. If anyone posts any more info I'll get in touch again when I get back on Tuesday after my week-end break in Cheshire.
Craig I spoke to a Phormium expert for you at Bridgemere Garden Centre in Cheshire. Here's what I was told: Tolerates temperatures of between 2-20 degrees. Not frost hardy. Tie leaves together during winter months and cover (if leaving out in the garden) with fleece to protect core of plant. Loves full sun. Soil must be damp at all times but not wet. Water from below if kept in a pot. Water with tepid water if possible. Feed fortnightly during summer but only once a month in winter. Best to get the advice of the real experts I thought. Hope your plant continues to thrive.
Eileen, thanks so much for this. Much more than they could tell me over here. You have outdone yourself. With many thanks Craig (now where's the thumbs up symbol when you need it!)
