This was the first photo any of my readers saw of the Wollemi pine, a couple of weeks after I'd bought it. He seems so tiny in that photo - he must have put on a good six inches of growth, possibly more. I can't wait for it to warm up enough for the "polar caps" to disappear and for him to start putting on his summer growth spurt. Go Matildus!
Finally got round to transferring the cameraphone picture I took to my computer. This was my Wollemi pine (Wollemia nobilis) when I'd just potted him up in Aunty Bee Bee's old pot on 26 May. Last weekend I got some terracotta "feet" to stand the pot on and help with drainage.
I've since had to put a cane in to guide the tree, as the very top started to droop a little. I'm pretty sure it's okay now. Occasionally the entire branches droop, but I've been told this is natural. They perk up in the morning and early evening, and if they're still droopy in the evening then I've learned that's the time to water him. The very tips of each leaf are brown, but this is also normal. I regularly check each leaf in case it's going yellow or brown. I think I'm doing okay with him, as he's been potted up for two weeks and hasn't died or been eaten by squirrels yet!
The Dicksonia is doing well too. A frequent hosing of the rhizomes and a regular dose of my home-made anti-squirrel spray has done the trick. I have one fully extended frond (it's mahoosive!), two partially extended ones and one baby about to unfurl. I've trimmed off all the old growth, and it's looking good. And I have a little maidenhair fern (Adiantum raddianum "Fragrans"). Homebase sold it as a houseplant, but I reckon it's good for outside for the summer at least.
The Jurassic garden is taking shape!
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