Banksia Integrifolia

[Albo]

Phil, that’s exactly what I had but a lot more. But maybe the brown proteoid roots have died as Shibui suggested? Maybe only actively taking up water and nutrients if white?

The other taller banksia I showed had about the same amount as in your photo.

I think the nursery had just left them sitting in the corner for who knows how long.

[Phil Rabl]

My understanding is that proteoid roots are short-lived. They exude substances into the soil (as do normal roots) to dissolve nutrients that are not able to be accessed by the normal feeder roots. Once they have done their job, they die and the normal feeder roots take up the nutrients the proteoid roots freed up. This may not be completely right scientifically, but I don't think it is far from the mark. I once found proteoid roots on a B. serrata I had been fertilising regularly. I am guessing it didn't suffer because I fed it after the proteoid roots had finished their work.

[Albo]

Hi all,
Looks like it’s continuing on like a champ.
New buds have continued to open. The older foliage is a banged up but that’s how it came from the nursery. Some of the older foliage has yellowed and spotted over the past week. Is that anything to worry about or just natural leaf drop?

[Rory]

Looks fine to me mate. The area where it looks like it’s got a heap of tiny dots and goes a bit opaque is probably a caterpillar munching on it. Otherwise, no issues.

Now leave it alone for a year

[Albo]

Just an update on how these two are going.
They look pretty healthy to me.Been using osmocote All purpose and powerfeed.

[Grant Bowie]

I would do precisely nothing at the moment and let it recover over winter. Leave it untouched till it get hot again around November. Allow some good strong growth to elongate to gain strength befor trimming back.

Grant

[Hanro]

With my Banksias I tend to be cautious when it comes to fertilizing

I use Neutrog bush tucker in tea bags which seems to work well.

[Albo]

Banksia integrifolia, repotted about two weeks ago. Removed half the roots. Done some very light wiring on the lower branches but aside from that I’ll just leave it be for now.