The pinwheel tree originally comes from Australia and can only be cultivated in pots here. We will show you what you need to consider when planting.
The pinwheel tree is a very distinctive plant from the silver tree family. The home of the exotic plant is in Australia. There the ornamental plant grows in the wild. The flowers gave the plant its name. The deep red tubular florets are clustered in a circle around a center that appears like wheel spokes. The yellow pistils protrude from it like little heads. In the following we will tell you what to consider when cultivating the pinwheel tree in our latitudes.
Plant Description
In its natural habitat, the pinwheel tree (Stenocarpus sinuatus) grows as an evergreen plant and reaches heights of 20 meters and more. However, the trees grow slowly. Pinwheel trees have dense crowns and upright trunks surrounded by smooth, reddish-brown bark. The glossy, dark green leaves are opposite and about 30 centimeters long. The flowers described above develop into oval fruits up to ten centimeters long.
The distribution area extends to the rainforests of eastern Australia, eastern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales.
Suitable location
In Germany, the cultivation of the heat-loving plant is not possible in the wild. We have to limit ourselves to the bucket attitude. The plants there usually do not grow higher than a maximum of two meters. In terms of beauty, however, they are in no way inferior to the specimens found in the wild in Australia. In summer, the pinwheel tree can move to the balcony or terrace.
To find the right location, let's look at the natural growing conditions in the Australian rainforests. Temperatures of 25 degrees and more prevail there all year round. Even at night the thermometer does not fall below 20 degrees. The sun shines on the pinwheel trees for about six to eight hours a day.
This means that the pinwheel tree can be cultivated at room temperature all year round. Find a bright spot and make sure the tree gets at least somehours a day is exposed to the sun.» Tip: In a slightly cooler location, the leaves appear leathery and harder. The higher the ambient temperature, the larger and softer the leaves are.
The ambient temperature should be at least 18 degrees. If the thermometer falls below ten degrees, this can damage the plant. The pinwheel tree is allowed outside between April and October. Keeping them in the conservatory is also an option. If this is heated, the pinwheel tree can be cultivated there all year round. However, the light is dampened by the glass wall and if you can, an outdoor pitch is preferable during the summer months. Trees need space to grow taller. In width, the plants stretch less, apart from the dense crown. With ideal site conditions, growth heights of up to four meters can be reached.» Tip: Young plants are particularly sensitive and die quickly. Older plants are easier to cultivate.
The right location should be bright, sunny and warm all year round. In addition, it should offer enough space.Ideal substrate
Conventional potting soil can be used as the basis for cultivation. This is mixed in with compost as a long-term fertilizer before planting. In their natural habitat, the trees tend to grow on poor soil. However, the permeability of the substrate is very important.
» Tip: Commercial potting soil is always pre-fertilized and could contain too many or wrong nutrients.
The potting soil should therefore be upgraded accordingly. Good permeability is achieved by adding sand or perlite. You can also mix in gravel or lava granules. A mixture of potting soil, sand and humus has proven to be a good choice. The addition of coconut fibers also improves the permeability of the substrate. A pure peat soil, on the other hand, proves to be rather disadvantageous.
» Tip: If you have the opportunity, determine the pH value of the substrate. Ideally, this should be between 4.5 and 5.5.
Planting instructions - step by step
1. Select planter
2. Prepare substrate
3. Prepare substrate
4. Lay drainage
5. Fill in substrate
6. Insert plant7. Fill up the substrate
8. Press the soil
9. Water the plant
10. Place the plant in the appropriate location
The pinwheel tree is a rather slow-growing plant. Therefore, the planter should not be too large. If the plant is given too much space, it will focus its energy more on the development of the roots and less on the actual growth of the trunk, leaves and crown that the hobby gardener is aiming for. When choosing the planter, make sure there are enough drainage holes so that the liquid does not accumulate.
The substrate is provided and upgraded according to our recommendations. Before planting, you should lay out drainage on the bottom of the container. Waterlogging can be effectively prevented by applying pieces of pottery shards or coarse gravel. This is particularly important for the pinwheel tree, because waterlogging is not tolerated and quickly leads to the death of the roots.
Now fill the planter with some substrate and place the pinwheel tree in the pot. Be careful not to damage the roots. These are very sensitive, especially in young plants. Now you can fill up the substrate and water the plant well. Depending on the season, a location is then chosen in a warm room or on the balcony or terrace.
Planting of the pinwheel tree at a glance
| Activity | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Find location | The pinwheel tree needs a bright and warm location all year round. In order to ensure a high level of light intensity and thus meet the natural needs of the plant, an outdoor location is advisable in summer. The Ambient temperature should be 20 to 25 degrees all year round. |
| Prepare substrate | In their natural environment, the plants grow in a rather nutrient-poor substrate. If you mix garden soil with compost and sand, you should have found the right substrate. The permeability of the soil and thus preventing waterlogging. |
| Plant Firewheel Tree | Choose a sufficiently large planter and place a drainage layer of gravel or clay granules on the bottom of the planter. Since the roots are very sensitive, the pinwheel tree should be planted carefully. The The plant should then be watered well and placed in the appropriate location. |
Repot the Pinwheel Tree
The right time for repotting is early spring, when the plant has not yet started sprouting. Good news for himHobby gardeners - the pinwheel tree does not have to be repotted every year because it only grows slowly. Nevertheless, regular renewal of the substrate makes sense, as the plant forms dense root tufts and thus quickly uses up and consumes the soil in the planter.
It is also known from the silver tree family that they form lignified tuberous roots and can therefore only be cultivated in very deep planters. However, this is not proven for the pinwheel tree. The formation of the "Lignotuber" is increasingly carried out by plants that grow in regions threatened by bush fires. The root tuber enables the plant to sprout again after a fire. The pinwheel tree only grows in the rainforest and probably does not have this characteristic.
» Tip: Due to the formation of a dense and shrub-like root ball, the planter should not be too small.
In order not to damage the roots, care should be taken when transplanting. Remove the plant from the old planter. You can use this opportunity to check the condition of the roots and possibly trim the root ball accordingly. However, you should only do this if you identify diseased or dead root parts. Do not plant the pinwheel tree deeper into the new planter than it was in the old planter.