Pinwheel Tree, Stenocarpus sinuatus – Care Instructions

The care of the pinwheel tree is uncomplicated. A suitable substrate, a favorable location, the right watering, a fertilizer that should contain little or preferably no phosphate and high humidity are important. You don’t have to cut the wood, but you can. Without cutting, however, the growth habit is particularly elegant. Propagation is easy by sowing. Seeds are far more common in stores than ready-made plants. Their price is also quite high due to the slow growth of the plants. Diseases are extremely rare with good care. If the plants are ailing, it is usually due to incorrect care.

Pinwheel trees usually don’t grow much taller than 2 to 3 m in pots. Under favorable conditions, it can sometimes grow to 5 m, but this is usually only possible in botanical gardens, in tropical houses. There are some handsome specimens there.

location

The pinwheel tree needs a lot of light and likes the sun. However, young plants should be protected from direct sunlight. In their homeland, the plants stand in the shade of larger rainforest plants and initially only get a little sun. Only when they get bigger do they stand in full sun.

• Needs lots of light
• Protect from direct sun when young
• Likes to be outdoors from April/May, until around October
• Always get used to the sun again slowly
• Not too hot, no stagnant air
• Appreciates high humidity, preferably near an indoor fountain (rainforest plant)

plant substrate

Many plant lovers simply use bucket soil for the fire wheel tree and improve it a bit. Others, on the other hand, mix their own substrate from several components. It is important that the earth is permeable to air and water and can store water and nutrients well.

• Normal, but high-quality potting soil
• It is good to improve this with some sand and other coarse-grained parts, i.e. expanded clay, fine gravel, lava dust or grit.
• Definitely permeable
• A soil mixture of humus and sand is also beneficial.

• Pure peat is unfavorable.
• pH between 4.5 and 5.5

plant

When planting, special attention must be paid to the tender roots. These must not be damaged. Since the tree grows slowly, it does not need to be repotted as often. This is favorable, because the plants often do not like this change.

• Do not choose a container that is too large, only a few centimeters larger when repotting
• Drainage in the bottom of the pot to allow excess water to drain away.
• Repot in early spring

watering and fertilizing

Watering and fertilizing requires a little finesse. The substrate should be neither too dry nor too wet. Uniform moisture is important, but achieving this is not easy. The pinwheel tree does not like fluctuations in soil moisture at all. It is particularly important to use a fertilizer without phosphate or with very little phosphate.

• Water plentifully in the summer months.
• Avoid fluctuations in the water balance
• Slight dryness is more favorable than wetness
• It is better not to let the soil dry out.
• No waterlogging, remove excess water
• Mist leaves regularly to increase humidity
• Fertilize every 2 to 3 weeks from April to September
• Standard fertilizer with low phosphate content or phosphate-free

To cut

A cut is unnecessary. It is only recommended to regularly remove the tips of the shoots when young so that the plant branches out better and becomes a dense bush. Larger plants can usually be cut back without any problems. However, you have to be careful to maintain good form. The natural habit looks best.

hibernate

Hibernation is not difficult, but pests are common. You always have to keep an eye on the pinwheel tree so that the pests are quickly identified and eliminated. Appropriate accommodation is important. There is little watering, no fertilizer at all.

• Hibernation in the house
• Heated winter garden or large room garden
• It is best to hibernate at 12°C
• Possible temperatures between 5 and 20°C
• Older plants tolerate light frost
• Water very little in winter
• Maintain consistent very light moisture
• Absolutely avoid wetness
• Don’t fertilize
• Check regularly for pests

multiply

The pinwheel tree is propagated by seed. You can bring seeds with you from vacation, from Australia, South Africa or South America. Alternatively, they can also be purchased on the World Wide Web. Good quality is important, which is why it is worth reading a few buyer opinions.

• Sowing possible all year round
• It is advisable to sow soon after receiving the seeds, as the germination time is limited.
• Soak the seeds in lukewarm water for 24 hours
• Put about 1 cm deep in moistened potting soil, alternatively coconut fibre, in any case permeable to air and low in nutrients

It is favorable to use a mixture of potting soil and coconut hum. If coarse sand is then added to this, it improves drainage and makes the substrate even finer in the crumb. It counteracts waterlogging and allows sufficient air to reach the roots after germination.

• Keep evenly moist, not too wet!
• It is best to use rainwater for watering. Just moisten with a spray bottle.
• Cover the culture vessel with translucent foil
• Even better is using an indoor greenhouse
• Germination time – about 3 weeks at temperatures between 20 and 25°C
• Air daily to avoid mold growth
• The seedlings can usually be pricked out 5 to 8 weeks after germination
• It is important not to damage the young roots.
• Plant the seedlings in individual containers.

diseases and pests

The pinwheel tree is quite robust and not particularly susceptible to disease. In the case of care errors or fluctuating water supply, however, some can occur. Pests usually attack plants during the winter.

• Spider mites – webs can be seen particularly well on the leaf axils and indented leaf edges. If you spray the plant with a spray bottle, the webs become visible through small drops of water. It is important to combat it quickly, before the pests can spread too much and cause damage. Spider mites love dry air, which is why it is sometimes enough to shower the plants frequently or at least spray them with water every day. However, spider mites are often stubborn and have to be treated with a chemical club. However, not all plants tolerate them equally well and exotic plants are usually not that into it.
• Mealybugs and mealybugs – small, white webs reminiscent of cotton balls indicate mealybugs. They are difficult to fight. The webs that can be reached can be carefully removed. However, one rarely finds all of them, so that the pests usually multiply again. There is often no avoiding the use of chemicals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean when there are dark red dots on the leaves?
This is usually leaf necrosis. The points start at the tip of the leaf and then move towards the trunk. Initially, the leaves are still green, but then they become leathery. In most cases, the tree dies and cannot be saved.

What can be done against brown leaf tips and edges?
Brown leaf tips are often a sign of insufficient humidity. Regular spraying with soft water helps here. The brown edges of the leaves come out quite often, I read about them again and again during my research. Some plant lovers have had good experiences with rhododendron soil, mixed with seramis or something similar to make it more permeable. Some have even used rhododendron fertilizer and that seems to have worked great. You just have to try it. The comparison may be worthwhile, especially for anyone who has several seedlings. Simply place the plants in different substrates and see which develop best. That’s a project.