Did you planted your New Zealand flax in a full-sun or part-shade location?
Did you planted your New Zealand flax in well-drained soil?
Did you mulch heavily around your plant to protect it from winter cold if you're living in a region with a colder climate?
Are you making sure that the soil is kept consistently moist, but never soggy or flooded?
Do you feed your New Zealand flax frequently?
Do you keep your New Zealand flax free of pests and diseases?
New Zealand flax prefers a full-sun to part-shade location, but since it is normally grown for its foliage, full sun is not crucial. In fact, in hotter climates, hybrids may do better with afternoon shade, since the leaf colors are often enhanced.
New Zealand flax is not very choosy about soil. It will do well even in poor soil, provided it is well-drained. It prefers slightly acidic soil but it grows fine in neutral soil as well. When grown in containers, a rich potting mix is preferred over a standard potting mix.
New Zealand flax is dependably hardy and evergreen in USDA zones 9 to 11, but gardeners in zones 7 and 8 may find that the plants return each spring after dying back if they are heavily mulched for the winter. You can also grow them as potted plants and move them to shelter for the winter.
New Zealand flax has average water needs. When planted in the garden, about 1 inch of water per week in the form of rainfall and/or irrigation is ideal. Potted plants should be kept consistently moist, but not soggy.
These plants tolerate poor soil and thus don't usually require much in the way of feeding. An annual top-dressing of well-rotted compost can help provide nutrients and retain soil moisture.
Good job! You are taking good care of your New Zealand flax.
Mealybugs can infest plants and are hard to eradicate from inside the long leaves. Many times it’s easiest to just dispose of the infested plant. When grown indoors, these plants are susceptible to mites and whiteflies. Horticultural soaps and oils are the first options for treating these pests.
https://www.thespruce.com/growing-phormium-1402855
Sreten null
Hi! I’m Sreten Filipović. I graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Belgrade, with a master's degree in Environmental Protection in Agricultural Systems. I’ve worked as a researcher at Finland's Natural Resources Institute (LUKE) on a project aimed at adapting south-western Finland to drought episodes. I founded a consulting agency in the field of environment and agriculture to help farmers who want to implement the principles of sustainability on their farms. I’m also a founding member of the nonprofit organization Ecogenesis from Belgrade whose main goal is non-formal education on the environment and ecology. In my spare time, I like to write blog posts about sustainability, the environment, animal farming, horticulture, and plant protection. I’ve also published several science-fiction short stories.
You can find me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sreten-filipovi%C4%87-515aa5158/
