Dickensonia Antartica

Had the tree fern now about 6 weeks. It is throwing up 3 new fronds, with another 4 inside the crown on their way. We have around 5 or 6 full fronds which are now starting to look tatty, as the wind has rubbed them against a brick wall (temporary storage place). Should we cut off the tatty fronds? Will it damage the tree at all, and approximately how many fronds is it likely to throw up a year? (IE once per year, constantly, etc...) Its quite a substantial one at around 5 foot.

 

Well if its quite a substantial one you can probably expect upwards from 10 and possibly 15 fronds. Thats about what I had last year and thats after I woke them from their freshly cut storage status. I also removed some which were frost damaged so you get loads. I have loads again this year so I will go and tot them up tomorrow. But really, it depends how well it is fed and watered. Mine get liquid chicken manure and it seems to boost production of fronds in the following year.

In terms of cutting off fronds you won't damage the plant but you will make it bleed. :eek: :eek: It bleeds a thin brown gel which heals over in a short time. If you do cut them off don't do it any less than 6 inches from the crown as this gives the TF a better look, a more stable and protective crown from which a frond can shoot and aids water retention when watering from the top so that it does run down the trunk so much. It pools and absorbs better. :D :D

Hope this helps. Anything else just shout. I will post frond count tomorrow!

 

HoneyBee, the 4 footer has 17 so far and there are others in the crown. I didn't count the taller ones because I didn't want to get out the ladder to inspect the crown. The 4 footer is fed weekly and watered most days. You can never overwater them!

 

thanks - make me feel even more of a failure. :rolleyes:
first of all I kill the children's prized Bananas, then my tree fern is rather inadequate!!!! (joking, really!!) surprised you haven't posted a photo...

 

surprised you haven't posted a photo...

it is isn't it.

HB took this today what do you think?



It is the unprotected overwintered one which has done some growing since I posted about your bananas.

 

yeah, yeah, rub it in!!!!!!! (been here before???)

 

Here's my Basjoo
I cut the top off, like you suggested, then it just dried over......
do I finally call it a day????

 

No dig it up, wash off the soil with the hose pipe and inspect it for any signs of healthy pinky rosey skin. If it looks promising pot it up in light compost and keep warm. You may spur it into growth. At the moment you can't see whats underground and the soil maybe too heavy for it to progress. If it is terminal don't lose heart, if you get another one I won't let you kill it! I have learnt loads from killing plants, try try again. Just don't kill the TF they are expensive. I killed a �£40 dicksonia squarossa because of bad advice about winter protection. But on the positive I have had to be inventive to find a successful routine of overwintering them! :D

 

Well, come back off my holidays (sob!!) and have been up the greenhouse & dug it out of the pot. Some of the roots are definitely dead, but there are some REALLY BIG and healthy ones too. So I've dusted off all the old compost and re-potted it with a load of new compost. Just got to sit back and wait.... not something I'm good at......
But as an insurance policy, I bought 3 very small baby ones, a Basjoo, Lasiocarpa and a Sikkimensis, oh, and a rather big red one (not Ensette) whilst on holiday, but had to give it to the In-laws to bring home as it was either the kiddies or the Banana tree....... and I haven't got it back yet.... :rolleyes:

 

Banana man... Just the fella.
I have just bought this banana. I chose this one (its a Musa Lasiocarpa) because it has about 5 sucker plants springing up from its base ! The idea being to seperate and get 5 free banana plants.....I think this plant at 3.5 FT. tall (1.5-2 ft trunk)with 5 suckers/free plants is bargain of the century at �£9.99!!!!! How do i (or do i not!) seperate them from mother plant????????

 

�£9.99 - for 6 Bananas!!!!! Bargain!!!!!

 

Hi steveb1973, I love the Musa Lasiocarpa although I have yet to over winter this one. The new leaves emerge from the previous leaf and it tends to be terminal if it has less than one leaf on . As regards splitting your babies I would say they are too small to split yet. They need to be self supporting with their own set of roots and that doesn't look like the case yet. I would also say that the plant needs to be repotted but a little deeper other wise the baby on the left of the photo will not be encourage to root into the earth. When you repot, have a nosey at the roots and see if any of the babies might soon be viable. When you feel they are ready take a very sharp knife at the base of the baby where it joins to the mother and cut obviously taking care not to unecessarily cut off the babies roots.

Hope this helps. If you want any more help give me a shout on this thread or PM me. BM :D

 

cheers B.Man. I'll re-pot it a little deeper and wait a while to be more sure! They are quite big already and appear to be coming directly out of the trunk

 

I wholeheartedly agree, they are a devil to get going if the offsets don't have a few roots. They are best removed when about 45 - 60cms. tall and it's easier to de-pot the plant and scrape away the compost so you can see where to make the cut. That said, I personally prefer to grow Musella into a big clump - it looks splendid with its blue-green spears up to 2m. high. Planted out, it tends to develop lots of foliage (which is fine by me) and may take quite a few years to flower (which is also fine by me). The extravagant butter-yellow flower heads are borne sooner on potted specimens with the advantage that they can be brought under frost-free cover where they can last for a year or more. The foliage is a lot more compact too making this an excellent alternative to the banana where space is limited. This is a pic of a fairly young plant taken about a year ago and just getting into its stride. I have it planted in an south east facing border in front of a clump of Musa sikkimensis and so far has produced about 15 offsets of varying sizes.

Musella lasiocarpa

 

They are known for being well suckered to the mother plant, but be patient and like I said plant a little deaper to encourage rooting. :D