NEWLY BOUGHT TREE FERN

I bought a 3' ft section of Tree Fern [Dicksonia Antarctica] on the 17th August this year and planted it in a very large square container in the garden. I didn't really, to be honest, expect any signs of growth until next year but I've watered it every day and now notice it's put out a small leaf and that the top stems are showing signs of unfolding and opening out to, I presume, produce the large leaves. I would greatly appreciate any advice on any effects to the plant on growing leaves at this time of year. I realise I will have to protect the trunk and top of the Fern when frost is threatening and will use Hessian and Straw to do so, but it's just the fact that it seems a bit late in the year for the Fern to start coming to life.

 

Hi Verdun, thanks for the advice, but I think you miss my point. I only bought the Tree Fern just over 2 weeks ago and it came just as a trunk looking like this......


So it's delivered with no roots and no leaves, the roots and stems being cut right back. So all that's in the container was a rootless, stemless, trunk. While I know that Nature is fast in producing roots etc, what I'm wondering is should the Tree Fern be starting into life now as a near rootless trunk, going into Autumn, and therefore probably only having a couple of months before I have to chop back the leaves and protect it.

 

My established Tree Fern has only just sent up it's first new fronds of the year, it is very very late and to be honest I thought mine had died. I put it down to the cold spring.

I recall when I bought it they had cut off the fronds for shipping then a new set sprouted in the summer.

There will be next years buds already developing in the top, they look like knuckles. Now is the time the plant should be putting it's energy into those embryo buds so it's good you have new fronds. Keep giving it plenty of water until the autumn, even then don't let it dry out. I spray the trunk as well to help the roots work their way down, they come out the bottom of the trunk very quickly. Being in a pot you can move it indoors for protection when it gets really cold.

 

Don't chop the leaves off, mine usually come through the winter albeit looking a bit tatty by the spring.

 

Thanks, John, that must be what I'm seeing. So it should be next year's growth that I'm seeing and not any fronds being produced this year?. That was what was worrying me i.e. was this rootless trunk trying to produce fronds now and into the Autumn?

I bought the Tree Fern from Seagate Nursery and they've enclosed a comprehensive list of care instructions for the Fern and emphasised that it should be watered, including the top, everyday even during the Winter to ensure it doesn't dry out.

I wish, it's planted in a 3' x 3' x 3' square stone container and with all the compost mixture etc in in I'll need a forklift truck to move it.



I've got a large quantity of Hessian so I'll wrap the trunk with that and put straw on the top of the trunk with Hessian on top of that should we get any frosty weather in the offing.

 

Thanks, Wee Tam. They're not cheap to buy and I don't want to lose it out of ignorance when good advice will save the day.

I've got access to plenty of straw from the local farms so I'll follow that technique.

 

That's a bit pricey Seagrave Nursery will sell you a 5' trunk for £110 and a 3' trunk for, in their present sale, a 3' trunk for £64.35p. Unfortunately, I bought my Tree Fern from them before the sale

I've got rolls of chicken wire and fleece in the garage doing nothing so I can follow your good advice on protecting the fern, thanks!!

 

Good advice there @WeeTam

Being in a pot makes them more vulnerable to the cold.

I do similar to all my tender permanently planted stuff such as Musa bananas. I try and let them breathe during the winter so if there is a mild spell I will open up the insulation to let out some of the stale dampness.

 

Well, I've been diligently watering, every day, the top of the new Tree Fern and the large container it's in and it definitely unfolding two stems so I shall be watching with interest how it gets on into the Autumn........one thing about gardening, you never stop learning!!

 

Well, considering I only got this Tree Fern as just a stemless and rootless stump in August this year it's grown on well.