Tree fern again (sorry)

Thanks Kristen. I've just had another feel inside the crown... and maybe it's my imagination, but the crosier (I can only make out 1), seems to have risen slightly / more defined. It is also slightly flexible. Should I feed (it was fed 3 weeks ago)?

 

Sounds good!

If you have some seaweed foliar feed I think that would be a good tonic. Other than that I'm not sure. I wonder if, given that your plant is recently arrived in the UK , whether it has any/many roots into the pot as yet? Some say to feed the crown, others say not to, so I don't know on that score - but I reckon if it has no/few proper roots at the base that feeding the crown is the only way its going to "eat" ... but foliar feed is perhaps the best compromise.

 

Many thanks again Kristen... I'll see if there is any progress over the next few days x

 

Sounding like a new expectant mum... I can now feel 3 or 4 curly whirlies pushing their way up through the crown

 

Here's an up-date (this has been good learning for me as experiencing first year with the DA)... The old fronds are really dying off now (pic taken today)

 

Forgive my enthusiasm... its all part of being a novice with my conservatory plants. Anyway, within just a few days of my initial panic, I am now enjoying the speedy growth rate (I never knew it would be so quick):

 

Oh yes! Beware they are soft and thus vulnerable until they harden up.

 

Thanks Kristen... I've removed one of the old fronds as it had gone totally brown x

 

Yes, they need that pruning. I think it is important that the crown does not get crowded out by the old shoots, I guess in the wild they are retained until they are pushed out of the way by the new growth, by which time they will be forming the wide-walls of the trunk, rather than the crown. I read somewhere how to manage this, but can't remember the details. It might be not to cut them too short initially so that there is a stalk to get a hold of later to then cut flush ... or it might be totally the opposite to allow the plant to push them to the side. I'll see if I can find the details.

 

Dave Brown at http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk says:

The problem is when they chain saw the fronds off they leave behind some stipes which are almost upright. As the stipes harden in the upright position they don't move out as the living stipes would have done. That is what restricts the new croziers from emerging properly. I pull the stipes down and sideways until as much of the stipe is visible to where the stipe disappears into the fur and cut off as close to the base as possible; Do the outer layer first working you way in. This allows more emergence room ... producing a dome shape with the emerging croziers at the top seemed to help on mine

original flat cut as purchased:


after cutting stipes to make a dome:


http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=113&t=19069

 

Many thanks Kristen... I don't want to cock up now!

 

Sorry all, but another up-date: