tree ferns

I grew mine from spores back before all these imported ones started to come over,BM, it was at the time pretty experimental, and the winters were colder then.

John, I'm pretty sure I have one of those growing behind my water butt, it came up on its own. :rolleyes:

 

If I could just 'borrow' the brains of all you lovely people 'in the know' on this thread one moment please?

Would any of you guys recommend a tree fern for a tropical 'Newbie'?

If so when is the best time to buy one and what should I look for?

Thanks in advance.
Helen.xxx.

 

Helen although you would probably pick up a bargain now I would wait until next year let someone else overwinter it for you, look for one that is starting to grow lots of new fronds out of the centre, dicksonia antartica is one of the most popular ones, b/man is one of our experts on these.

 

Thanks Walnut I really like the idea of having one of these beautys and I know that for one of a decent size they cost a bob or two and I really didn't want to waste Bob's money by killing this plant if they are no good for Newbies like me.

Also is it better to be potted or planted into the ground and what do they like to grow in?

Helen.xxx.

 

Hi Sarraceniac, from the photos I am thinking its not a DA, but you never know as its pretty small. It has more fronds than I would have expected, plus they are quite big for such a small TF. On the positive it could be that its more than one seedling. Do you have any unfurling frond snaps?

Helofadigger, best time to buy TFs from places like B&Q would be March/April when they have the first of their plant sales. I picked up two 18 inchers for �£18.73 each. I also bagged a 4 footer for about �£60.

 

Thanks BM. No unfurling frond shots I'm afraid. Guess I'll just have to wait and see what it does in the next 8 or 9 months. If it does anything dramatic (like starting to develop bananas) I will immediately get some snaps for your opinion. If it is a TF I think it may get clobbered this winter, because, as I was so doubtful, I just planted it out. Last year was very mild here only 2 night frosts all winter but all I can do is throw some sacking over it again and see what happens. Thanks again for looking, but as (if it survives) I would like to know what I have been sold, you probably haven't finished yet.

Pete. It came up behind your butt on it's own? Have you seen a Doctor? :eek: :D

 

WATER BUTT John,.......... WATER BUTT. :D

Just for that your gonna get a picture, sometime.

 

Hi Bananaman, I am new to this forum. Im very intrigued by your method of over wintering tree ferns. I bought myself a DA a few months back and have been wondering how I would protect it over winter. I would like to try your method of using a towel, pot, plastic pot etc. but need to be clear on a couple of things before I try.

My fern is a little over 4 foot. I live in London.
1. How do you water it, is it done through the hole at top of pot or do you remove towel,pot, bag 1st?

2. How do you air it. Is the towel,pot,bag left in place or do you remove these for a short time?

Before reading your method, I was going to try leaving the fronds in place, placing straw in the crown and wrapping in fleece. In your experience which method gives better protection?

Thanks
Che

ps. Adore what you have done to your garden. looks amazing.

 

1. How do you water it, is it done through the hole at top of pot or do you remove towel,pot, bag 1st?

Yep unwrap it, water and air. Takes seconds to unwrap and re-wrap. I pin the bag over the pot with a bit of bent wire. the trunks are quite accomodating to being pinned.

2. How do you air it. Is the towel,pot,bag left in place or do you remove these for a short time?

Yep remove these for a short time

Before reading your method, I was going to try leaving the fronds in place, placing straw in the crown and wrapping in fleece. In your experience which method gives better protection?

Sounds fine really, London isn't as cold as me and I doubt you get much frost ? You might have noticed I am a bit OCD when it comes to the garden so I wouldn't want browning leaves on the specimen TFs any way, so cutting them off isn't the end of the world for me. If you go with your method you could feed in a piece of hose pipe into the crown with a hoselock attachment your end to water without unwrapping

 

Many Thanks BM. Will see how long the fronds remain green covered up in fleece. But the moment they turn brown, I will chop right off and protect using the other method. I too like the plants in my garden to look their best.

Thanks again
Che

 

Thanks guys for your replies.

One more question if I may.....how tall does a tree fern grow in one year be it in a pot or the ground or is that like asking how long a piece of string is?

The reason being I just want to know so I can judge what I can afford to get next year and don't want a little'un if its going to take an age to be dramatic, although I'm sure some of you would say even the little ones are eye catching.
Helen.xxx.

 

Very slow growing Helen .... maybe only an inch a year
The first few years I had mine I allowed dead leaves to pack into the crown for protection, cut off the fronds, and lapped them over the crown, and then covered with sacking
After a couple of years I found that it was acclimatising and it has been left alone for maybe 8 years now with no ill effects. I only cut off the fronds at the beginning of the new season as they go brown
I feed with pelleted chicken manure dissolved in water and poured into the crown .. it works great
During the winter I have never watered
My plant was buried into the ground inside a large pot (I was told it didn't develop roots)
Anyway ... it has long since rooted through the pot

 

One thing to note on how big to buy - if you are going to plant it in the ground, the trunk goes in the ground, so if you get a 2 footer, at least 1/2 foot will be in the ground, making it only 1 1/2 foot above (plus the fronds) If you plant it in the pot, you wont lose any height providing the pot is on ground level.......
We got an 8 1/2 foot one, but had to sink it 2 foot in the ground so it wouldn't blow over!!!! (still looks MASSIVE!!!!) As we are very mild down here, all we did was stuff the crown with straw. If we are due a cold snap, we have fleece on standby. Also we make sure there is air circulation so it can breathe - many are lost to rotting due to damp air not being able to escape. BM seems to have a very good method for colder area.

 

thanks banana man lovely to see your ferns. i wouldnt have watered them but will now.let you know how i go on next spring.cheers.carolla

 

thanks banana man lovely to see your ferns. i wouldnt have watered them but will now.let you know how i go on next spring.cheers.carolla