Australian Tree Fern

Randy4ut · 05-25-2009, 11:16 AM

Okay, need some advice. A garden center here in town have some nice 5 gallon Australian Tree Ferns from Monrovia. They are probably 4' or so tall from base of soil in the pot. They are selling them for $38, which I do not feel is too bad of a price considering the size and lack of availability. Now the problem. I want to get one, pot it up and keep it in my screened in porch during the summer. I wonder if I will be able to overwinter it inside with a humidifier close by and near a southern lit patio door? I know it needs as much humidity as I can give it, but not sure if I will be able to overwinter it in my den. Only other option is a friend of mine that lives in town and has already purchased one offered to keep it in her greenhouse. She just worries that she may kill mine and I don't want to have her worry like that. I would much prefer to keep it home, but not sure how it will do in my den. Any advice would be appreciated.
I know there are differences in them, but not sure which type it is as the tag on the plant only says Australian Tree Fern. I assume it is Alsophila australis, but cannot be for sure. Thanks ahead of time...

lorax · 05-25-2009, 11:51 AM

You should be OK if you treat it that way; the other option is to give it a period of enforced dormancy in your den - keep the humidity high, the light low, and don't water it very often. This will put it to sleep for the winter period (you're simulating the dry season for it), and you can revive it the same way you would with an overwintered banana when spring rolls in.

Certainly this worked for me when I kept them in Canada; now of course they just grow in the ground.

jack hagenaars · 05-25-2009, 01:00 PM

Likely a Dickasonia antartica....hardy to about -5C. Make sure you water the trunk...because it has roots along the trunk. Lots of humidity....

Randy4ut · 05-25-2009, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jack hagenaars

Likely a Dickasonia antartica....hardy to about -5C. Make sure you water the trunk...because it has roots along the trunk. Lots of humidity....

Thanks for your input, Jack, but I really do not believe these that the garden center have are Dicksonia, as Monrovia carries both the Tasmanian and the Austrailian tree fern and these are labelled as Aussie's. Have been trying to learn the difference, but so far no luck. Wish it were a Tasmanian, as they are hardier aren't they. Don't all tree ferns have roots along the trunks? Again, I appreciate your input...

griphuz · 05-26-2009, 05:37 AM

I severely doublt it to be a Cyathea australis,...it's probably a Cyathea cooperi, but that's also a very nice fern!
This is the species generally called Australian treefern, and it's not difficult in cultivation.
Cyathea australis is called rough treefern normally but is almost impossible to find (the real thing that is).
You can just put it in for the winter, and keep it out and well watered in summer.
Good luck,
Remko.

jtm4097 · 06-21-2009, 11:30 AM

Greetings:

I am trying to revitalize my Aussie tree fern. Due to a severe heatwave two years ago it lost all its fronds and has not put forth new growth. The trunk and root system are still viable but so far, no matter what fertilizer and/or vitamin draught used, no new growth.

Anyone have any ideas on how to remedy this situation?
Thanks for your input.

hammer · 06-21-2009, 12:02 PM

my is not looking good Australian fern this hot weather branches are dying morning sun is all it gets i water it all the time .

Eric · 06-22-2009, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammer

my is not looking good Australian fern this hot weather branches are dying morning sun is all it gets i water it all the time .

I had a similar problem. But after I moved it to a fully-shaded location beside a small, artificial fish pond, it fully recovered & did great

. That was last year. This year it's in full-shade & not near the pond But it does get misted with a spray-bottle a few times a day. Seems to work just fine.
BTW, the goldfish-type pond's only about 3 feet diameter. I may even try putting an artificial island in the middle of the pond and putting the fern pot on that. Point being, the hotter it gets, the more humidity that rises from the water just when the plant needs it the most.

Randy, I'm in Oklahoma. I kept mine near south & west windows, through the winter in a cool back room, and kept it misted. It survived nicely and is doing very well this spring.
Hope this helps.

Mark Hall · 06-22-2009, 02:54 AM

Hi Randy,
Here in the UK we wrap the crown with straw during the winter. A cage like structure is built around the top foot of the trunck with chicken mesh. Then straw is bundled into it. Then a large plastic pot is placed over the top to help keep it dry. This is then kept in place until May Time then it's taken off to allow the emerging fronds to push out.

We sort of have a saying over here that you can't over water a tree fern. I leave the hose pipe on mime for an hour or so at a time.

Another way of keeping the moisture in it , is to wrap the trunk in cling film then water it. That helps keep the trunk wetter for a little longer.

They are cheap prices you have in the states. Cheapest here is around £25 per foot of trunk.

bigdog · 06-22-2009, 10:10 AM

We have been having "tree fern weather" in Knoxville for the entire month of June! Too bad I don't have one...it would love it right now. Raining again as I speak.

In agree with Remko, Randy. It's probably a Cyathea cooperi. That's the most common Australian Tree Fern in the trade. Now, overwintering it...I'll refer to the others, lol.

Let's see some banana pics!!

Frank

Eric · 06-22-2009, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Hall

Hi Randy,
Here in the UK we wrap the crown with straw during the winter. A cage like structure is built around the top foot of the trunck with chicken mesh. Then straw is bundled into it. Then a large plastic pot is placed over the top to help keep it dry. This is then kept in place until May Time then it's taken off to allow the emerging fronds to push out.

We sort of have a saying over here that you can't over water a tree fern. I leave the hose pipe on mime for an hour or so at a time.

Another way of keeping the moisture in it , is to wrap the trunk in cling film then water it. That helps keep the trunk wetter for a little longer.

They are cheap prices you have in the states. Cheapest here is around £25 per foot of trunk.

In regards to the 1st paragraph: That may work quite well but keep in mind, the incredible levels of humidity (and unique weather conditions) in the UK are quite different from those found in the south-central regions of the U.S.

05-25-2009, 11:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
lorax Banned lorax's Photo Gallery Location: Ecuador, South America Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 13 / Köppen-Geiger BSh Name: Lorax Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,532 BananaBucks : 311,130 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 742 Times Was Thanked 3,040 Times in 1,188 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 464 Times	Re: Australian Tree Fern You should be OK if you treat it that way; the other option is to give it a period of enforced dormancy in your den - keep the humidity high, the light low, and don't water it very often. This will put it to sleep for the winter period (you're simulating the dry season for it), and you can revive it the same way you would with an overwintered banana when spring rolls in. Certainly this worked for me when I kept them in Canada; now of course they just grow in the ground.

05-25-2009, 01:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
jack hagenaars jack hagenaars's Photo Gallery Location: Victoria,British Columbia Find me on the map! Zone: 8 a/b Name: Jack Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 236 BananaBucks : 51,132 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 137 Times in 83 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 7 Times	Re: Australian Tree Fern Likely a Dickasonia antartica....hardy to about -5C. Make sure you water the trunk...because it has roots along the trunk. Lots of humidity....

05-26-2009, 05:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
griphuz Cold-tolerant collector griphuz's Photo Gallery Location: Netherlands Find me on the map! Zone: 7 - 8a Name: Remko Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 295 BananaBucks : 84,810 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 317 Times Was Thanked 290 Times in 114 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 827 Times	Re: Australian Tree Fern I severely doublt it to be a Cyathea australis,...it's probably a Cyathea cooperi, but that's also a very nice fern! This is the species generally called Australian treefern, and it's not difficult in cultivation. Cyathea australis is called rough treefern normally but is almost impossible to find (the real thing that is). You can just put it in for the winter, and keep it out and well watered in summer. Good luck, Remko.

06-21-2009, 11:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
jtm4097 Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1 BananaBucks : 511 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Australian Tree Fern Greetings: I am trying to revitalize my Aussie tree fern. Due to a severe heatwave two years ago it lost all its fronds and has not put forth new growth. The trunk and root system are still viable but so far, no matter what fertilizer and/or vitamin draught used, no new growth. Anyone have any ideas on how to remedy this situation? Thanks for your input.

06-21-2009, 12:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
hammer Shannon hammer's Photo Gallery Location: Mountain Home, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7 Name: Shannon Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 713 BananaBucks : 165,044 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 178 Times Was Thanked 571 Times in 253 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 12 Times	Re: Australian Tree Fern my is not looking good Australian fern this hot weather branches are dying morning sun is all it gets i water it all the time .

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06-22-2009, 02:54 AM	#9 (permalink)
Mark Hall Mark Mark Hall's Photo Gallery Location: Windsor u.k. Find me on the map! Name: Mark Hall Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 616 BananaBucks : 103,730 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 385 Times Was Thanked 282 Times in 123 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 15 Times	Re: Australian Tree Fern Hi Randy, Here in the UK we wrap the crown with straw during the winter. A cage like structure is built around the top foot of the trunck with chicken mesh. Then straw is bundled into it. Then a large plastic pot is placed over the top to help keep it dry. This is then kept in place until May Time then it's taken off to allow the emerging fronds to push out. We sort of have a saying over here that you can't over water a tree fern. I leave the hose pipe on mime for an hour or so at a time. Another way of keeping the moisture in it , is to wrap the trunk in cling film then water it. That helps keep the trunk wetter for a little longer. They are cheap prices you have in the states. Cheapest here is around £25 per foot of trunk. __________________ Time Flies like an Arrow.....Fruit flies like a Banana.

06-22-2009, 10:10 AM	#10 (permalink)
bigdog ******* bigdog's Photo Gallery** Location: Gainesville, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Frank Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2,003 BananaBucks : 750,913 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 213 Times Was Thanked 1,788 Times in 503 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 131 Times	Re: Australian Tree Fern We have been having "tree fern weather" in Knoxville for the entire month of June! Too bad I don't have one...it would love it right now. Raining again as I speak. In agree with Remko, Randy. It's probably a Cyathea cooperi. That's the most common Australian Tree Fern in the trade. Now, overwintering it...I'll refer to the others, lol. Let's see some banana pics!! Frank

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