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Randy4ut
05-25-2009, 11:16 AM
<TABLE border=0 width="90%"><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>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...

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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
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
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
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.