I agree that they are beautiful but also a challenge in the average home. I keep mine outside from about early April into the fall (depending on temperatures). This year it was outside well into December (and survived temperatures of about 28 F). Now I have it in a room crowed with palms and other ferns so it is quite humid. I know people will disagree with this--but I keep mine in a saucer which I try to keep filled with water. I disagree about letting them dry out. I have (repeatedly) found out the hard way that they have virtually NO tolerance for even remotely dry conditions. This time mine is surviving and growing!

thanks for the info, everyone. I've been giving it lots of drinks. It is less hot today and looking less sickly. hoovb, thanks for posting the photos of your beautiful trees. They are huge, and I wasn't aware they get that big. I'm pretty annoyed that my landscape designer would put it there knowing this gets big. Here's a wider shot of the front. As you can see, the fern tree is right next to the garage, so we have to back our car out right next to it. My car already sort of brushes up against it when I back out. I'm in agreement with you all it needs moved. Any thoughts on what we should replace it with? Something that has some height? The spot gets mostly shade/dappled sun.

Redwood sorral, ferns, hellabore, My redwood drops a lot of leaves, but the hellabore does well.

Yes, they do love humidity. They also drink water from the little hairs on the trunk. I have misters that spray up the trunks, they seem to grow quicker that way. It could well be that they dried a little in the heat.Though they dont have to have a lot of water [if you are short] they need dampness. Do you know which ones they are? Cyathea cooperi maybe? This would help, some like the heat more than others. Your feeding ideas sound perfect, they adore all that mulchy stuff.Sand is no worries with all those goodies added.I have heaps of them, lots of different ones. They are really beautiful arent they, I adore them. cheers L