Tree Ferns - The Secret Tree Fern Fertilizer?

14 years ago

Love Tree ferns of all varieties and have planted them by the dozen in the reserve behind along our street in Merewether, a coastal rainforest...

What is the best way to fertilize a tree fern?

Have tried manures, composts, chemicals and sprays with varying success, although nothing has been toxic. But there must be something that works best.

Is there a secret Tree Fern Fertilizer?

Here is a link that might be useful: Merewether-Life

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Comments (6)

funnelweb
14 years ago
I dunno if there's a secret fertiliser for ferns, tree ferns in particular, but for whatever and whenever I plant, including all natives - and I've a full natives' garden, including many ferns - I water in with a doze of seaweed fertiliser in the watering can. 'Seasol' is what I use. I understand it acts as a root hormone.
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greyim
14 years ago
Banana in the centre?No, seriously, any organic thing is good... B&B
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I lost my big beautiful tree fern to scale, which has now infected nearly every plant I have. I washed each leaf,stem, etc. with dish soapy water several times, finally started using some spray that is supposed to kill them but is more environement safe and I don't know yet if it is working. Scale and mites are the messiest bugs! Bad enough they kill the plant but in the process they produce this disgusting sticky substance that literally drips off the leaves! I remember finding a solution to your problem, take a cotton swab and dip into rubbing alcohol and touch each one. Unfortunately, you have a rather large infestation, so will take some effort to get that many. Do it at least once a week and they should start dying. good luck, I hope you can save yours. BTW do you have any starts of tree fern that I could trade you for? I would love to find one again. The nurseries here rarely have them.
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My Dicksonia spp. leaves turned brown with the freeze, but I left them to help protect the tree, and eventually cut them off. Are there any grass or other roots invading the trunk? If so, carefully cut them off, and keep them off. These ferns are heavy feeders, but I do not use chemical fertilizers. I use worm castings, washed seaweed (from the beach), composted manure, or manure 'tea' (either the water the composted manure has been sitting in, or the manure itself), or 'kitchen and leaf' compost as a dressing, with mulch. After several years, the mulch breaks down, adding to the compost. Don't let the mulch or compost touch the 'bark'. My tree fern is back and looks healthy...hope your's will be, soon. I don't know if these ferns have any diseases here, but it pays to be on the lookout.
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I think its a fern?? Maybe a Austrailian Tree fern?
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You might try the fern forum. This forum is for plants native to North America. You could also try the name that plant forum and that forum accepts small attachments.
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burchett_street
14 years ago
I adopted three tree ferns in Autumn this year and they are currently growing in pots. The grower suggested I fertilize fortnightly withMaxicrop. I have done so and they're all doing well.
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DawnMSM
13 years ago
Sorry if this strays off a bit, today I saw my first ever tree fern at a local garden center. It looked so sad and in need of a home of honest love I bought her. I did some searching before buying, however I can't find a basic answer:
Do I prune the dried and curled leaves? When and how is the best time and method? The tree is already about 2 1/2 feet tall with an equal spread. I will be keeping her indoors out of direct sunlight. Any other suggestions and advice is welcome.
Thank you,
Dawn
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tropicbreezent
13 years ago
There are many different species of tree fern that come from all sorts of different habitats. Do you have an ID for yours?

Some tree ferns drop their fronds soon after they dry off. Some retain the dead fronds for quite a while. As long as there's plenty of good fronds in the crown of the plant it does no harm to cut off the ones that are dying and looking bad.

As long as they have plenty of water some tree ferns can cope with full sun. But that's not all species. If you don't know the ID then stick with keeping it out of direct sunlight, or in filtered sun at most. Remember that indoors the air get's quite dry so the plant will appreciate a bit of misting.
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Ann6
12 years ago
Hello all:)
I learnt a good trick with tree ferns many years ago- fertilize with Maxicrop, Dynamic Lifter is good on the ground around them (not in the top) but only use 1/2 as much as you would use on other parts of the garden, and secret tip! each Winter put one tablespoon of sugar into the crown and water it in gently - this helps the crown to widen over the years and you get lots of lovely new fronds each year:). It works too!:)
Also, the thing tree ferns hate most is a North wind, it can dry out the fronds and wither them after 1 day of wind! They really thrive in a position sheltered from wind. Hope this helps:)
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Tree Ferns - The Secret Tree Fern Fertilizer?

Comments (6)

funnelweb

greyim

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burchett_street

DawnMSM

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