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Gardening in the UK

My tree fern is not growing

gilliegreenfingers

16 years ago

I love my tree ferns and always cover in sacks from October onwards. But after the long snowy winter in the NW of England one of the ferns is clearly not happy. The crown is black in colour,though I can feel 'little bumps'. Is it just slow because of the cold or have I lost it?

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Comments (4)

vetivert8
16 years ago
Depending on which species you have, if the top has 'gone' it may sprout away from the side or even lower down. Give it time - months, in fact.

If it has gone, and your setting for it is suitable, you can use the remaining stem as a haven for other ferns and epiphytes.

(You're unlikely to want to do this but - near where I live there are gorse plants growing on still-live tree ferns and stretching their roots to reach true ground. There are others with perching plants, ferns, and indigenous trees such as rata which get their start in the ruggedness of the tree fern's bark. At home I have Zygocacti and bromeliads perching, too. They might not be quite the thing for the north of England but you may have hardy orchids and ferns that would be happy there.)

Hope it comes through for you.
fred franks
15 years ago
i have had tree fern for 6 years now last year was best over 2 m spread and trunk is about 18 inch high. gave it protection over winter,end of march took fleece off, gave it a watering, 2 weeks later same again,april now cut dead fronds offthis left top open, but i got no bumps.its may now and still no sign,watered it fed it, not waterlogged as i have great drainage for plant, i put polythene over it to see if anything happens, any ideas???
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vetivert8
14 years ago
Not so useful a link, unfortunately.

Dicksonia squarrosa and fibrosa may well sprout from further down. They'll resprout after being driven over and flattened by log haulers after clear-felling.

The Aussie Dicksonia hasn't, in all the time it's been in the garden. Nearly 30 years.

You might find that mulching with pine needles or bark chips could help. Apply lightly only.

In the bush there is an ongoing mulching effect from the overhead evergreen trees such as southern beeches, or Pinus radiata needles in the forestry areas where tree ferns grow thickly in the firebreaks and open gullies - sheltered, and open to good light.
pips
14 years ago
I have a 5' tree fern, span last year was 7'.
It is in theground and covered every year.
this year it has 8 nobules.
my troubl is that next door bamboo has penetrated my garden and
has got close to the fern .
I need to move the fern do I dig it up or will it take pulling out

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