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Florida Gardening garden

Australian tree fern

4 years ago

Anyone have any tips or hacks to grow an Australian tree fern in central Florida. I know They need some shade and lots of water. Mine is alive but it’s not growing I planted it last year and last year I got some bigger fronds and nothing but one tiny new growth. I water often what am I doing wrong

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Comments (2)

carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
4 years ago
I know there are number of them growing at Boyd Hill Nature preserve here in St. Pete - and for a very long time too. It's in the shady Hammock area near the edge of the lake with a high tree canopy that filters the sun.

Here's a some info from UF:

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp557
echobelly
4 years ago
I planted quite a few last year, they were relatively cheap at Home Depot. The ones in the ground in shady areas with irrigation died pretty quickly. The ones in pots did much better, to the point I had to transplant into the ground as they were getting too big, and brushing up against them to water left me itchy. They succumbed quickly after planting in the ground. Not a scientific study by far, but I don't think I'll attempt them again.
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I can't help you with the species...sorry. Is that snow in the last photo? If so I would think that was the problem. As far as I know tree ferns here do not grow where it snows in Aust. They like it much warmer, some will take some sun, but most grow better with some shade...unless you have a mild summer. Wind will damage the fronds, they also need a bit of water through summer, at least every other day if it is hot and breezy. Some folk in the warmer areas here use a cool drink bottle with a small hole in the lid. Fill up the bottle and upend it in the crown. No advice for snow...sorry.
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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.
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I read in Northern Gardener about a gardener who overwinters Australian tree ferns in his basement. Has anyone tried this with success?
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Wonderful, thanks.
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