Thank you so much for this fantastic tutorial. My tree fern arrived a few days ago. I was about to order what I thought was a large pot to plant it in. I am so pleased to have googled and found your page. I've now ordered a 130litre black pot with handles, the correct compost and soil conditioner. I'm hoping to prepare the rest of the soil in my garden in the next couple of years so I can eventually plant it and get some more.
Hi Sophia, thank you very much and apologies for my delayed reply! Just catching up with comments and I’ve seen your post on Facebook just now. So happy to have helped and all the best with your lovely garden 😃
Love hearing your knowledge about the tree ferns. Mine is potted and have only taken the fleece from winter off a couple of weeks ago. We are having a rather hot spell this week and I am plying water to the crown a couple of times a day but when I touch the crown it feels dry rather than wet because I have been using quite a lot of water. There are only a couple of new frounds forming in the crown. I am worried if I may be watering too much. Regards Heather
Hi Heather and apologies for my delayed reply. Stunted or a lower amount of new fronds is likely to be related to a longer term lack of water or winter damage and I don't think overwatering is likely to be an issue from spring - autumn. You may find it keeps sending fronds out throughout the year now and hopefully it makes a full recovery but going forward I'd probably unwrap the trunk earlier (you can always keep the crown protected) and may water lower down the trunk more during winter and spring drier spells as yours may have got a bit too dry whilst wrapped up.
Bought a small stump from the TPTC yesterday after wanting one for years Just found this channel and love it Changed my thinking and will get it in the ground later
Hi, that’s great news on the tree fern and thanks! I appreciate you watching and personally, yes, I’d definitely get it in the ground (as you can probably guess after watching this vid). You might appreciate the tree fern care vid I did just before this one too.
@@2702simmo No worries. Some soil conditioner or farmyard manure as a mulch around it in winter will help too. In terms of depth, I’d say an inch or two should be fine for one that size then keep it well watered.
Another great video, George! I’ve only had one tree fern and, regrettably, I kept it in a pot and guess what, a cold winter killed it. Pot froze through I think. I’m too tight to buy one now given the current prices but if I get one in the future it’ll 100% be planted in the ground!
Your video is amazing by the way. Really helpful. I watched the tree fern care one, not the potted fern one so sorry if you've mentioned planting timing and I missed it
Thanks, I appreciate it and don't worry - I can't remember what I said in which vid to be honest! If you live in Cornwall etc. then I'd plant now, somewhere colder and I'd hang on.
Great video. I‘ve grown my tree ferns only in pots. Used wood humus very well rotted. And I feed them more one the heavier side. But weekly and weakly 😋
Thank you very much! That sounds like a great compromise, far better than multipurpose compost and the extra nutrients will keep them happier for longer 😃
Hello, interested in what you are using to feed the plant? I am growing one for the second time in Minnesota in USA. I have a very cold environment, so it will have to be in the house in the winter. Any info of fertilizing would be appreciated.
@@theweirdplantguy4873 I use fertilizer for all purposes and green plants (leaves), NPK is 8-8-6 but any kind of this ratio will do. I use less as recommended but with nearly all watering. In the crown over the steam. Happy growing!
Great video and information. I think you have just solved my tree fern problem. I have one that has been in same pot for years half buried in the ground. Still has all the fronds on from last year but no new growth. Been constantly watering it and feeding it it’s shaded under an Acer tree the croziers are there but just not appearing. Had the same problem a few years back and then they finally appeared in August. As you also mentioned the crown has narrowed too. Think the best thing tomorrow is plant it in the ground. Thank you for your advise. Just subscribed 👍
Thank you Tony! It might have already started rooting through the pot and into the ground but either way it’ll be a lot happier without the restriction, the more moisture the better 👍
Hi George, loving your channel and as a newbie to tropical plants wondered if you could help. We have recently bought two tree ferns largest being 3ft, they are going to be potted this year until summer next, was hoping to go for a large square planter for the largest but struggling to find plastic, would concrete or clay fibre be ok if I line and wrap the pot as well as the trunk for winter?
Hi and thank you very much! Yes, they'd be absolutely fine in those pots until next summer. You won't need huge pots for 6 months or so but a larger pot will take longer to dry out so not a bad choice. I wouldn't worry about wrapping the pot as such unless it's very cold but if you check out my video on tree fern winter care it should help with what I do to look after the plants in winter. I hope they grow well for you!
Hi George, thank you so much for advice, decided in the end to go with a big plastic one, just incase there are any delays in starting next years new bedding area project! Have watched your vids on potting and wintering tree ferns and they have been invaluable, thx again Keeley🌴
Hi. Great info thanks!! I've been using multi purpose feed, probably only three times this summer in total. I've just gone to feed this evening and noticed lots of tiny brilliant white mushroom like spores loosely growing around the base of the trunk. They feel squashy like a mushroom. Some growing out of the trunk near the base, but mostly they're clumped at the very bottom of the trunk base. It otherwise looks fantastic. Thanks for advice. Ps I will order fern feed.
Wow I’ve just found a treasure trove of info! Thankyou. I want to grow one of these as a houseplant, but I’m a bit scared to make the investment. Since they don’t grow as large or fast as house plants, I was planning to buy a short one in a 10 or 12 inch pot and immediately put it in a 16 or 20 inch self watering pot. I figure a self watering pot with a large reservoir would ensure it doesn’t dry out so quickly. However, the humidity is a concern as I live in NY where my apartment goes down to around 40% humidity most days. Can’t seem to get info from anyone on if these can sustain humidity that low as long as they’re given ample water. Would love your opinions on growing these as house plants if you have any!
Hi and thanks for watching. In all honesty I wouldn't really recommend them as a houseplant, they're definitely a fern that requires higher humidity as a lot of the roots are open to the air. I'm not saying it's impossible but they'd definitely need some kind of humidity modifications or the right location to keep them happy. They might grow a bit too big quickly but I believe some of the Cyatheas or Blechnums might be more tolerant of lower humidity?
Great video as always. I only kept my 2 initial tree ferns in a pot for 18 months. Did ok but the difference in the ground was incredible. By the end of this 2 week sunny periods hopefully you will have classy pink arms with the tan😂. Cheers mate
Hi George. I have just purchased my first 5ft tree fern from Trebah Gardens and super excited as I have been wanting one for years. All I have to do is now get it 200 miles home.. Your videos are just what I need so many thanks..Would you recommend leaving in the large container it came with over winter and then plant it out in the border next spring ?
Hi Steve and that's fantastic! Trebah is an amazing garden and it's great that you've got your own tree fern now. It's completely up to you, if it's potted it might be easier to move into a garage if it gets really cold this winter (if you really had to for a short spell) but equally it may be a good time to get it in the ground while the soil is still warm-ish and definitely wet. They root well during the cooler months. If it's not completely filled the pot with roots, if it's big enough and you can keep it watered during drier spells it'll definitely be fine in it until spring.
So pleased I came across this video! Very helpful. My tree fern is pot bound as I only have a paved garden. It has a four ft trunk but isn't producing very big fronds. I was going to repot into a 130-160 ltr pot but should I put some form of drainage in the bottom. I bought some clay pebbles for my agaves, so would my tree fern also benefit from these? If so what sort of ratio would you recommend. Thanks
Thanks, I’m pleased it was helpful! A 130-160lt pot definitely sounds like a good idea, that’s the size most of mine were in. I wouldn’t worry about the pebbles for drainage, the more room for soil the better! I actually used a blend of compost and soil improver (farmyard manure or mushroom compost) to pot mine up in, they help create a rich and moisture retentive mix that isn’t as heavy as a soil based blend.
Very interesting series of videos about your garden, and tree fern care. Having lived in NZ for some years I really, really, want at least one tree fern. But where to put it??? In a pot, to start with. I have a question. (It's maybe something you haven't done yet.) If I put it in the garden, and then a few years later move house, do you think I could cut off my tree fern, and replant the top? After all, that's how many logs are brought to the UK (and propagated in NZ). Do you reckon the cut-off base would also regrow? Does the trunk need to be a certain size to cope? Am also interested in where you live - are you near Leeds? Somewhere northern. Which side of the Pennines, might make a difference. Somerset (me) definitely warmer and often drier than further north.
Hi Hazel and thank you very much! They're lovely plants and I'm sure would be a great reminder of your time in NZ. As for your question, yes, you could potentially do that. They can be bought as 1ft / 30cm trunks here so I imagine even that size would be fine. I know somebody who did it with some large trunks as the root system gets incredibly dense and solid making moving them conventionally very tricky. Personally though, I'd aways try to get as much root as possible, just because they can do it, doesn't mean it's necessarily the best thing for the plant long term. As for me, I'm in North Lincolnshire, not far from Scunthorpe. Drier than the West side but still not quite as dry as East Anglia. I imagine you see more heat than us usually although the hottest temperatures last year weren't far away from us so who knows what unusual patterns and extremes this year will bring!
It's my favourite plant just moved one off the ones iv had in the garden for 6 years the root ball was massive will it stunt its growth iv cut the root ball in harf was two big it was fantastic
Hi George. Thank you for your wonderful videos. You mentioned bringing your tree ferns from your old house? I am moving soon and would like to do the same. One is around 3 foot and the other 6ft. They are in the ground. Can you give me any info on how best to do this please. How deep do I need to dig and how much around them? Should I pot them or will they be ok as they are? If I don't need to pot them how long will they be ok out of the ground. They seem so happy where they are and my new house is sandy which is worrying. Any tips for the move would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks
Hi Leslie and thank you. Hopefully there’s part of the new garden which is a bit damper or at least where you can improve the soil so they can settle in well again long term. You might find they’re very well rooted into the ground and raid a lot of digging to get out. Most of mine were in pots but I definitely had my hands full getting some out of the ground too. That said, I’d definitely try it. If you can at least stand the rootball (whatever size you can get out and move) into the base of a pot and cover it with soil it’ll buy some time for you. The main tips I’d say are not to do it when it’s very hot or just before a hot spell but crucially keep them well watered throughout, maybe spraying them down twice a day. The less shock they get, the faster they’ll settle in. Good luck with the move 😃
Hi George, great video and very informative. My Tree ferns x 6 are all in pots and are around the 3-5 years mark in pots. There is a covenant on my house which states no planting of trees. Hence they are in pots. I believe this could be due to a sewer pipe running through my terraced house garden serving 3 other houses and the possible root invasion affecting it🤷 However, I believe the roots on tree ferns are not that invasive but are dense. So I am thinking would raised beds be a option to help them out? Albeit knowing the roots would eventually to go into the ground. I appreciate this may be a difficult one to answer but your thoughts would be appreciated. Alan
Hi Alan and thank you very much. You are correct in that the roots are dense but not invasive in terms of getting larger and breaking into areas. They're not technically a tree anyway to be pedantic with the covenant but yeah, it's probably not worth the hassle of dealing with any potential issues so yes, a low raised bed would be a good compromise. I wouldn't usually suggest a raised bed for moisture loving plants but given the circumstances I'd say it would be better than just keeping them in the same pots for longer. Keep up the watering, make the raised bed wide enough, use a organic material rich mix and ideally mulch and I'm sure they'll grow well for you.
What a great and helpful vid. I am just starting with 3 tree ferns and your tips on soil + manure + nutrients, chicken pellets etc. have been very helpful. In winter I will water them but they will have to survive 3 weeks while I'm away. I have them in a glass house now ( just a week) , should I take them into the garage while I'm away ?.....just to reduce the moisture evaporation?
Thank you very much Richard. If there was no risk of severe cold, they’d definitely be happier outside in the damper air than in a glass house or a garage without regular watering. It’s hard to say without knowing what the weather will be like but I’d probably choose the garage if pushed, like you say, a greenhouse will potentially get hotter and drier if there’s more sunny days.
@@richardkeane2308 Potentially, yes. They'd still be happier outside somewhere sheltered if there's no deep cold forecast, they'd rather be in damp cool air than dry inside. But yes, if you're going away, maybe sat in your garage in a tray with a bit of water in is the best compromise.
Hi George just found your channel today - it's fantastic! You're definitely the go-to guy for tree fern advice, so here I go. I bought one last year and it did brilliantly (it's in a large black plastic container). For winter I stuffed the crown well with straw, tied the fronds up and wrapped it well with 2 layers of fine fleece and a fleece tie-string bag. I did mulch around the top of the container also beforehand but now I'm wondering if I should have watered it every now and then. I was told I wouldn't have to touch it again until Spring/last frosts when I can take everything off. Do you think it will be ok? I looked after it so well I'm afraid of what I might see when I uncover it? What should I look out for and how will I know if it's done ok over the winter. I'm in Dublin, Ireland so similar weather to the UK. When is the best time to remove fleeces? Sorry for the long post but I'm beginning to panic 😲 and many thanks for all your videos (Tina)
Hi Tina and thank you very much! I don't know everything but I try and help with what I can. Don't panic, in Dublin you get a lot more rain than other areas of the UK so I'm sure it'll be fine. It's worth pushing your finger into the compost every month or so to make sure it's not drying out as container planted ferns especially can dry out quickly. As we head into spring you certainly want to up the watering slightly more. As for the fleece removal, I'd remove it once the risk of severe subzero cold is over but leave a ball of fleece or some straw in the crown for a while yet. I hope it grows even better for you this year!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Many thanks George for the speedy reply and I will check on it tomorrow so fingers crossed 🤞looking forward to seeing more of your videos. Thank you again (Tina)
Hi George, I have just bought a tree fern (3 foot) I am putting it in a pot for now as we are moving house next month. How many inches should I plant it in the pot? Love your channel! 😀
Hi Mark and thanks! Nice one. I’d put a couple of inches into the soil just to keep it moist then maybe wedge it in with some wood or rocks (or something lighter with you moving!). The key is to keep it well watered, especially now it’s warming up a bit. Good luck with the move 😃
I think the best tree fern to grow in pots is a silver lady tree fern. They are a dwarf verity of tree ferns that are better for people who live more up north in zones 6 who would really struggle growing them. And since they are dwarf verity of ferns they seem to grow just fine in pots.
That’s a great suggestion, I’ve seen some lovely looking potted ones and like you say they’re definitely more suited to pot culture being a dwarf variety. I might have to give one a go when I get a proper greenhouse!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden trust me man I got one and it even took some snow lately and still being a champ. Best tree fern I ever owned. And since there small great to just have by a window! Can't go wrong with the guy. Maybe I need to do a video on it myself get it out there more ! And thank you for your reply back looking forward to seeing more videos from you!
@@thegreenthumb6184 Fantastic, go for it! It’s well worth making videos on the plants you’re passionate about and believe should be more widely grown. I appreciate the support, I’ve got loads of videos planned for this spring!
HiGeorge, I’m interested in how you transported your 8’ tree fern to new house. I have a monster fern I wish to move in the garden, but it’s way too heavy for me to move, any advice would be appreciated…..
Hi, unfortuately the answer is just hard graft! I used to strength train and compete in strongman so whilst my 8' ferns in 160lt pots were heavy, I was a good bit stronger then! I'd definitely try to see if you could get some people to help, maybe do it in autumn so it's cooler for both the plant and the lucky assistants!
George I brought a tree fern last yr from palm company, fantastic foliage last yr I planted it in a half wooden beer barrel I noticed early on in the year the barrel was full of water I emptied it out drill holes in but so far this year I have no fronds showing s yet is my fern dead? Edd.
Hi Edd and apologies for my delayed reply. Firstly, yes, even with the majority of plants that enjoy moisture I’d still drill holes for drainage to avoid creating a stagnant anaerobic mix and dead roots. It’s still early days for the new ones to appear (it’s been a cold winter, cool spring so far and yours is a new trunk) but I’d be hopeful you’ll see some new knuckles appearing soon. How did you protect it and what minimum temperatures did you see in winter?
@@GeorgesJungleGarden George thanks for the reply , unfortunately I didn’t use any protection as it’s surrounded by other trees next to a covered pogola , temperatures here never went below -2 -4 🙁
@@eddiefinney8509 That definitely sounds survivable and sheltered then, hopefully some knuckles appear soon, mine are at varying stages of development this year.
Hi, I wonder if you can help. Last year I planted two more tree ferns of 5 or 6ft high, (2m). I only planted them about 4", (100mm) deep but staked them to keep them stable. They're in damp ground in a tree shaded area in Cornwall, which is pretty wet all the time. How quickly will they be well enough rooted so that I can take the stakes away? Any guesses? I was thinking end of this summer.🤔
Hi Ted, it depends when you planted them last year really I suppose, I think they root best when it’s cool and wetter. I’d probably say they’ll be solid by the end of summer but personally I’d give them til this time next year, that way they have the support when they’re likely to need it and will certainly be secure. If the stakes are visually distracting then you may get away with removing them at the end of summer though, just give the trunk a little wobble to make sure.
just for reference. i bought a 2ft tree fern from b&q in may 2021, i removed it from the pot snd gained another 30cm of trunk. i placed this ontop of a new fresh pot of soil. staked it in place and kept it well watered. i removed it from the pot today, and the roots had reached the bottom of a 15l pot. i was surprised how quickly the roots had established
Nice one Steve! Personally I’d go less than that, maybe 50cm? I used to use rocks to wedge it into the pot while it roots so there’s no point losing too much trunk height.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden thank you so much for taking the time to reply much appreciated your videos are helping massively, I’ve got a NE facing Suffolk garden your help tips advice is so helpful.
Hi Phil, they are pretty close to the surface abc they do spread to create a thick blanket. My recommendations would be to get any other close plants in at the same time as the fern so they have chance to get their roots down and also choose woodland ferns etc that are used to coping in a competitive and root filled environment.
Thanks Edd! What kind of plants are you after? A lot of the usual places are really struggling for stock this year but I might be able to point you in the right direction!
Not actually a question on tree ferns but hoping you may be able to help . I have a beautiful large yucca that has developed black spot 😕 I’ve read the only way to get rid of it is to cut down all the leaves with spots on but that would leave me with nothing . Have you ever had this or know of something else I can try . It’s dug into a flower bed and is a focal point so really don’t want to chop it down altogether . Hoping you can help 😊
Hi, I’m sure I’ve read about it being a fungal issue potentially caused by the wet winter and spores splashing up from the soil. Unless it’s a complete mess I’d be tempted to leave it now that it’s warming up, any green will help put energy into putting new healthy leaves out then maybe give it a tidy up lower down later in the year.
Hi George, I'm wanting to buy a fern this weekend and would prefer it to be in the ground, I'm in a rented property so was wondering when the time came would it not be possible to just chainsaw it at ground level instead of trying to dig it up?
Hi Miley, you could do but it will set the plant back a bit, personally I'd always try to dig up as much as physically possible if they've only been in the ground a few years. Any more and the chainsaw might be the only option though.
Thank you for taking the time to reply I will give it some thought! And the new video is grate, I must say I've watched the previous video about 4 times 🤣
Hi George I bought a tree fern a few months ago it’s coming on good but there’s only 5 fonds growing is this normal I was hoping for a lot more thanks in advance
Hi Steve, some trunks can be quite variable and all respond differently to the harvesting / transportation process. One of mine started off with only 5 or 6 fronds last year but there's definitely more this year. Keep up the watering and don't trim the fronds off before next spring and I'm sure it'll perform better for you next year.
Hi Becky, you could plant it now and in some respects it's a great time with the rain and residual warmth in the soil. The issue is that a tree fern in the ground is harder to protect if there is a proper hard freeze forecast whereas the potted one could be dragged closer to your house or moved into a garage etc if that happened. Personally, with it already being in a pot and getting rooted in there, I'd keep it in a pot closer to the house now then plant it out next April time.
No problem, good luck with it! If mine end up half as good as the ones I saw at Simon Olpin's garden I went to a few vids ago (somewhere near the end of the vid) I'll be incredibly happy - they really are the most amazing plants!
Great information on tree ferns, thank you. My tree fern is suffering from lack of consistent care because of a couple of house moves. How can I rejuvenate it please? It is in a large pot and has to stay in there for a few months. This year it has not put out any fronds yet although there are the nubbins of new growth in the crown. Can I cut the trunk and start again? Hope you can help.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Hi George, no problem about the late reply😎. Okay I will keep on watering with occasional feed and see what happens. They seem to be very resilient. I potted up a one footer trunk rescued from a garden centre skip, and a couple years later it started new growths from the base. I heard someone once say that a dead trunk can be restarted by cutting the trunk or a new baby tree fern planted back on top of the trunk…🤞my large tree fern makes it. Thanks George, have a great day.
HELP please! George, fabulous videos on tree ferns, thanks. My son has gifted me 2 tree ferns, they are immature without a trunk, the 'trunk' is about the size of a small coffee mug. They are in small pots. They are from the palm tree company. I am an avid gardener and a kiwi girl, so my son thought he would bring a little NZ to me. -no pressure, well i'm in a panic. We are in the peak district and a 1000 feet above sea level and well above the snow line.... also exposed. I am thinking of replanting now into bigger pots then planting out in a sheltered spot, but is a pot better with an immature trunk? Then I can move it into the shed when it snows and frosts, I wrap already a few of my small trees and shrubs. but its too small a crown to wrap,? how long until the trunk will mature? Many thanks, any thoughts will be gratefully received!
Hi Gillian, thank you and congratulations on your tree fern gifts! I would probably do what you say, pot them up then probably again in a year or two then choose a sheltered spot in the ground for them. The trunks grow slowly but definitely form a bit every year on small plants, maybe an inch or two a year and much bigger fronds with care. I generally put straw, fleece and an upturned pot over my small ones in winter, as they’re pushing out new fronds one at a time they’re vulnerable to frosting off but if they’re in pots you can always move them into a garage etc if there’s an extended freeze forecast.
Thanks George. I'll do this, they have large fronds on them, should I keep them on through winter and just balance a pot over the centre. Build up the inside with straw and around the crown, or should I wrap the fronds and the little base, pegging the frost cover into the soil? What's your thoughts please? Many thanks.
Thank you for all your videos, I've just received a 2 ft Dicksonia from the palm company, I'm planning on putting it in an pot initially but after your advice will try and find a spot in the garden. My fern looks healthy but I can see no leaves.Should I be worried about planting it at this time of year?
Personally I’d keep it close to the house as sometimes the new trunks can flush out of rhythm with our seasons and be vulnerable to frosts. If you’ve got somewhere sheltered that’ll help and you could always sit it in a pot with a few inches of compost in the bottom. Keep it moist while it’s mild and out some dry leaves/ straw / fleece in the crown and it should be just fine. Then I’d plant it out in spring. It would most likely be OK now but sometimes they just grow as a response to not being in a container and it would be a shame to lose the fronds.
Hi Tatiana and thank you very much! To be honest they’re so slow growing and require specific conditions so here in the UK they’re not invasive. There’s only some places in Ireland and Cornwall where they’ve naturalised but it’s a very slow process! In warmer climates other varieties of tree fern like Cyathea can be invasive though as they grow and spread much faster with the warmer temperatures.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden thank you so much for the prompt reply. How far from a wall would you advise to plant it and which non-invasive tropical plants would you suggest to plant under the tree at the same time?
@@tatianapletosu9344 Hi, it’s completely up to you how far you’d like to plant it but I suppose it depends on the look you’re going for and how dry the soil is close to the wall. As for companion plants, I generally look to tough woodland plants that thrive in shade, can compete with the tree fern roots and also have the same vibe - other ferns etc. Again it completely depends on the look you want and conditions in your garden but there’s a lot of options!
Great video, thank you so much for all the informations. I just ordered two trunks 3 and 5f. from The palm tree company. Because winter is coming I am planning growing them in the pots as I need to replace my fence first next year and then I will move them to the ground. Would you be able to tell me where from you get your big plastic pots with handles please? Thank you 😊
Hi and thank you! Excellent, that's exciting! I got all my pots off Ebay orginally, if you search for 'heavy duty black pot handles' it should bring them up. Good luck with your ferns!
Hi George.l have 2 tree ferns with trunks about 5ft high.l have them in terracotta pots which both fell over and where badly cracked.l have just bought 2 130 ltr black plastic pots with handles but lm worried about repotting them as they both have lots of beautiful fronds on now.Can l safetly repot them now.
Hi Sylvia and apologies for my delayed reply. Sorry to hear you pots got damaged and good choice on the black plastic pots with handles. I'd say you can repot them now as in theory you're not going to be damaging the root system as such, just giving it more room. Plenty of water afterwards will help them settle in.
How do you mean, sorry? I bought it in a 10lt pot, they grow quickly and it would probably be 3 times the size of it had been in the ground somewhere without cold winters!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden simple question , « when do you bought the Cyathea medullaris ? » , to compare with the size in the video to imagine the growth rate (Through the size when you bought ,without trunk i suppose, and now the image in the video)
@@valougame3175 Sorry, yes, that pic was taken this time last year, and I bought the fern in July 2017 so that’s 3 years from a 10lt plant just starting to trunk to a 160lt pot with a small trunk. Had it not been defoliated in 2018 winter I think I’m sure it would have grown much faster.
Hi Lisa and thanks for the feedback. This was one of the earlier vids on my channel, it definitely takes time and practice to keep working on and improving them. If you check out some of my more recent vids hopefully you’ll see how things have evolved!
thank you for this video!! i live in the US, in san diego CA (sub-tropical area) zone 9 or 10 i believe, and i bought a free fern late last year that i plan on eventually putting in the ground. However i have CLAY based soil out here and im not sure how well it would do! I tried planting another one that i had before and it just withered and died = (. This newer one ive managed to keep alive somehow with frequent watering, decent soil, and its in a large 20 gal. pot but i know that it will need to be either planted in the ground soon or re-potted into an even bigger pot (which can be costly here). its now getting into fall here and idk when is the best time to plant it in the ground? or if i should just continue to care for it in its current pot and wait until next spring to try. any input would be great thanks!!
Hi, I don’t know a lot about your location and zone but personally I’d plant it now so it’s got a cooler, wetter winter to settle in - here they seem to root well over winter. You’ll need to add a lot of organic matter to your soil as they won’t root into clay very well though, their roots don’t like it. I have got a video looking at tree fern care in more detail but I suspect you may need to water it more frequently for success in your warmer climate.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden ohhhh ok Great! Thank you so much I will take a look and get my husband to help me to dig a huge hole for it!! Hahaha you earned a new subscriber today!!! ; )
@GeorgesJungleGarden Dang!!! That sucks...I live in Oklahoma and was hoping that that one could have a chance outside. The pattern of the trunk looks so cool!!!
It’s a bit frustrating but that’s the reality without heated protection I think! It really depends on your winter lows and the duration of any freezes otherwise but they’re certainly cool plants for sure!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden awesome videos bro keep up the good work I'm binge watching a few of them right now LOL so you're getting plenty of likes right now
Hi, The Palm Tree Company had a great batch but sold out in a couple of hours, there’s other garden centres but unfortunately prices are very variable! Sorry I can’t help much, a lot of places are out of stock this year...
Hi George , i am looking for a bit of advice , one of my tree ferns Dicksonia has some very small mushrooms growning near the top of the trunk,is this something i need to be concerned about or have you seen this before on any of your own ferns, Thanks Matt
Hi Matt, personally I wouldn't worry and they're likely living off decaying plant matter rather than the live plant - I have some on my Chamaerops palm currently. As long as the tree fern is healthy and there's not loads of them - I'd take it as a sign that you're giving the tree fern the conditions that it (and unfortunately mushrooms) like!
Hi, I’ve got one and had a larger one before. They’re very fast growing for sure and nice palms but unfortunately only really considered hardy in central London etc and maybe a few other areas in the UK with protection, a cold winter and they’d really struggle anywhere else here unfortunately...
I bought a what I thought was a small double trunker a few years ago. I’ve trimmed off the damaged leaves and realised there is actually four growing. Do you have any experience with splitting them?
I managed to get a 3.5ft and 4ft pot grown pair from The Palm Tree Company, literally cannot wait for them to arrive. Also, I got bored of Friends, Max was wise to visit his dad and help make a video instead
Amazing, that’s great! I’m excited for you! It’s probably the perfect time to get them this year, I’m glad you managed to get a couple. Haha I don’t know about help but he needed to escape 😂
Very informative video! Subscribed :) I'm looking to get a small-ish Dicksonia tree fern as a temporary indoors plant, but can't decide on the species. I've heard that D. fibrosa tends to be smaller and more compact than D. antarctica (so more space friendly), but are less hardy and can easily narrow in trunk size. What are your views on this matter?
Hi Ronald and thank you very much. Personally I wouldn't grow any of them as an indoors plant - most of the Dicksonia and Cyathea species are large (well, very large for houseplants I guess). The main issue is that they wouldn't enjoy the lack of humidity so would need regular misting etc., it depends how temporary you're meaning but I would have thought any would narrow in trunk size when kept in a pot and in suboptimal conditions for any length of time unfortunately.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden I planned on getting either a 1ft trunk for D. antarctica, or a 5L potter for D. fibrosa (since affordable trunked fibrosas are basically unheard of). I was originally counting on their slow growth rate to last me at least a year or two indoors as a statement plant, given how impressive their fronds get. You bring up a good point about humidity though. Daily mistings and waterings are a given no doubt about that, but now I wonder if even that'll be enough to meet it's humidity requirements.
@@nonono-f6y Oh right. Personally I’d try the potter or a very young plant as it would be harder to keep a plant with an existing trunk happy and humid. I think it really depends on where you’re growing it and how dry the air is to be honest.
My tree fern was outside in a high place, unprotected when the weather suddenly went down to well below zero, with snow, for 3 to 4 days. I was sick in bed so couldn't protect it. When spring came, no new growth and i though it was dead. But then amazingly, in July out came s little frond! It survived!!! It came with me to Spain and 4 years later it's still doing fine, completely recovered from its ordeal.
Hard to give an exact temperature but I generally protect the crown below freezing and the upper foot of trunk when it’s -3 or below. I think duration of cold is as big a factor as the absolute low hit though.
@@denisesorchidparadise1411 Absolute cold would kill it, maybe -8 to -10 for a couple of nights. But equally a week that barely got above freezing with -5 or so every night would be tricky too. Crown rot is less of an issue, the only reason I don’t water directly into the crown when it’s cold is that the water may freeze solid deep in the crown.
Just found your channel I've just ordered my first dicksonia fern, I want to grow it in a pot first as I'm uncertain were I want to put it were did you buy the black plastic pots with handles from and great channel will be watching more
Thank you very much and apologies for my delayed reply. Nothing wrong with getting them established in pots at all. If you go on EBay and search for heavy duty black pots with handles they should come up, I think the brands I got were Oakland and then Elixir.
Hi, I’m just about to buy 2 5ft tree ferns and put them in the ground. Do I water them every day? If so, what size watering can should I use? Is it directly into the crown? Then do I soak the trunk in addition as well? I’m confused and don’t want to over or under water them..Sue
Hi Sue, personally I’d water them every day it doesn’t rain. The amount doesn’t need to be scientific, it depends on your soil and how much sun / wind the fern gets but you won’t overwater it when it’s warm so no need to worry. Just give the whole trunk and crown a good soaking or a full watering can, if you’re using a hose then a 30 sec spray should be fine.
Thank you very much and yes, you'll notice my videos over time have (hopefully!) improved and incorporated more visual content. I only got my camera and started my channel this year (after planting most of my tree ferns last year) so only had a few pics to actually link into this one. This was more a vid about my experiences which will hopefully help others rather than all being tangible points that I could easily demonstrate but if it was a more practical video I'd certainly try to show what I was explaining. Thanks for the feedback and if there's any specific bits I talked about and didn't show that you'd like more clarity on then please let me know.
Maybe a tip... why not show us in stead of just talking about it. It's a bit boring to follow competely. Especially when you're not a native english speaker :) I bet your tips are very helpfull. We bought a small one last year, took it inside over the winter. Now the new leaves are still not coming out...hope it's not completely dead
Hi and thanks for the feedback. This is one of my earlier videos and in all honesty, when you're new to making videos, your knowledge and words are where you have to start. Hopefully my style has evolved since then and I do try to show more now I've accumulated more footage and confidence. I appreciate your kind words and hope your tree fern makes a full recovery.
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Excellent tutorial George. You have answered all my queries in one video with regards to the 1st tree fern I have just bought. Thank you.
Excellent, thank you very much and I'm pleased to have helped!
Thank you so much for this fantastic tutorial. My tree fern arrived a few days ago. I was about to order what I thought was a large pot to plant it in. I am so pleased to have googled and found your page. I've now ordered a 130litre black pot with handles, the correct compost and soil conditioner. I'm hoping to prepare the rest of the soil in my garden in the next couple of years so I can eventually plant it and get some more.
Hi Sophia, thank you very much and apologies for my delayed reply! Just catching up with comments and I’ve seen your post on Facebook just now. So happy to have helped and all the best with your lovely garden 😃
I so glad I found this channel. Lots of good information present in a great way.
Thanks, that’s very kind of you! 😃
Love hearing your knowledge about the tree ferns. Mine is potted and have only taken the fleece from winter off a couple of weeks ago. We are having a rather hot spell this week and I am plying water to the crown a couple of times a day but when I touch the crown it feels dry rather than wet because I have been using quite a lot of water. There are only a couple of new frounds forming in the crown. I am worried if I may be watering too much. Regards Heather
Hi Heather and apologies for my delayed reply. Stunted or a lower amount of new fronds is likely to be related to a longer term lack of water or winter damage and I don't think overwatering is likely to be an issue from spring - autumn. You may find it keeps sending fronds out throughout the year now and hopefully it makes a full recovery but going forward I'd probably unwrap the trunk earlier (you can always keep the crown protected) and may water lower down the trunk more during winter and spring drier spells as yours may have got a bit too dry whilst wrapped up.
Bought a small stump from the TPTC yesterday after wanting one for years
Just found this channel and love it
Changed my thinking and will get it in the ground later
Hi, that’s great news on the tree fern and thanks! I appreciate you watching and personally, yes, I’d definitely get it in the ground (as you can probably guess after watching this vid). You might appreciate the tree fern care vid I did just before this one too.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden I’ll check it out 👍
@@2702simmo No worries, nice TVR by the way!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden cheers pal
Bought some John innes no 3 to add to the area I’ll plant
How many inches in should I put it?
@@2702simmo No worries. Some soil conditioner or farmyard manure as a mulch around it in winter will help too. In terms of depth, I’d say an inch or two should be fine for one that size then keep it well watered.
the rough trunk of tree ferns is perfect for growing mosses, air plants and smaller ferns.
It is indeed, I’m going to have some air plants in the garden at some point! I’d love it if my tree ferns develop mossy trunks 😃
Orchids too
@@ubself Interesting 😃
Great tips ,thanks George really enjoyed
Thank you very much Trisha, I'm pleased you enjoyed the video!
Thank you for your invaluable and detailed information. greeting from Rome.
Thank you very much for watching and all the best!
Another great video, George! I’ve only had one tree fern and, regrettably, I kept it in a pot and guess what, a cold winter killed it. Pot froze through I think. I’m too tight to buy one now given the current prices but if I get one in the future it’ll 100% be planted in the ground!
Thanks! Sorry to hear that and I know what you mean about current prices! That’s great, I’m sure it’ll thank you for it!
Your video is amazing by the way. Really helpful. I watched the tree fern care one, not the potted fern one so sorry if you've mentioned planting timing and I missed it
Thanks, I appreciate it and don't worry - I can't remember what I said in which vid to be honest! If you live in Cornwall etc. then I'd plant now, somewhere colder and I'd hang on.
Great video. I‘ve grown my tree ferns only in pots. Used wood humus very well rotted. And I feed them more one the heavier side. But weekly and weakly 😋
Thank you very much! That sounds like a great compromise, far better than multipurpose compost and the extra nutrients will keep them happier for longer 😃
Hello, interested in what you are using to feed the plant? I am growing one for the second time in Minnesota in USA. I have a very cold environment, so it will have to be in the house in the winter. Any info of fertilizing would be appreciated.
@@theweirdplantguy4873 I use fertilizer for all purposes and green plants (leaves), NPK is 8-8-6 but any kind of this ratio will do. I use less as recommended but with nearly all watering. In the crown over the steam. Happy growing!
@@r.b.8061 hello, thank you for responding. Thanks for the advice on fertilizing.
Great video and information. I think you have just solved my tree fern problem. I have one that has been in same pot for years half buried in the ground. Still has all the fronds on from last year but no new growth. Been constantly watering it and feeding it it’s shaded under an Acer tree the croziers are there but just not appearing. Had the same problem a few years back and then they finally appeared in August. As you also mentioned the crown has narrowed too. Think the best thing tomorrow is plant it in the ground. Thank you for your advise. Just subscribed 👍
Thank you Tony! It might have already started rooting through the pot and into the ground but either way it’ll be a lot happier without the restriction, the more moisture the better 👍
Hi George, loving your channel and as a newbie to tropical plants wondered if you could help. We have recently bought two tree ferns largest being 3ft, they are going to be potted this year until summer next, was hoping to go
for a large square planter for the largest but struggling to find plastic, would concrete or clay fibre be ok if I line and wrap the pot as well as the trunk for winter?
Hi and thank you very much! Yes, they'd be absolutely fine in those pots until next summer. You won't need huge pots for 6 months or so but a larger pot will take longer to dry out so not a bad choice. I wouldn't worry about wrapping the pot as such unless it's very cold but if you check out my video on tree fern winter care it should help with what I do to look after the plants in winter. I hope they grow well for you!
Hi George, thank you so much for advice, decided in the end to go with a big plastic one, just incase there are any delays in starting next years new bedding area project! Have watched your vids on potting and wintering tree ferns and they have been invaluable, thx again Keeley🌴
Hi. Great info thanks!! I've been using multi purpose feed, probably only three times this summer in total. I've just gone to feed this evening and noticed lots of tiny brilliant white mushroom like spores loosely growing around the base of the trunk. They feel squashy like a mushroom. Some growing out of the trunk near the base, but mostly they're clumped at the very bottom of the trunk base. It otherwise looks fantastic. Thanks for advice. Ps I will order fern feed.
Cheers George, thanks for another great video
Thanks Barry 😃
Wow I’ve just found a treasure trove of info! Thankyou. I want to grow one of these as a houseplant, but I’m a bit scared to make the investment. Since they don’t grow as large or fast as house plants, I was planning to buy a short one in a 10 or 12 inch pot and immediately put it in a 16 or 20 inch self watering pot. I figure a self watering pot with a large reservoir would ensure it doesn’t dry out so quickly. However, the humidity is a concern as I live in NY where my apartment goes down to around 40% humidity most days. Can’t seem to get info from anyone on if these can sustain humidity that low as long as they’re given ample water. Would love your opinions on growing these as house plants if you have any!
Hi and thanks for watching. In all honesty I wouldn't really recommend them as a houseplant, they're definitely a fern that requires higher humidity as a lot of the roots are open to the air. I'm not saying it's impossible but they'd definitely need some kind of humidity modifications or the right location to keep them happy. They might grow a bit too big quickly but I believe some of the Cyatheas or Blechnums might be more tolerant of lower humidity?
Great video as always. I only kept my 2 initial tree ferns in a pot for 18 months. Did ok but the difference in the ground was incredible.
By the end of this 2 week sunny periods hopefully you will have classy pink arms with the tan😂. Cheers mate
Thanks! They’re so much better in the ground for sure. Haha back at work now and certainly rocking the farmer tan! 😂
Hi George. I have just purchased my first 5ft tree fern from Trebah Gardens and super excited as I have been wanting one for years. All I have to do is now get it 200 miles home.. Your videos are just what I need so many thanks..Would you recommend leaving in the large container it came with over winter and then plant it out in the border next spring ?
Hi Steve and that's fantastic! Trebah is an amazing garden and it's great that you've got your own tree fern now. It's completely up to you, if it's potted it might be easier to move into a garage if it gets really cold this winter (if you really had to for a short spell) but equally it may be a good time to get it in the ground while the soil is still warm-ish and definitely wet. They root well during the cooler months. If it's not completely filled the pot with roots, if it's big enough and you can keep it watered during drier spells it'll definitely be fine in it until spring.
So pleased I came across this video! Very helpful. My tree fern is pot bound as I only have a paved garden. It has a four ft trunk but isn't producing very big fronds. I was going to repot into a 130-160 ltr pot but should I put some form of drainage in the bottom. I bought some clay pebbles for my agaves, so would my tree fern also benefit from these? If so what sort of ratio would you recommend. Thanks
Thanks, I’m pleased it was helpful! A 130-160lt pot definitely sounds like a good idea, that’s the size most of mine were in. I wouldn’t worry about the pebbles for drainage, the more room for soil the better! I actually used a blend of compost and soil improver (farmyard manure or mushroom compost) to pot mine up in, they help create a rich and moisture retentive mix that isn’t as heavy as a soil based blend.
Very interesting series of videos about your garden, and tree fern care. Having lived in NZ for some years I really, really, want at least one tree fern. But where to put it??? In a pot, to start with.
I have a question. (It's maybe something you haven't done yet.) If I put it in the garden, and then a few years later move house, do you think I could cut off my tree fern, and replant the top? After all, that's how many logs are brought to the UK (and propagated in NZ). Do you reckon the cut-off base would also regrow? Does the trunk need to be a certain size to cope?
Am also interested in where you live - are you near Leeds? Somewhere northern. Which side of the Pennines, might make a difference. Somerset (me) definitely warmer and often drier than further north.
Hi Hazel and thank you very much! They're lovely plants and I'm sure would be a great reminder of your time in NZ. As for your question, yes, you could potentially do that. They can be bought as 1ft / 30cm trunks here so I imagine even that size would be fine. I know somebody who did it with some large trunks as the root system gets incredibly dense and solid making moving them conventionally very tricky. Personally though, I'd aways try to get as much root as possible, just because they can do it, doesn't mean it's necessarily the best thing for the plant long term.
As for me, I'm in North Lincolnshire, not far from Scunthorpe. Drier than the West side but still not quite as dry as East Anglia. I imagine you see more heat than us usually although the hottest temperatures last year weren't far away from us so who knows what unusual patterns and extremes this year will bring!
It's my favourite plant just moved one off the ones iv had in the garden for 6 years the root ball was massive will it stunt its growth iv cut the root ball in harf was two big it was fantastic
Hi Steve, I bet it was! It’ll probably sulk for a bit like any plant but should bounce back, keep on chucking the water on it!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden yes bud will do this wether will help sorry can't get down soon work camitments we work shifts
@@steverichardson4374 No worries Steve, it’s fine, we’ll sort it out! 👍
Hi George. Thank you for your wonderful videos. You mentioned bringing your tree ferns from your old house? I am moving soon and would like to do the same. One is around 3 foot and the other 6ft. They are in the ground. Can you give me any info on how best to do this please. How deep do I need to dig and how much around them? Should I pot them or will they be ok as they are? If I don't need to pot them how long will they be ok out of the ground. They seem so happy where they are and my new house is sandy which is worrying. Any tips for the move would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks
Hi Leslie and thank you. Hopefully there’s part of the new garden which is a bit damper or at least where you can improve the soil so they can settle in well again long term. You might find they’re very well rooted into the ground and raid a lot of digging to get out. Most of mine were in pots but I definitely had my hands full getting some out of the ground too. That said, I’d definitely try it. If you can at least stand the rootball (whatever size you can get out and move) into the base of a pot and cover it with soil it’ll buy some time for you. The main tips I’d say are not to do it when it’s very hot or just before a hot spell but crucially keep them well watered throughout, maybe spraying them down twice a day. The less shock they get, the faster they’ll settle in. Good luck with the move 😃
Hi George, great video and very informative. My Tree ferns x 6 are all in pots and are around the 3-5 years mark in pots. There is a covenant on my house which states no planting of trees. Hence they are in pots. I believe this could be due to a sewer pipe running through my terraced house garden serving 3 other houses and the possible root invasion affecting it🤷 However, I believe the roots on tree ferns are not that invasive but are dense. So I am thinking would raised beds be a option to help them out? Albeit knowing the roots would eventually to go into the ground. I appreciate this may be a difficult one to answer but your thoughts would be appreciated.
Alan
Hi Alan and thank you very much. You are correct in that the roots are dense but not invasive in terms of getting larger and breaking into areas. They're not technically a tree anyway to be pedantic with the covenant but yeah, it's probably not worth the hassle of dealing with any potential issues so yes, a low raised bed would be a good compromise. I wouldn't usually suggest a raised bed for moisture loving plants but given the circumstances I'd say it would be better than just keeping them in the same pots for longer. Keep up the watering, make the raised bed wide enough, use a organic material rich mix and ideally mulch and I'm sure they'll grow well for you.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Hi George, thank you for your prompt and helpful reply. Will get planning on the garden revamp👍
Alan
What a great and helpful vid. I am just starting with 3 tree ferns and your tips on soil + manure + nutrients, chicken pellets etc. have been very helpful. In winter I will water them but they will have to survive 3 weeks while I'm away. I have them in a glass house now ( just a week) , should I take them into the garage while I'm away ?.....just to reduce the moisture evaporation?
Thank you very much Richard. If there was no risk of severe cold, they’d definitely be happier outside in the damper air than in a glass house or a garage without regular watering. It’s hard to say without knowing what the weather will be like but I’d probably choose the garage if pushed, like you say, a greenhouse will potentially get hotter and drier if there’s more sunny days.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks, I agree, the garage won't hurt them, whereas the greenhouse or even high winds outside might. Thanks again.
@@richardkeane2308 Potentially, yes. They'd still be happier outside somewhere sheltered if there's no deep cold forecast, they'd rather be in damp cool air than dry inside. But yes, if you're going away, maybe sat in your garage in a tray with a bit of water in is the best compromise.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks. They'll be fine.
Hi George just found your channel today - it's fantastic! You're definitely the go-to guy for tree fern advice, so here I go. I bought one last year and it did brilliantly (it's in a large black plastic container). For winter I stuffed the crown well with straw, tied the fronds up and wrapped it well with 2 layers of fine fleece and a fleece tie-string bag. I did mulch around the top of the container also beforehand but now I'm wondering if I should have watered it every now and then. I was told I wouldn't have to touch it again until Spring/last frosts when I can take everything off. Do you think it will be ok? I looked after it so well I'm afraid of what I might see when I uncover it? What should I look out for and how will I know if it's done ok over the winter. I'm in Dublin, Ireland so similar weather to the UK. When is the best time to remove fleeces?
Sorry for the long post but I'm beginning to panic 😲 and many thanks for all your videos (Tina)
Hi Tina and thank you very much! I don't know everything but I try and help with what I can. Don't panic, in Dublin you get a lot more rain than other areas of the UK so I'm sure it'll be fine. It's worth pushing your finger into the compost every month or so to make sure it's not drying out as container planted ferns especially can dry out quickly. As we head into spring you certainly want to up the watering slightly more. As for the fleece removal, I'd remove it once the risk of severe subzero cold is over but leave a ball of fleece or some straw in the crown for a while yet. I hope it grows even better for you this year!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Many thanks George for the speedy reply and I will check on it tomorrow so fingers crossed 🤞looking forward to seeing more of your videos. Thank you again (Tina)
@@tinasterry5651 No worries Tina and thanks for watching 😃
Hi George, I have just bought a tree fern (3 foot) I am putting it in a pot for now as we are moving house next month. How many inches should I plant it in the pot?
Love your channel! 😀
Hi Mark and thanks! Nice one. I’d put a couple of inches into the soil just to keep it moist then maybe wedge it in with some wood or rocks (or something lighter with you moving!). The key is to keep it well watered, especially now it’s warming up a bit. Good luck with the move 😃
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks for the advice 👍😀
@@TheDavey1010 No worries!
Great stuff again, thank you👍🙂
Thanks Ted! 😃
Very helpful thank you 👍
Thanks for watching Sharon!
I think the best tree fern to grow in pots is a silver lady tree fern. They are a dwarf verity of tree ferns that are better for people who live more up north in zones 6 who would really struggle growing them. And since they are dwarf verity of ferns they seem to grow just fine in pots.
That’s a great suggestion, I’ve seen some lovely looking potted ones and like you say they’re definitely more suited to pot culture being a dwarf variety. I might have to give one a go when I get a proper greenhouse!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden trust me man I got one and it even took some snow lately and still being a champ. Best tree fern I ever owned. And since there small great to just have by a window! Can't go wrong with the guy. Maybe I need to do a video on it myself get it out there more ! And thank you for your reply back looking forward to seeing more videos from you!
@@thegreenthumb6184 Fantastic, go for it! It’s well worth making videos on the plants you’re passionate about and believe should be more widely grown. I appreciate the support, I’ve got loads of videos planned for this spring!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden can't wait to see your videos and content !
@@thegreenthumb6184 Thanks, I'll try my best with it!
HiGeorge, I’m interested in how you transported your 8’ tree fern to new house. I have a monster fern I wish to move in the garden, but it’s way too heavy for me to move, any advice would be appreciated…..
Hi, unfortuately the answer is just hard graft! I used to strength train and compete in strongman so whilst my 8' ferns in 160lt pots were heavy, I was a good bit stronger then! I'd definitely try to see if you could get some people to help, maybe do it in autumn so it's cooler for both the plant and the lucky assistants!
Thanks for coming back, thought that would be the answer! Love your videos by the way…I’m a big fan, particularly those on tree fern care etc.
@@martinjd67 No worries and good luck! Thank you very much and I'm pleased to hear you enjoy them.
George I brought a tree fern last yr from palm company, fantastic foliage last yr I planted it in a half wooden beer barrel I noticed early on in the year the barrel was full of water I emptied it out drill holes in but so far this year I have no fronds showing s yet is my fern dead? Edd.
Hi Edd and apologies for my delayed reply. Firstly, yes, even with the majority of plants that enjoy moisture I’d still drill holes for drainage to avoid creating a stagnant anaerobic mix and dead roots. It’s still early days for the new ones to appear (it’s been a cold winter, cool spring so far and yours is a new trunk) but I’d be hopeful you’ll see some new knuckles appearing soon. How did you protect it and what minimum temperatures did you see in winter?
@@GeorgesJungleGarden George thanks for the reply , unfortunately I didn’t use any protection as it’s surrounded by other trees next to a covered pogola , temperatures here never went below -2 -4 🙁
@@eddiefinney8509 That definitely sounds survivable and sheltered then, hopefully some knuckles appear soon, mine are at varying stages of development this year.
Hi, I wonder if you can help. Last year I planted two more tree ferns of 5 or 6ft high, (2m). I only planted them about 4", (100mm) deep but staked them to keep them stable. They're in damp ground in a tree shaded area in Cornwall, which is pretty wet all the time. How quickly will they be well enough rooted so that I can take the stakes away? Any guesses?
I was thinking end of this summer.🤔
Hi Ted, it depends when you planted them last year really I suppose, I think they root best when it’s cool and wetter. I’d probably say they’ll be solid by the end of summer but personally I’d give them til this time next year, that way they have the support when they’re likely to need it and will certainly be secure. If the stakes are visually distracting then you may get away with removing them at the end of summer though, just give the trunk a little wobble to make sure.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden ok thanks will do👍
just for reference. i bought a 2ft tree fern from b&q in may 2021, i removed it from the pot snd gained another 30cm of trunk. i placed this ontop of a new fresh pot of soil. staked it in place and kept it well watered.
i removed it from the pot today, and the roots had reached the bottom of a 15l pot.
i was surprised how quickly the roots had established
@@bobcharlie7982 Hey, thanks, that's a pretty good growth rate I reckon.👍😊
@@tedscott1478 mine was only 2ft but imagine 6ft wouldnt take much longer, like you say, end of this summer i recon youl be good to go!👍
Great video thank you, I’ve just ordered a 2ft tree fern which I’m starting in a pot, how deep should I plant it, I was thinking 20-30cm?
Nice one Steve! Personally I’d go less than that, maybe 50cm? I used to use rocks to wedge it into the pot while it roots so there’s no point losing too much trunk height.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden thank you so much for taking the time to reply much appreciated your videos are helping massively, I’ve got a NE facing Suffolk garden your help tips advice is so helpful.
@@TheBanksHouse No worries, happy to help! I’m sure the tree fern will be a perfect fit for your garden 😃
How far from the top of the soil are the roots and do the spread a think blank of roots, can you under plant close to one with say other ferns
Hi Phil, they are pretty close to the surface abc they do spread to create a thick blanket. My recommendations would be to get any other close plants in at the same time as the fern so they have chance to get their roots down and also choose woodland ferns etc that are used to coping in a competitive and root filled environment.
Nice videos man! And websites you could recommend for plants as my local garden centres/nursery’s don’t have huge collections. TIA, Edd.
Thanks Edd! What kind of plants are you after? A lot of the usual places are really struggling for stock this year but I might be able to point you in the right direction!
Have you grown any small trunked ferns such as blechnums?
I haven’t yet but I’d like too, they’re such cool looking plants when they start trunking!
Not actually a question on tree ferns but hoping you may be able to help . I have a beautiful large yucca that has developed black spot 😕 I’ve read the only way to get rid of it is to cut down all the leaves with spots on but that would leave me with nothing . Have you ever had this or know of something else I can try . It’s dug into a flower bed and is a focal point so really don’t want to chop it down altogether . Hoping you can help 😊
Hi, I’m sure I’ve read about it being a fungal issue potentially caused by the wet winter and spores splashing up from the soil. Unless it’s a complete mess I’d be tempted to leave it now that it’s warming up, any green will help put energy into putting new healthy leaves out then maybe give it a tidy up lower down later in the year.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks, will do . Fingers crossed 🤞
@@elf9967 🤞🤞🤞
Hi George, I'm wanting to buy a fern this weekend and would prefer it to be in the ground, I'm in a rented property so was wondering when the time came would it not be possible to just chainsaw it at ground level instead of trying to dig it up?
Hi Miley, you could do but it will set the plant back a bit, personally I'd always try to dig up as much as physically possible if they've only been in the ground a few years. Any more and the chainsaw might be the only option though.
Thank you for taking the time to reply I will give it some thought! And the new video is grate, I must say I've watched the previous video about 4 times 🤣
Hi George I bought a tree fern a few months ago it’s coming on good but there’s only 5 fonds growing is this normal I was hoping for a lot more thanks in advance
Hi Steve, some trunks can be quite variable and all respond differently to the harvesting / transportation process. One of mine started off with only 5 or 6 fronds last year but there's definitely more this year. Keep up the watering and don't trim the fronds off before next spring and I'm sure it'll perform better for you next year.
Hi George. Can I plant a tree fern in November or should I keep it in the pot until the spring?
Hi Becky, you could plant it now and in some respects it's a great time with the rain and residual warmth in the soil. The issue is that a tree fern in the ground is harder to protect if there is a proper hard freeze forecast whereas the potted one could be dragged closer to your house or moved into a garage etc if that happened. Personally, with it already being in a pot and getting rooted in there, I'd keep it in a pot closer to the house now then plant it out next April time.
Thanks George. That's really helpful
No problem, good luck with it! If mine end up half as good as the ones I saw at Simon Olpin's garden I went to a few vids ago (somewhere near the end of the vid) I'll be incredibly happy - they really are the most amazing plants!
Great video
Thank you very much John!
Fantastic video 😊
Thanks Victoria! 😃
Hi George just bought a yucca rigida for the palm tree company can you suggest a fertilizer as I will be growing it in a pot
Hi Raymond, they’re not heavy feeders so personally I’d mix in some blood fish and bond with the compost and give it liquid seaweed over summer.
Great information on tree ferns, thank you. My tree fern is suffering from lack of consistent care because of a couple of house moves. How can I rejuvenate it please? It is in a large pot and has to stay in there for a few months. This year it has not put out any fronds yet although there are the nubbins of new growth in the crown. Can I cut the trunk and start again? Hope you can help.
Hi Sue, sorry about the late reply, I wouldn’t chop it back, just keep giving it plenty of water and see what it does over the next month.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Hi George, no problem about the late reply😎. Okay I will keep on watering with occasional feed and see what happens. They seem to be very resilient. I potted up a one footer trunk rescued from a garden centre skip, and a couple years later it started new growths from the base. I heard someone once say that a dead trunk can be restarted by cutting the trunk or a new baby tree fern planted back on top of the trunk…🤞my large tree fern makes it. Thanks George, have a great day.
@@suethompson6497 Thank you Sue! Keep on watering and as you say, time is a great healer 🤞
Thank you 🙏🏼. Great advice!
No worries Deborah, I’m pleased it’s helped 😃
HELP please! George, fabulous videos on tree ferns, thanks. My son has gifted me 2 tree ferns, they are immature without a trunk, the 'trunk' is about the size of a small coffee mug. They are in small pots. They are from the palm tree company. I am an avid gardener and a kiwi girl, so my son thought he would bring a little NZ to me. -no pressure, well i'm in a panic. We are in the peak district and a 1000 feet above sea level and well above the snow line.... also exposed. I am thinking of replanting now into bigger pots then planting out in a sheltered spot, but is a pot better with an immature trunk? Then I can move it into the shed when it snows and frosts, I wrap already a few of my small trees and shrubs. but its too small a crown to wrap,? how long until the trunk will mature? Many thanks, any thoughts will be gratefully received!
Hi Gillian, thank you and congratulations on your tree fern gifts! I would probably do what you say, pot them up then probably again in a year or two then choose a sheltered spot in the ground for them. The trunks grow slowly but definitely form a bit every year on small plants, maybe an inch or two a year and much bigger fronds with care. I generally put straw, fleece and an upturned pot over my small ones in winter, as they’re pushing out new fronds one at a time they’re vulnerable to frosting off but if they’re in pots you can always move them into a garage etc if there’s an extended freeze forecast.
Thanks George. I'll do this, they have large fronds on them, should I keep them on through winter and just balance a pot over the centre. Build up the inside with straw and around the crown, or should I wrap the fronds and the little base, pegging the frost cover into the soil? What's your thoughts please? Many thanks.
Thank you for all your videos, I've just received a 2 ft Dicksonia from the palm company, I'm planning on putting it in an pot initially but after your advice will try and find a spot in the garden.
My fern looks healthy but I can see no leaves.Should I be worried about planting it at this time of year?
Personally I’d keep it close to the house as sometimes the new trunks can flush out of rhythm with our seasons and be vulnerable to frosts. If you’ve got somewhere sheltered that’ll help and you could always sit it in a pot with a few inches of compost in the bottom. Keep it moist while it’s mild and out some dry leaves/ straw / fleece in the crown and it should be just fine. Then I’d plant it out in spring. It would most likely be OK now but sometimes they just grow as a response to not being in a container and it would be a shame to lose the fronds.
Great that you’ve got one by the way, it’s exciting! 😃
Hi George, very informative video! Thanks so much! Are the tree ferns invasive?
Hi Tatiana and thank you very much! To be honest they’re so slow growing and require specific conditions so here in the UK they’re not invasive. There’s only some places in Ireland and Cornwall where they’ve naturalised but it’s a very slow process! In warmer climates other varieties of tree fern like Cyathea can be invasive though as they grow and spread much faster with the warmer temperatures.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden thank you so much for the prompt reply. How far from a wall would you advise to plant it and which non-invasive tropical plants would you suggest to plant under the tree at the same time?
@@tatianapletosu9344 Hi, it’s completely up to you how far you’d like to plant it but I suppose it depends on the look you’re going for and how dry the soil is close to the wall. As for companion plants, I generally look to tough woodland plants that thrive in shade, can compete with the tree fern roots and also have the same vibe - other ferns etc. Again it completely depends on the look you want and conditions in your garden but there’s a lot of options!
Thank you so much George!!
@@tatianapletosu9344 No worries! Good luck with it, they’re definitely one of my favourite plants!
What about tree fern seedlings?
They’re fine getting started in pots, no problem at all.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Ok. Cool !!
@@howtogrowdragonfruitplant7849 No worries. They can still get to a good size in pots, potting up regularly 😃
Great video, thank you so much for all the informations. I just ordered two trunks 3 and 5f. from The palm tree company. Because winter is coming I am planning growing them in the pots as I need to replace my fence first next year and then I will move them to the ground. Would you be able to tell me where from you get your big plastic pots with handles please? Thank you 😊
Hi and thank you! Excellent, that's exciting! I got all my pots off Ebay orginally, if you search for 'heavy duty black pot handles' it should bring them up. Good luck with your ferns!
Hey, if you plant a tree fern, can you dig it up to move house or would it perish? Thanks
Hi, I did this with some of mine, I expect them to take a while to bounce back but fingers crossed they all seem to have made it 🤞
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thank you! Max is super cute by the way!
@@karwolmills1870 No worries. Haha thanks, just a quick appearance in this one 😂
Hi George.l have 2 tree ferns with trunks about 5ft high.l have them in terracotta pots which both fell over and where badly cracked.l have just bought 2 130 ltr black plastic pots with handles but lm worried about repotting them as they both have lots of beautiful fronds on now.Can l safetly repot them now.
Hi Sylvia and apologies for my delayed reply. Sorry to hear you pots got damaged and good choice on the black plastic pots with handles. I'd say you can repot them now as in theory you're not going to be damaging the root system as such, just giving it more room. Plenty of water afterwards will help them settle in.
Hi George.Thank you so much for your reply.lm going to do it next week.Fingers crossed.
You bought when the Cyathea medullaris to get to this size ( to imagine the growth rate)
How do you mean, sorry? I bought it in a 10lt pot, they grow quickly and it would probably be 3 times the size of it had been in the ground somewhere without cold winters!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden simple question , « when do you bought the Cyathea medullaris ? » , to compare with the size in the video to imagine the growth rate
(Through the size when you bought ,without trunk i suppose, and now the image in the video)
@@valougame3175 Sorry, yes, that pic was taken this time last year, and I bought the fern in July 2017 so that’s 3 years from a 10lt plant just starting to trunk to a 160lt pot with a small trunk. Had it not been defoliated in 2018 winter I think I’m sure it would have grown much faster.
Very good information but could do with a bit of visual info as well as just speaking into the camera..
Hi Lisa and thanks for the feedback. This was one of the earlier vids on my channel, it definitely takes time and practice to keep working on and improving them. If you check out some of my more recent vids hopefully you’ll see how things have evolved!
thank you for this video!! i live in the US, in san diego CA (sub-tropical area) zone 9 or 10 i believe, and i bought a free fern late last year that i plan on eventually putting in the ground. However i have CLAY based soil out here and im not sure how well it would do! I tried planting another one that i had before and it just withered and died = (. This newer one ive managed to keep alive somehow with frequent watering, decent soil, and its in a large 20 gal. pot but i know that it will need to be either planted in the ground soon or re-potted into an even bigger pot (which can be costly here). its now getting into fall here and idk when is the best time to plant it in the ground? or if i should just continue to care for it in its current pot and wait until next spring to try. any input would be great thanks!!
Hi, I don’t know a lot about your location and zone but personally I’d plant it now so it’s got a cooler, wetter winter to settle in - here they seem to root well over winter. You’ll need to add a lot of organic matter to your soil as they won’t root into clay very well though, their roots don’t like it. I have got a video looking at tree fern care in more detail but I suspect you may need to water it more frequently for success in your warmer climate.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden ohhhh ok
Great! Thank you so much I will take a look and get my husband to help me to dig a huge hole for it!! Hahaha you earned a new subscriber today!!! ; )
@@Gargamel19 Thanks, I appreciate it! It could be worth asking other people in your area that grow them for tips too 😃
Do you have a video on the cyathea?
Hi, I don’t unfortunately. They’re largely a winter greenhouse plant for those of us in the colder parts of the U.K. and mine didn’t make it outside.
@GeorgesJungleGarden Dang!!! That sucks...I live in Oklahoma and was hoping that that one could have a chance outside. The pattern of the trunk looks so cool!!!
It’s a bit frustrating but that’s the reality without heated protection I think! It really depends on your winter lows and the duration of any freezes otherwise but they’re certainly cool plants for sure!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden awesome videos bro keep up the good work I'm binge watching a few of them right now LOL so you're getting plenty of likes right now
Haha cheers, great to hear they’re appreciated! A lot of these are the earlier ones I made, this year it’s been more about the garden tours 😊
Can you advise where to buy tree ferns from George? great video!
Hi, The Palm Tree Company had a great batch but sold out in a couple of hours, there’s other garden centres but unfortunately prices are very variable! Sorry I can’t help much, a lot of places are out of stock this year...
@@GeorgesJungleGarden ok, thanks George.
@@skajdius8056 No worries, if I hear of any good ones I’ll post on my FB page or try to remember to comment back here!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Brilliant, thanks George.
Hi George , i am looking for a bit of advice , one of my tree ferns Dicksonia has some very small mushrooms growning near the top of the trunk,is this something i need to be concerned about or have you seen this before on any of your own ferns, Thanks Matt
Hi Matt, personally I wouldn't worry and they're likely living off decaying plant matter rather than the live plant - I have some on my Chamaerops palm currently. As long as the tree fern is healthy and there's not loads of them - I'd take it as a sign that you're giving the tree fern the conditions that it (and unfortunately mushrooms) like!
Thanks so much for the reply George really appreciated
Hello George.
Do you have experienc with washingtonia robusta?? I just bought two of them i hope they are also hardy palm and survive the weather
Hi, I’ve got one and had a larger one before. They’re very fast growing for sure and nice palms but unfortunately only really considered hardy in central London etc and maybe a few other areas in the UK with protection, a cold winter and they’d really struggle anywhere else here unfortunately...
I bought a what I thought was a small double trunker a few years ago. I’ve trimmed off the damaged leaves and realised there is actually four growing. Do you have any experience with splitting them?
Hi Jimmy, I don’t unfortunately and for what it’s worth I’d probably leave them and see what an amazing plant they develop into!
I managed to get a 3.5ft and 4ft pot grown pair from The Palm Tree Company, literally cannot wait for them to arrive. Also, I got bored of Friends, Max was wise to visit his dad and help make a video instead
Amazing, that’s great! I’m excited for you! It’s probably the perfect time to get them this year, I’m glad you managed to get a couple. Haha I don’t know about help but he needed to escape 😂
Where did you buy your tree from?
Hi, most of mine were from Seagraves and another company who are no longer trading. Maybe check out The Palm Tree Company if you need delivery 😊
@@GeorgesJungleGarden do they deliver to the US
I don’t think so unfortunately, sorry I don’t know of any US suppliers
Very informative video! Subscribed :)
I'm looking to get a small-ish Dicksonia tree fern as a temporary indoors plant, but can't decide on the species. I've heard that D. fibrosa tends to be smaller and more compact than D. antarctica (so more space friendly), but are less hardy and can easily narrow in trunk size. What are your views on this matter?
Hi Ronald and thank you very much. Personally I wouldn't grow any of them as an indoors plant - most of the Dicksonia and Cyathea species are large (well, very large for houseplants I guess). The main issue is that they wouldn't enjoy the lack of humidity so would need regular misting etc., it depends how temporary you're meaning but I would have thought any would narrow in trunk size when kept in a pot and in suboptimal conditions for any length of time unfortunately.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden I planned on getting either a 1ft trunk for D. antarctica, or a 5L potter for D. fibrosa (since affordable trunked fibrosas are basically unheard of).
I was originally counting on their slow growth rate to last me at least a year or two indoors as a statement plant, given how impressive their fronds get. You bring up a good point about humidity though. Daily mistings and waterings are a given no doubt about that, but now I wonder if even that'll be enough to meet it's humidity requirements.
@@nonono-f6y Oh right. Personally I’d try the potter or a very young plant as it would be harder to keep a plant with an existing trunk happy and humid. I think it really depends on where you’re growing it and how dry the air is to be honest.
What is the lowest Temperature they can stand with out damage to them?
My tree fern was outside in a high place, unprotected when the weather suddenly went down to well below zero, with snow, for 3 to 4 days. I was sick in bed so couldn't protect it. When spring came, no new growth and i though it was dead. But then amazingly, in July out came s little frond! It survived!!! It came with me to Spain and 4 years later it's still doing fine, completely recovered from its ordeal.
@@cathyceesay9233 That is awesome, I'm so glad you still have it
Hard to give an exact temperature but I generally protect the crown below freezing and the upper foot of trunk when it’s -3 or below. I think duration of cold is as big a factor as the absolute low hit though.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden so the Duration and moisture level is a big factor, so what would kill it would be crown rot?
@@denisesorchidparadise1411 Absolute cold would kill it, maybe -8 to -10 for a couple of nights. But equally a week that barely got above freezing with -5 or so every night would be tricky too. Crown rot is less of an issue, the only reason I don’t water directly into the crown when it’s cold is that the water may freeze solid deep in the crown.
Just found your channel I've just ordered my first dicksonia fern, I want to grow it in a pot first as I'm uncertain were I want to put it were did you buy the black plastic pots with handles from and great channel will be watching more
Thank you very much and apologies for my delayed reply. Nothing wrong with getting them established in pots at all. If you go on EBay and search for heavy duty black pots with handles they should come up, I think the brands I got were Oakland and then Elixir.
Hi, I’m just about to buy 2 5ft tree ferns and put them in the ground. Do I water them every day? If so, what size watering can should I use? Is it directly into the crown? Then do I soak the trunk in addition as well? I’m confused and don’t want to over or under water them..Sue
Hi Sue, personally I’d water them every day it doesn’t rain. The amount doesn’t need to be scientific, it depends on your soil and how much sun / wind the fern gets but you won’t overwater it when it’s warm so no need to worry. Just give the whole trunk and crown a good soaking or a full watering can, if you’re using a hose then a 30 sec spray should be fine.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks for your reply George, it is very much appreciated! Sue
Has anyone been able to source a tetrapanax this year? Can't find them anywhere.
Check out Turn it Tropical on FB, they should have some ready soon!
How about growing tree ferns in sun?
Hi Kevin, absolutely fine, the fronds won’t be as long but they should be perfectly healthy as long as you give the ones growing in sun more water.
LOL NOW you do it in pots hahaha
😂 Yeah, deserved a separate episode!
👌💕
Thanks Mary 😃
All great info I'm sure but I like to see what your talking about, show and do not just talk talk talk.
Thank you very much and yes, you'll notice my videos over time have (hopefully!) improved and incorporated more visual content. I only got my camera and started my channel this year (after planting most of my tree ferns last year) so only had a few pics to actually link into this one. This was more a vid about my experiences which will hopefully help others rather than all being tangible points that I could easily demonstrate but if it was a more practical video I'd certainly try to show what I was explaining. Thanks for the feedback and if there's any specific bits I talked about and didn't show that you'd like more clarity on then please let me know.
Maybe a tip... why not show us in stead of just talking about it. It's a bit boring to follow competely. Especially when you're not a native english speaker :)
I bet your tips are very helpfull.
We bought a small one last year, took it inside over the winter. Now the new leaves are still not coming out...hope it's not completely dead
Hi and thanks for the feedback. This is one of my earlier videos and in all honesty, when you're new to making videos, your knowledge and words are where you have to start. Hopefully my style has evolved since then and I do try to show more now I've accumulated more footage and confidence. I appreciate your kind words and hope your tree fern makes a full recovery.