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Post by oldmoleskins on Oct 12, 2007 7:57:10 GMT
Well, CPB, I'm a serial fern tormentor and may not be the best person to ask, but the good news is it seems hard to kill them, so that's on our side.
I think for 'survival', straw (or bits of scrumpled fleece) in the crown to protect the emergent shoots and a wrapping of fleece (or a bag) around the trunk near the top will probably do the job - but I worry about the crown still freezing when the straw gets wet. I'd put a plastic carrier bag artfully over the straw before the fleece bag goes over to attempt some protection from penetrating rain. Any more than this, I suppose, depends on whether you're going to try to preserve this years fronds...
This year I'm going to
1) secure the fronds in an upright position with some cord, having stuffed the crown with fleece etc
2) wrap fleece around the lot to create a sort of bulbous candle with an opening up at the frond tips so's it can breathe. May well have to reinforce the structure with a few canes to stop it going all floppy.
I shall, of course, end up with a 7 foot eyesore - green fleece would have been so much better - but it will shed some rain and be well unsulated, so might just work...
I'll post a pic of it here when the weather provokes me into action, just so you all can have a good laugh!
OM.
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Oct 12, 2007 17:31:52 GMT
Thanks Moley ;D
I did wonder about plastic to keep the rain off...but I was worried that it might cause the plant to sweat and rot? you've not had anything like that happen have you? (she asked nervously ;D )
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Post by JennyWrenn on Oct 12, 2007 18:40:56 GMT
I am going to do the same as I did last year - just leave it uncovered - it thrived really well
;D
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Post by oldmoleskins on Oct 12, 2007 20:30:25 GMT
Thanks Moley ;D I did wonder about plastic to keep the rain off...but I was worried that it might cause the plant to sweat and rot? you've not had anything like that happen have you? (she asked nervously ;D ) Not with just a bit over the crown to protect it CPB, though since I am going to do the same as I did last year - just leave it uncovered - it thrived really well ;D maybe we're both barking up the wrong fern... OM |
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Oct 12, 2007 20:46:45 GMT
OOOH I couldn't risk losing Bruce....I'm afraid he will be wrapped within an inch of his life...or I'll get OH to drag the pot into the GH. He reckons I should throw caution to the wind and plant Bruce in the garden...but I dursent....  thanks for the advice OM & JW |
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Post by JennyWrenn on Oct 13, 2007 6:19:38 GMT
OOOOooo I dont want to be responsible for the demise of any tree ferns it is just I didnt know you had to cover them and when mine popped up again - I was very happy - he is under my Witch Hazel tree so maybe has some protection  |
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Post by jean on Oct 13, 2007 21:04:24 GMT
My two will take their chances unprotected unless the forecast is predicting below zero for a while. I tried covering the smaller one with fleece last year but it kept coming off. My garden is sheltered so hopefully they will survive another year.
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Oct 21, 2007 15:20:50 GMT
I just couldn't do it...Bruce was dragged into the GH yesterday whilst I was doing my autumn clean up in the garden..he's happy there....and I won't worry so much. I might wrap the musa basjoo tho...as that's in the ground and we want to keep the trunk.
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Post by carolann on Oct 22, 2007 8:29:57 GMT
Went passed the GC Sunday and they where up the cherry picker wrapping all their Palms and Tree Ferns which they have never done before. Do you think we are in for a cold winter for a change? My Tree Fern is only a baby so I will put it in the GH for protection, but I dont know what to do with the Fatsia may just put that in there as well to keep the fern company. ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2007 12:14:28 GMT
Hi Carolann - I wouldn't have thought you'd need to worry about your Fatsia; they're pretty hardy, aren't they? A garden down the road has a massive one which must be decades old and had obviously survived happily (and we must have had a bad frost at some point during its long life) ... cheers ...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2007 13:43:23 GMT
I put my baby in the G H too the other day but last year I managed to get some fleece "Stockings" from Lidl & covered the Palms, I've a bit left for Auzzie & hopefully Lidl will come good again because the wind cant get in to blow the fleece off.
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Post by oldmoleskins on Nov 4, 2007 19:55:19 GMT
Joe wassisname was preparing the GW treefern on Friday - anyone see it?...
He said it was more important to protect the trunk and crown, and to forget about the fronds.
I was keen to find a way to preserve the fronds for a particularly good show the next year, but seeing that and re-reading this thread, now think it's worth giving his way a try - and it fits with the Birmingham BG approach. Easier too.
So, forget what I said re shrouding the whole thing, mine is going to have yards of fleece wrapped loosely round the trunk up to its chin, covered with a sort-of-water-shedding-but-airy shell of bamboo or willow matting.
Then, when frosts threaten I'll stuff the crown with more fleece.
Just hope I'm around when frosts threaten...
OM.
ps - why do they insist on using all that messy straw? It must compost down a bit and lose its effectiveness as winter progresses, harbour all sorts of bugs, plus they (or some hapless assistant - Monty's son, if the rumours can be believed) have to clear it all up afterwards...
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Post by Ruthie on Nov 4, 2007 20:55:00 GMT
Re the Fatsia. They are pretty tough but NOT reliably hardy. The big ones you see these days are the result of not having really hard winters for several years. Having said that once they are mature it would take a very hard winter to kill them off. If yours is small, and in a pot, I'd give it some protection overwinter.
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Post by oldmoleskins on Nov 27, 2007 17:11:01 GMT
Ok, haven't got the bamboo/willow mat yet (means it probably won't happen at all) but have wound ten metres of doubled fleece over the bent-down old dead fronds, then softened the glaring white with a bit of shade netting. Must remember to stuff stuff in the crown if frosty - there's baby fronds in there already, curled and waiting to get going...  OM. |
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Nov 27, 2007 18:47:24 GMT
Your tree fern looks warm as toast OM ...my musa has had the dreaded straw treatment....stuffed into a chicken wire cylinder and wrapped with fleece....doesn't look as nice as your tree fern tho ;D
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Post by jean on Nov 27, 2007 21:28:37 GMT
I'm impressed OM, I will be watching the forecast just incase I need to take similar action |
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Post by JennyWrenn on Dec 3, 2007 7:21:26 GMT
My Fatsia survives the winter uncovered Carolann; in fact I dont cover anything - bamboos, tree fern - bottle brush - just cant be bothered really  |
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Post by carolann on Dec 3, 2007 9:32:51 GMT
The frost got all the growing tips of the Fatsia so I have moved it into the GH with Tommy the Tree Fern.
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Post by oldmoleskins on Mar 23, 2008 21:14:19 GMT
Snow overnight, I think this may well 'do for it':  Shame, 'cos this was it only a few days ago, best Spring Debut yet  OM. |
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Post by oldmoleskins on Mar 24, 2008 16:55:10 GMT
Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse... 7am this morning:  OM. |
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Post by Tig on Mar 28, 2008 16:59:00 GMT
Has it recovered OM (need to know how it's doing ) Tig PS guess what I bought today ;D |
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Post by Tig on Mar 29, 2008 12:37:05 GMT
Thought I would take a photo of mine and hopefully watch it flourish ..  I spotted something growing on the side of it, don't know what to do, leave it or remove it? I will post another photo on the Exotics thread and see what others think! x Tig |
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Post by Plocket on Mar 29, 2008 16:13:07 GMT
If you only bought the tree fern recently then I'd take it back and get a different one. |
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Post by oldmoleskins on Mar 29, 2008 18:19:36 GMT
Has it recovered OM (need to know how it's doing ) Tig PS guess what I bought today ;D Thanks for asking, Tig - and having finally shed all snow, it's a muted bronzey-green - so this winter's "keep the fronds" experiment is over, and winter has won again. The good news: a gentle rootle in its furryparts reveals lots of fat fronds just bursting to unfurl at the slightest encouragement, so the trunk and crown insulation seems to be all it needs. Good luck with your new 'baby' - has it got more fronds curled up ready to go? OM. |
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Post by Tig on Mar 29, 2008 20:13:50 GMT
Three that I can see OM ;D And there are roots coming out of the bottom of the pot  It is outside in the day and in the garage over-night at the moment, so it can gently acclimatise to my garden. I have severed the 'parasite' plant and potted it up as Chuckles suggested on the Exotics thread, might as well see if it grows into anything worth keeping  Tig |
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Mar 29, 2008 21:13:58 GMT
I've had my tree fern in a pot for a few years now and am considering bunging it into the garden this summer...presumably you plant it to the same depth as it is in the pot?
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Post by Tig on Apr 4, 2008 10:41:06 GMT
It's starting to unfurl already ;D  |
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Post by oldmoleskins on Apr 4, 2008 12:21:13 GMT
It's starting to unfurl already ;D A marvelous pic Tig - if unnervingly like a mystery part of an orang-utang... Nevertheless, for sharpness and the promise it holds, it gets  OM |
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Post by Tig on Apr 5, 2008 18:30:49 GMT
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Apr 20, 2008 17:54:47 GMT
It's starting to unfurl already ;D what a gorgeous pic Tig dearie...  sigh...doncha just luuuuuurve them? |
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