First off, sorry for getting off topic on the underwater thread, but I was really glad to get some info on the Aussie Tree Fern.
So I thought it might be helpful to others that might not look on an underwater thread for this info.
Great information on the Plant files, wish I had read through it before. Will try and link it here.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/55695/
Cheers
C
Australian Tree Ferns
I'm posting these from my journal...so...remember I'm writing to myself...LOL
What I've learned, and developing theories
Obviously, the tip I learned from Kell in passing conversation that the Fern stalk, particularly the fuzzy part must be watered every day, as the fuzzy parts (I'm sure I'll eventually learn the technical name for that) are actually part of it's roots (besides that particular designation -fuzz and root). Since I've adopted that method the Fern is absolutely in the top of the vigorous growing plants in the garden.
Now ..having said that, I have been observing closely the number of fronds produced at a time, when the fronds suddenly change from 2 to 3 in quick succesion (for a fern) to one at a time and a noticeable slow down in the vigor. It appears to be directly related to that watering technique, and when a couple of days go by, or it is particularly hot and the water dispensed was probably insufficient will have rather immeadiant effects on the growth behavior. Here is my theory that is directly tied to that water intake. I noticed that one week was forecasted to have rain every day here, and in fact none of them did, the fern slowed the growth for a couple of week after, producing only 1 frond, and then that took twice as long as the previous watering pattern of "fuzz everyday". One of the things I observed was that the trunk tightened up in the area the fronds came from, retarding the fronds exit. In fact one frond actually became stuck n the passage, and when it finally emerged, it was malformed and stunted. By keeping the fuzz well watered it acts a bit like a sponge, and expands and swells relazing the exit area where the new fronds emerge. I suspect this reaction is probably a coded emergency factor in the plant, perhaps bracing itself for a dry period??! conjecture, but seems plausible. Since that incident I've been ever vigilant about watering the center trunk area, often when exceeding 90F two to three times a day with about 1 gallon of water each time. This has resulted in that continued swelling of the exit area, followed by a counter clockwise rapid production of fronds most noticeably 2 to 3 in rapid succesion. Each frond faces each other and grows in the opposite direction of the last frond, maintaining a counter clockwise rotation..
Here is a photo of the trunk although it doesn't seem to capture the top trunk expansion quite like I see it.
Sunlight also plays an important role, and I've noticed a difference in frond production when the sun shifts from the spring to summer position. The older the Fern gets, the better it seems to be at tolerating more direct sunlight.
In this photo there are 2 fronds emerging. One will pick up speed, usually the subsequent one pointing in the next clockwise projection after the most rescent exited frond.. I will need to make a note to make sure that is clock wise and not counter clockwise. In any case it tends to go around in an orderly circle .
Rj,
Thats so cool, such great info, I am excited for my ATF, it might actually have a chance now!
Gk
The center is almost concave in respects to the size of the bottom most part of the trunk narrowing at the center and once again widening at the top.
I notice a difference in the look of the trunk compared to the plant file photos. This could be because the plant is young, I'm not quite sure. It might be that with age this trunk will too look like the ones in the plant files when it becomes taller.
Emerging frond.
During the summer, I soak this section thoroughly right down inside and the outsides. I notice that like a sponge when it's flush with water it swells up and there is alot of activity with emerging fronds.
I Fertilize this monthly with azalea fertilzer, but put in half the directed amount in the gallon..because you can always put more on, but never take it away. I also combine with it "mighty plant" I think it's from maxi crop. Bi monthly I put diluted fish emulsion on it.
In this photo, there are 4 fronds emerging, 3 are visible, two upper and 1 lower. There is one opposite the lower frond also trying to emerge. This is when I observed the importance of keeping this section very moist. Notice the upper right frond has a visible hole in the circle? This was because I hadn't watered the section for several days, and the frond got stuck trying to emerge because the whole trunk had tightened up like a dry sponge, shrinking the aperature that the frond emerge from..It was malformed and only half a frond because of it.
I think that this many fronds emerging was a little unusual when comparing it to the behavior or growth pattern the rest of the year.
When the temperatures and daylight start slipping to shorter and cooler, I'm very careful in the amount of water I put on it, and starting in October I will water the trunk area with a gallon container instead of the hose, which provides a measurable amount of water for me..and the fern.
Sadly, this picture is out of focus, but what I wanted to point out here is the trunk portion of this fern pup. This is one of the pups I brought back from Hawaii, and while I knew better when I planted these, when I first started with the fern trees, I had no idea not to put this fuzzy portion in the ground! This must be above the dirt or it will die. As a matter of fact, you can set this pup anywhere on the ground especially in a leafy area, and it will set it's own roots in.
April 2006
June 2006
March 2007
Late March Early April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
June 2007 lighter picture
July 2007
July 2007, from the other side of the pond.
August 2007,
It was very humid, and the camera is fogged...I was trying to show proportion by putting a broom next to it.
August 2007
It's so large now it's difficult to get the whole thing in the picture.
And this is a picture of the pond area....The tropical oasis....
The Gardens name is
"Jungle Heights".
Rj
This is why many growers of tropical tree ferns like drip systems that go on 2-3x a day all throughout the warmer months of the year... they wind the drip hose around the fern to the top and have it dripping/spraying the opening fronds, and dripping down the trunk... this constant moisture makes for very happy and much faster growing tree ferns. I am too lazy to set up this method and depend on my hose, usually with disastrous results... so my tree ferns go through many periods of 'sulking' and fried fronds... 110F doesn't help either, but even at that temp if you keep the plant moist, one can keep frond frying to a minimum. Some species are simply impossible to grow without constant moisture (gave up on Cyathea princeps long ago for that reason).
Thanks..you know it was your comments in the fern section, and Kell telling me about the same time that helped me with this...so thankyou for putting the comments in the plant files!
This should have accompanied the "Jungle Heights"
rj,
Thank you so much for sharing this, it is incredible what you have accomplished!
I noticed in the UW thread that you obtained your statue from Chiang Mai, Thailand, did you travel there to get it? I ask, because I studied in Chiang Mai, it one of my favorite places.
Your kidding!? Really,
Yes I did travel there a few years ago and it became one of my favorite places. I was part owner of an import store here (and lucky me was the buyer).. so I went to Chiang Mai and brought back a 40 foot shipping container full of crafts and furniture. Of course as the buyer, it's like this...one for the store...one for me...one for the store...ohhh forget the store!!!
So my house is full of things from Chiang Mai inside and out....with little stories to go with them.
Made some good friends there, and we keep in contact to this day.
I did go to the temple on the mountain...wow
You must be an early riser...
It is not a common place for people to visit in Thailand, most go to the south shore, thats why I asked.
Everyone who has ever been to Chiang Mai, falls in love with it - the people are just wonderful! I could live there easily.
So, you say you were part owner, does that mean no longer?
I ask because I lost some wonderful art that I had brought back, due to hurricane Katrina. Would love to have something for my garden, similar to yours, but never find the beautiful Thai style here.
Love your gardens, thanks for sharing the photo's on the UW thread.
Cheers
Cath
Moonlight gardening...still hot here.
Yes, no longer in the business. We all had full time jobs plus that, and then 9/11 happened and it was our queue to have a huge christmas sale and close it. No regrets, learned alot!