just bought a fern toppled out of pot/ no roots

beolight · Hazel Tree Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 13

should i be worried? it was very poorly planted with barely half an inch below the soil/compost

just bought a 2 foot one in woodies last night for 45 euros( with 20% off)

when i got it out of car the trunk just toppled out of the pot no roots nothing

hopefully repotting it will encourage the roots to establish or should i just stick with original plan and plant it out?

did originally want to plant it straight out but i am a bit wary now

i have read conflicting reports on roots on these but any dedicated growers of this do seem to rubbish the theory that they have no roots as such

BlackBird · Silver Birch Tree Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 171

beolight · Hazel Tree Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 13

yeah dicksonia antartica

BlackBird · Silver Birch Tree Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 171

Thats good that it is a Dicksonia .
The Dicksonia tree fern is imported as a trunk with no underground roots. In the country where they are harvested they are saw off right above the ground, and transported with all leafs or fronds taken off. It is often placed in a pot for sale purposes to make it look more like a plant and less like a log. Smile

The upper part with the crown which you have bought can now be planted again in a container or in open soil. This will begin reroot within a few weeks.

The other commonly available Cyathea tree ferns have to be imported with roots. They require roots underground, as roots in their trunk are limited.

Heres a pic of a Dicksonia tree fern unfurling its fronds, wonderful. Smile

Joaney · Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 3:22 pm Post subject:

How does it grow with out any roots. How do you know how to plant it I too would be worried

beolight · Hazel Tree Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 13

thanks for replies

now have 4 of these planted out

a 4 foot one, 3 foot and 2 foot one(2 of these)

all except the 4 foot one had no root bought in woodies

the 4 foot one was bought in b+q in newry and this guy had roots must of been in the shop a while

incidentially has anyone else noticed prices a good bit cheaper in b+qs in the north as against the dublin shops

same 4 foot fern was about 50 euros dearer in dublin