The author of the text is MSc. Agata Woźnicka
Tree ferns from the Devonian period produce the so-called a trunk, i.e. a vertically growing rhizome overgrown with adventitious roots and covered with dried up dead leaves. Attractive young crosier-shaped leaves grow on the top.Ripe form an umbrella of pinnately divided leaves up to 2 meters.Thanks to this structure, they look like palm trees. In plants around 20 years of age, spores form on the underside of the leaf blades. Young parts of plants are covered with red soft hairs.
There are mainly two species in pot cultivation: Cyathea medullaris firm cjatea and Dicksonia antarctica. The first has a characteristic black trunk covered with hexagonal leaf bases and some parts of plants with prickly scales.U young plants dead leaves behave on the rhizomeThe trunk of the diksonii is hairy at the base, usually single, but may branch. The sterile and fertile fern leaves grow alternately in layers.
Cjatea grows slightly faster and becomes larger in size, it can be bred from fresh spores, but it will grow very slowly.Fresh trunks can be cut and planted (requires irrigation).Dixson side branches can also be cut and planted.
With adequate humidity, they will form roots. The remaining stump will not regenerate because it is made of dead organic matter.This species reproduces from disputes, but in cultivation it is possible to separate cuttings that grow around the base of the rhizome.
Tree ferns are available in online stores in the form of dried rhizomes. Diksonia can survive this treatment, cjatea usually does not (unless the rhizome has been clipped below ground level). Tree ferns at home grow about 5 centimeters per year.We replant them in spring, when the roots fill the pot, then we do not perform this treatment anymore.Tree ferns are suitable for cultivation in orangeries, greenhouses and winter gardens, as well as in apartments. In summer, we put them outside, for example on a balcony or terrace.
The most important beauty treatments
Tree ferns do not like too much sun - they require a bright position, but not in direct sunlight. They should be grown in a mixture of soil, compost, bark and sand.They do not require too much water, but keep the substrate constantly moist and sprinkle the fern 'trunk' and leaves frequently.
Especially during the heating period, it is worth placing the pots on trays with stones and water to increase air humidity.The optimal temperature for growing is room temperature.Avoid temperatures above 24 ° C and below 7 ° C. Fertilize the plants 1-2 times a month.
