Dicksonia antartica 9cm

Do not be tempted to remove the dead and dried leaves as they provide extra protection from freezing in winter and protect the plant from drying winds. In addition, they help keep humidity around the trunk. Plants grow by about 2.5cm (1in) a year so it is best to buy as large a plant as possible if you want an instant effect.

Your tree fern will thrive in a sheltered, humid and shaded position, with plenty of room to spread. For best results, plant in humus-rich, neutral to slightly acid soil. Planting Advice for Dicksonia antarctica: Soak the base of the trunk, then plant just enough of it to ensure that the plant remains stable. After planting frondless tree ferns, water every day until the foliage starts to emerge. To encourage rooting, don’t feed the plant during its first year. Tree ferns can also be grown in pots and should be planted in loam-based ericaceous compost, adding about 20 percent peat-free potting media for additional humus. Apply a half strength liquid fertiliser once a week during the growing season or add a controlled-release granular fertiliser at the base of the plant in spring. Top-dress container-grown plants or pot on annually in spring. Aftercare Advice for your Tree Fern: The trunk and crown of tree ferns will not tolerate drying out, so water regularly to ensure the trunk remains damp, and spray the trunk with water during hot weather (and also during dry conditions in winter). After the first year of planting, apply a liquid feed to the fronds and trunk once a month, from mid-spring to mid-summer, when the plant is in growth. Alternatively, spread controlled-release fertiliser around the base of the plant in spring. Young plants can be stood outside in the summer but keep out of direct sunlight. Avoid indoor temperatures greater than 32°C (90°F). Winter protection: Hardiness tends to increase with the height of the growing point above the ground so young plants with no trunk are not suitable to overwinter outdoors except in very sheltered sites. To protect plants growing outdoors to avoid damage to fronds, put a handful of straw in the crown and fold the fronds in on themselves. Container-grown plants in milder areas should be placed in a sheltered position and the container bubble-wrapped from late October. More substantial wrapping is needed if you have a more exposed garden. Remove wrapping in spring, before new fronds come into growth. In cold gardens tree ferns are best lifted and brought into a conservatory or greenhouse.