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> "Steve Drake" <Steve@_NOSPAM_.Drakey.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:d98k8j$4pk$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk...
>
> Hi Steve: I wanted to wait to see if anyone else who knows more about
> tree ferns than me posted in but you have been unlucky here so you will
> have to do with my less quality knowledge of these things. What you say
> sounds correct up to a point in that they do indeed feed through the top
> of the "stem". However, I have had 7 of them in my back garden for years
> now that I grew from spores (if anyone else is tempted, it is rewarding in
> the same kind of way that learning latin or making lace is; next time I
> will just buy some). Despite what you were told and what seems to make
> sense, teh ones that I potted on each year thrived and the ones that I
> potted on less often did not. The size difference is three fold at this
> stage.
> I now have 4 nice big specimens (well after 7 years of growing the effing
> things, they have trunks of about 8 inches and have maybe metre long
> fronds if you will forgive the mixed measurement units) and three stunted
> ones. Also every time I repot them, the "roots" have completely and
> utterly crammed every available space in the pots. Next time I move them,
> I will just plant the big ones in the ground where they will stay until I
> die or they are stolen.
>
> So, they do like good compost/feeding through the roots. If you are in a
> hurry, just peat based potting compost will do; if you have the time and
> materials, then add in any of garden compost, composted bark, charcoal
> (one book I read said to do that; do not sue me if they die; I just
> chucked in some barbecue charcoal (NOT the briquettes)) and some slow
> release granular feed and or manure. I just guessed proportions and mixed
> it all up as I found whatever I had. They seemed to love it.
>
> The next thing to watch is to NEVER (EVER (EVER)) let the trunk dry out.
> In Summer, in warm weather, water once a week at the very least from above
> and move to teh shade if going away. In WInter watch it if the weather
> has been dry.
> I forgot all about mine a year ago during a dry spring (early 2004) and 3
> of mine nearly died from drying out.
>
> That is my take on them; there are web sites that will give much more
> accurate information but if you take them too seriously, what I wrote
> above will sound very slapdash and careless but you will end up a nervous
> wreck.
>
> Des
>
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>
>