If you are attempting to take gigantic plants from their natural home environment and growing them far away from their normal home environment around your house to provide shade, fruit, aroma, or just some anesthetic it can be daunting, particularly if it’s just you doing it.
One plant that certainly provides ample shade is Dicksonia Antarctica, so today we will show you how to grow Dicksonia Antarctica in pots.
What Is Dicksonia Antarctica?
Dicksonia Antarctica, also referred to as the Soft Tree Fern or Man Fern, is one of several species of evergreen tree fern.
This evergreen category of species gets its name from the fact that they rarely die.
They just keep regrowing as their trunk is essentially rhizomes from previous growth.
The Dicksonia Antarctica hails from eastern Australia, and specifically Tasmania; this is why some people like to call this genus the Tasmanian Tree Fern.
However, be aware this specimen has absolutely no flowers, so again, no fragrance at all!
Anatomy of Dicksonia Antarctica
The Dicksonia Antarctica trunk is very thick, also known as a rhizome.
From the tip of this exceptionally hairy rhizome, you will find the growth of fonds.
These fonds can be either sterile or fertile and can continue to grow and reach out. The forested canopy can be around 19 ft.
Did You Know? In fact, the Dicksonia Antarctica will grow as tall as 49 ft, under the right environment and circumstances. The average point where the trunks stop growing is 15-16 ft.
How to Plant Dicksonia Antarctica?
Primarily, you must make sure that the pot is huge enough to house a Dicksonia Antarctica.
Now, let’s get to the steps of planting:
- To begin, you’ll need to take a look at your plant, and assess its root ball size. Be careful not to harm the plant at this stage.
- Next, take your pot and dig a hole in the top soil inside of it that is double the diameter of your plant’s root ball so that you can properly position your plant.
- The plant will need a boost since it is removed from its environment, that is why you’ll want to combine 5 to 10 gallons of compost to the existing soil, and be sure the compost is well mixed.
- If the soil is too dry and does not drain well, then just add a little perlite.
- Put the plant inside the pot and make sure it is fully covered up with the newsoil – compost – perlite mixture.
- Don’t mound the soil up toward the trunk too much, as that can promote rot inside the plant.
- Water as much as you can without drowning the plant. If you do not have a drainage pot and water tray, then make sure you stop well in time before the plant drowns.
Where to Plant Dicksonia Antarctica?
Dicksonia Antarctica has adapted to the moderately humid climate of forests.
Therefore, you’ll mostly find it alongside river banks in areas where it pours rain and where there is minimal sunlight due to continuous shading.
Thus, if you want your plant to flourish you will need to try to duplicate these conditions.
In simple terms, you need to place your Dicksonia Antarctica pot in an area with plenty of shade, little sunlight, and a ton of water.
The Dicksonia Antarctica can handle just a small amount of sunlight, but not too much, and only if there’s a ton of water.
If the plant is dry, sunlight will only help it die much faster.
The same applies to the cold or wind, it can experience just a little bit of cold and just a little bit of wind.
Plus: You have to take some precautions to help protect your plant from these conditions.
How to Care For Dicksonia Antarctica?
Once your Jordan Tree Fern has been successfully planted, how do we care for it to ensure that it climbs to truly remarkable heights as we’ve discussed, stays green, and starts providing you with the shade that you desire?
Watering
Consistent watering is the absolute key to a thriving Dicksonia Antarctica.
The plant should never dry out, otherwise you’ll be seeing the trunk, stems, and fonds conversations changing colour, and ultimately begin to shrivel.
You’ll have a small window of opportunity to revive it once you see those signs.
Support
Suppose you’ve recently transitioned your plant from the soil to a pot or moved it from one pot to another, then you are aware that the plant’s trunk may not be as tight now as it was before.
Regardless, it is fine to place some wood pieces for support, just make sure they are tall enough and thick enough to support the plants needing it!
Fertilizer
As we talked about earlier, Tasmanian Tree Fern(s) need an edge when you take them out of their natural environment.
This is where fertilizers come in. You can use compost, some like liquid feed with the water or even a spring feed sprinkled around the base.
Cutting
Similar to all plants, some leaves, or fonds, will grow too distant from the roots and eventually brown or die.
This occurs to allow for new growth.
As a gardener, it’s necessary to remove those brown fonds to help your plant out and allow the new growth a chance to flourish.
Remember: don’t cut anything within a 15 cm distance to the base of the plant.
Winter Protection
The Dicksonia Antarctica is moderately cold hardy, but not too much cold!
Because of this, you should wrap several layers of fleece around 1.5 feet of its trunk.
This will protect it from the cold but allow for breathing.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, Dicksonia Antarctica is a gigantic plant that pretty much never dies.
It is primarily native to Australia, but today, it can be shipped anywhere and grown in pots.
Well, as long as you plant it, and keep the water up!
