Hessian Sacking - Dicksonia protection

[kata]

Soz, I know it sounds a winter topic but I am buying for winter..now.

Greenthumb came to do the Autumn weed n feed and spotted the Fern and said he liked it. He then said to buy sacking and a breathable bag.

Maybe something like this Hessian, even color for over winter....

http://tinyurl.com/kw5mabk

[fern Rob]

I wouldn't advise it, stick to fleece.

[kata]

Tell me why Rob!

Thanks!

[GoggleboxUK]

Go with the 'Mumfie style' protection K, tried and tested method that suits our Northerly conditions well.

[kata]

I have to find it then G,

Thanks!

[fern Rob]

It holds water in my opinion and may rot.

[kata]

Oh, ok Rob, I'll still do my original plan then.

Circle of wire like Cordy said, rolls of wound round fleece like you said, and finally the leaves over the crown stuffed with fleece, like I sad.

We omit the water I guess.

[fern Rob]

I wouldn't water it in winter if its outside, I would put loads of fleece around the trunk and crown. I think I will put fleece over one of the Dicksonia antarctica tomorrow and take pics so you can see how I protect them in winter. I will take It off after to early yet for the plants or it may flush in winter .

[GoggleboxUK]

Water holds thermal energy better than air so watering and adding a heat source such as a hot water bottle will be better than leaving it dry.

I'm going to attempt to keep the fronds on mine over winter.

[kata]

I am just going to bend mine over the crown G,

Rob, an Image will be fab, thanks when you got time!

[fern Rob]

Tree fern winter fleecing pics.
Hope this helps.

[kata]

That looks quite cozy Rob, And I am understanding the Instructions.

Thank you!

[fern Rob]

That looks quite cozy Rob, And I am understanding the Instructions.

Thank you!

Also if its really cold and wet I sometimes put a large pot over the crown but not for to long.

[Dave Brown]

The problem with wrapping the trunk is you are only slowing down freezing by the volume of fleece used. There is no warmth added, and if the fronds are removed or collapse through freezing, the root area is exposed to radiation frost.

I throw duvets over the whole thing, fronds and all. This creates an igloo and warmth radiating from the ground is trapped keeping the temps slightly warmer. You get to keep the fronds which fuels the plant through the flush.

Here in Jan in one of the 5 snow episodes of last winter and spring. The mound is DelBoy Dicksonia antarctica with a duvet thrown over.

Don't have a pic of Delboy after winter, but this is how the Squat Boy Dicksonia antarctica, which was also duvet covered, looked after winter had finished.

The old fronds are removed after the new flush has grown. This is how Delboy Dicksonia antarctica looked in August

[fern Rob]

Fronds don't survive winter in this part of the country in my experience. Fleece worked well for me when we had lows of below -19 and my Dicksonia antarctica survived it.