What temps can Dicksonia antarctica take , lowest temps to start protecting?
What temps can Dicksonia antarctica take , lowest temps to start protecting?
Hello
bought my first Dicksonia antarctica this year which is in a pot. When should I start protecting it? Night temps at the moment are no lower than about 7c . I was hoping I could start protecting it start of Nov. What is the lowest temp they can take without protection? When will you start protecting yours?
Thanks
bought my first Dicksonia antarctica this year which is in a pot. When should I start protecting it? Night temps at the moment are no lower than about 7c . I was hoping I could start protecting it start of Nov. What is the lowest temp they can take without protection? When will you start protecting yours?
Thanks
Re: What temps can Dicksonia antarctica take , lowest temps to start protectin
I`ve had mine for a few years now. I generally wait till frost is forecast then stuff the crown with straw, tie the fronds up and move next to the house wall. If it looks like we`re going to get an extended period of really low temps then I would bring inside.
I`m into new territory this year however as mine are now planted out.
I`m into new territory this year however as mine are now planted out.
- Dave Brown
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Re: What temps can Dicksonia antarctica take , lowest temps to start protectin
I generally have not protected other than a ball of fleece, or leaves stuffed in the crown. The fleece worked better than leaves due to Blackbirds pecking the leaves out and the knuckles getting frosted
Last winter my Dicksonia antarctica were unwittingly protected by 33cm of snow pinning the fronds down and creating an igloo with warm ground air keeping the plant snug. Even after the freeze which saw -10C here I still had a full crown of fronds
After that I protected by throwing a duvet over the crowns trapping warm ground air under.
I will not be gathering fronds up and wrapping, as this allows all that ground warmth to radiate into open space while allowing the Dicksonia antarctica to gradually cool down to air temps. I am sure the fleece/duvet over will protect from freezes better than wrapping.
Dicksonia antarctica do not seem to suffer frond damage at above -5C but below that they will fry. The advantage of keeping fronds is you get a much better flush, as the plant is photosynthesising to help produce the new flush![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif)
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
Last winter my Dicksonia antarctica were unwittingly protected by 33cm of snow pinning the fronds down and creating an igloo with warm ground air keeping the plant snug. Even after the freeze which saw -10C here I still had a full crown of fronds
![icon_thumright icon_thumright](./images/smilies/icon_thumright.gif)
I will not be gathering fronds up and wrapping, as this allows all that ground warmth to radiate into open space while allowing the Dicksonia antarctica to gradually cool down to air temps. I am sure the fleece/duvet over will protect from freezes better than wrapping.
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif)
Dicksonia antarctica do not seem to suffer frond damage at above -5C but below that they will fry. The advantage of keeping fronds is you get a much better flush, as the plant is photosynthesising to help produce the new flush
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif)
Best regards
Dave![icon_thumright icon_thumright](./images/smilies/icon_thumright.gif)
_________________________________________________
Roll on summer.....
http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk
Dave
![icon_thumright icon_thumright](./images/smilies/icon_thumright.gif)
_________________________________________________
Roll on summer.....
http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk
Re: What temps can Dicksonia antarctica take , lowest temps to start protectin
In my experience they will survive a normal dip to -8C and bounce back to above freezing during the day.
They don't like -14C, -17C and -18C.
The threshold for death is somewhere in between.
They don't like -14C, -17C and -18C.
The threshold for death is somewhere in between.
Re: What temps can Dicksonia antarctica take , lowest temps to start protectin
I have read on a website that only deals with ferns/tree ferns and it said on there that a Dicksonia antarctica's max hardiness level was -9c.
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Re: What temps can Dicksonia antarctica take , lowest temps to start protectin
Mine died at -8- -10 over the last two winter. Only protected with straw in the crown. As been said many times this year. It was the duration of the cold that killed them not the lowest temps.
Re: What temps can Dicksonia antarctica take , lowest temps to start protectin
Daves advice is good but bare in mind he didn't have to continual day and night zero or subzero temps. As others said its the continual freezing temps that kill them. In a normal winter in your location a dry thick packing of fleece in the crown should be fine. As soon as temps get below -6c you need to give much more protection from a duvet to the thick loft type insulation but always remove once temps rise above freezing.
Most wanted list - Any Young Trachycarpus and/or fern.
Re: What temps can Dicksonia antarctica take , lowest temps to start protectin
Tom2006 wrote:Daves advice is good but bare in mind he didn't have to continual day and night zero or subzero temps. As others said its the continual freezing temps that kill them. In a normal winter in your location a dry thick packing of fleece in the crown should be fine. As soon as temps get below -6c you need to give much more protection from a duvet to the thick loft type insulation but always remove once temps rise above freezing.
if we get any serious long low temps I have a boiler jacket in the shed ready to wrap up
Re: What temps can Dicksonia antarctica take , lowest temps
Good plan BUT bare in mind without any heat source in deep prolonged cold they will still freeze. Maybe a few hot water bottles under the jacket IF we get a repeat of last winters spell, just change the water every 12 hours or so.
Most wanted list - Any Young Trachycarpus and/or fern.
Re: What temps can Dicksonia antarctica take , lowest temps
Tom is it just the crown I need to protect or the roots with water bottles too?Tom2006 wrote:Good plan BUT bare in mind without any heat source in deep prolonged cold they will still freeze. Maybe a few hot water bottles under the jacket IF we get a repeat of last winters spell, just change the water every 12 hours or so.
- Dave Brown
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Re: What temps can Dicksonia antarctica take , lowest temps
If you gather fronds up and wrap, then you have no external warmth, and are exposing the ground/roots to radiation frost.
Throwing insulation over the top allows the ground warmth to continually rise into the protected area, and at the same time is protecting the roots from any freeze.![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif)
Throwing insulation over the top allows the ground warmth to continually rise into the protected area, and at the same time is protecting the roots from any freeze.
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif)
Best regards
Dave![icon_thumright icon_thumright](./images/smilies/icon_thumright.gif)
_________________________________________________
Roll on summer.....
http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk
Dave
![icon_thumright icon_thumright](./images/smilies/icon_thumright.gif)
_________________________________________________
Roll on summer.....
http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk
Re: What temps can Dicksonia antarctica take , lowest temps
No harm in trying to warm the roots if its potted although I believe that if the roots were to die but the trunk and crown survived then the roots would re grow but I don't know this for certain.
To be honest, if your Dicksonia antarctica is potted then just bring into a shed or garage if deep cold is forecast.
To be honest, if your Dicksonia antarctica is potted then just bring into a shed or garage if deep cold is forecast.
Most wanted list - Any Young Trachycarpus and/or fern.
Re: What temps can Dicksonia antarctica take , lowest temps
I can appreciate how that could work on a 2 or 3ft trunked specimen, but what about if the tunks is 6ft or more....?Dave Brown wrote:Throwing insulation over the top allows the ground warmth to continually rise into the protected area, and at the same time is protecting the roots from any freeze.
Re: What temps can Dicksonia antarctica take , lowest temps
You would need a very large cover so it wouldn't work. Don't forget that Dave's winters although they have been cold often saw the daytime temps go above freezing. If you get day and night time temps at or below freezing for a while you need some serious protection on them as they will eventually freeze right through.Simba wrote:I can appreciate how that could work on a 2 or 3ft trunked specimen, but what about if the tunks is 6ft or more....?Dave Brown wrote:Throwing insulation over the top allows the ground warmth to continually rise into the protected area, and at the same time is protecting the roots from any freeze.
At the moment I'm using fleece in and around the crowns of mine and all seem to be ok so far although the coldest we've had is -2-3C and we haven't had an ice day yet, and hopefully wont all winter although this weekend will push us close.
I think the best bet for the larger tree ferns is the large hot water cylinder insulating jackets, on a larger fern get a couple and then stuff the crown with LOADS of fleece and cover so stop rain/snow melt.
I am unwrapping my fleece during the day IF its got wet, drying the fleece and back on. If it looks to turn VERY cold they will be either in my heated polyhouse or in the living room!
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Most wanted list - Any Young Trachycarpus and/or fern.