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Dicksonia antarctica do the fronds always die throughout winter + watering

Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 7:59 pm
by cordyman
Took me a few minutes to bag up my Dicksonia antarctica with a fleece jacket tonight. Fronds really getting in the way.

Are they going to die off anyway over winter and new ones appearing next year and if so could this warranty trimming the fronds down by half to help with putting the fleece jacket on?

Also should these be watered over winter and above what nightime forcast temp if so?

I think over winter i'll leave straw permanently in the crown, put the fleece jacket over, then put a clear bin bag over with holes in for waterproofing and ventilation

Re: Dicksonia antarctica do the fronds always die throughout winter + watering

Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 10:10 am
by Rod
cordyman wrote:Took me a few minutes to bag up my Dicksonia antarctica with a fleece jacket tonight. Fronds really getting in the way.

Are they going to die off anyway over winter and new ones appearing next year and if so could this warranty trimming the fronds down by half to help with putting the fleece jacket on?

Also should these be watered over winter and above what nightime forcast temp if so?

I think over winter i'll leave straw permanently in the crown, put the fleece jacket over, then put a clear bin bag over with holes in for waterproofing and ventilation
They will lose their fronds if it gets too cold - Not sure what that temp is for you, but my Dicksonia fibrosa's always keep their fronds down to -5.0°c, without dieing off. On the other hand Cyathea medullaris will lose all it's fronds at that temperature. But will grow back in spring.

Re: Dicksonia antarctica do the fronds always die throughout winter + watering

Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 10:16 am
by Yorkshire Kris
Rod wrote:
cordyman wrote:Took me a few minutes to bag up my Dicksonia antarctica with a fleece jacket tonight. Fronds really getting in the way.

Are they going to die off anyway over winter and new ones appearing next year and if so could this warranty trimming the fronds down by half to help with putting the fleece jacket on?

Also should these be watered over winter and above what nightime forcast temp if so?

I think over winter i'll leave straw permanently in the crown, put the fleece jacket over, then put a clear bin bag over with holes in for waterproofing and ventilation
They will lose their fronds if it gets too cold - Not sure what that temp is for you, but my Dicksonia fibrosa's always keep their fronds down to -5.0°c, without dieing off.

How hardy is fibrosa? I have a small one and wondered whether I would ever be able to plant it out.

Re: Dicksonia antarctica do the fronds always die throughout winter + watering

Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 10:23 am
by Rod
Yorkshire Kris wrote:
Rod wrote:
cordyman wrote:Took me a few minutes to bag up my Dicksonia antarctica with a fleece jacket tonight. Fronds really getting in the way.

Are they going to die off anyway over winter and new ones appearing next year and if so could this warranty trimming the fronds down by half to help with putting the fleece jacket on?

Also should these be watered over winter and above what nightime forcast temp if so?

I think over winter i'll leave straw permanently in the crown, put the fleece jacket over, then put a clear bin bag over with holes in for waterproofing and ventilation
They will lose their fronds if it gets too cold - Not sure what that temp is for you, but my Dicksonia fibrosa's always keep their fronds down to -5.0°c, without dieing off.

How hardy is fibrosa? I have a small one and wondered whether I would ever be able to plant it out.
Hi Kris ~ D.Fibrosa has hardier fronds than D.antartica, and can take lower temps before losing them.
I can't tell you at what temp the fronds will be fried, as it don't get cold enough where i live to prove this. ( It is very very rare to drop to -6.0°c where i live )
And even at that temp D. fibrosa will still have all its fronds.

Re: Dicksonia antarctica do the fronds always die throughout

Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 11:02 pm
by Tom2006
-5C or lower should see off the fronds. Any higher just stuff fleece in and around the crown. As for watering the natural rain should be enough but in milder weather no harm in spraying the trunk and the crown.