Cyathea root pruning...

countrylover

Cyathea root pruning...

Post by countrylover »

I would like to make my fern a bit lighter than it is now. I know air layering will not work (or will it?) So I decided to make the rootball 25% smaller. Can this treatment kill the plant?
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Arlon Tishmarsh
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Re: Cyathea root pruning...

Post by Arlon Tishmarsh »

Marcin, I did it last year on my two larger cooperi and it had no ill effect on them. In fact, they put out the largest fronds since i've had it.
countrylover

Re: Cyathea root pruning...

Post by countrylover »

Oh, at last some good news icon_cheers icon_cheers Thanks Mark icon_thumleft icon_thumleft It saves me a lot of money, trouble and my back.
Tom2006
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Re: Cyathea root pruning...

Post by Tom2006 »

On another forum there is a guy who does this every few years for his potted tree ferns and reports very good growth.
Most wanted list - Any Young Trachycarpus and/or fern.
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Arlon Tishmarsh
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Re: Cyathea root pruning...

Post by Arlon Tishmarsh »

countrylover wrote:Oh, at last some good news icon_cheers icon_cheers Thanks Mark icon_thumleft icon_thumleft It saves me a lot of money, trouble and my back.
Have a look at this Marcin.................http://www.growingontheedge.net/viewtop ... f=2&t=7266. He regularly trims his roots , great topic too and what a fern / tree fern enthusiast this guy is , i think its the one Toms refering to as well.
Tom2006
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Re: Cyathea root pruning...

Post by Tom2006 »

That's the one. Thanks for digging it up. It's a great read.
Most wanted list - Any Young Trachycarpus and/or fern.
countrylover

Re: Cyathea root pruning...

Post by countrylover »

Super :mrgreen: I will search the net when I have a spare moment.
I also read that C. medullaris likes to be potbound. And since mine has it's fronds shortened pruning the roots will be balanced already
countrylover

Re: Cyathea root pruning...

Post by countrylover »

Done. No wonder it was so heavy. Apart from roots the pot was full of heavy gravel
Tom2006
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Re: Cyathea root pruning...

Post by Tom2006 »

countrylover wrote:Done. No wonder it was so heavy. Apart from roots the pot was full of heavy gravel
Good job you potted on, sounds like a poor effort with whoever potted it before you.
Most wanted list - Any Young Trachycarpus and/or fern.
countrylover

Re: Cyathea root pruning...

Post by countrylover »

Why poor? It was made so the potting mix had excellent drainage and to make plant stable. I used very light mix of compost, expanded clay aggregate and styrofoam. Anyway, now it weighs maybe 15 kilos less icon_blackeye
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Arlon Tishmarsh
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Re: Cyathea root pruning...

Post by Arlon Tishmarsh »

countrylover wrote:.........now it weighs maybe 15 kilos less icon_blackeye
about the same weight loss as your wallet after you paid for it..... :lol:

Will have to trim my two cyathea soon, the roots are over the top of the pots now. They're certainly vigorous.
countrylover

Re: Cyathea root pruning...

Post by countrylover »

about the same weight loss as your wallet after you paid for it.....
Nein!! I paid by bank transfer :lol: :lol:
Tom2006
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Re: Cyathea root pruning...

Post by Tom2006 »

countrylover wrote:Why poor? It was made so the potting mix had excellent drainage and to make plant stable. I used very light mix of compost, expanded clay aggregate and styrofoam. Anyway, now it weighs maybe 15 kilos less icon_blackeye
Its just lazy to use lots of heavy gravel. Must better to use a good fine bark along with something like perlite. icon_thumleft
Most wanted list - Any Young Trachycarpus and/or fern.
countrylover

Re: Cyathea root pruning...

Post by countrylover »

You're right but when you have a "tree fern farm" it is difficult. Iagine you have dozens of big tree ferns with lightweight pots and in windy weather you have to walk around and put up all the fallen ones. I also found a piece of screw in the pot, seems like the pot was screwed into the floor to keep the plant upright.
But seems like the plant did not mind all this gravel. The roots broke 2 plastic pots and plant is healthy, the second leaf is unfurling :D
If Spring arrives this year I can give little soirees under my tree fern :mrgreen:
Tom2006
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Re: Cyathea root pruning...

Post by Tom2006 »

countrylover wrote:You're right but when you have a "tree fern farm" it is difficult. Iagine you have dozens of big tree ferns with lightweight pots and in windy weather you have to walk around and put up all the fallen ones. I also found a piece of screw in the pot, seems like the pot was screwed into the floor to keep the plant upright.
But seems like the plant did not mind all this gravel. The roots broke 2 plastic pots and plant is healthy, the second leaf is unfurling :D
If Spring arrives this year I can give little soirees under my tree fern :mrgreen:
The main thing is they are at a good home now. Make sure you get some pictures up soon please icon_thumleft
Most wanted list - Any Young Trachycarpus and/or fern.
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