ahh I'm trying new substrates 🪴 Fluval Stratum & Tree Fern Fibre

[@daleksanddirewolves]

With fluval stratum I've found that the fluval in the reservoir quickly becomes black sludge. It doesn't harm the plant and you can add it to your watering can afterwards. But since it's so expensive I want to be able to reuse it multiple times. I now add a substrate that doesn't fall apart to the bottom of the cup (usually leca, but sometimes perlite) up to my reservoir line, then fluval on top. The fluval that doesn't sit in water keeps its shape and can be reused afterwards!

[@ThePattiable]

This! I use leca for the bottom of my prop jar or whatever and I'll even usually mix the stratum w/perlite or pon to make it stretch further. I also add a teeny bit, like a pinch, of stratum to my water props too.

[@hennesseyme9112]

It becomes sludge if you mess with it.

[@littleheaven70]

I live in New Zealand so tree fern fibre has been gaining popularity for a few years here. I don't like the totems at all, but I love love love the loose tree fern fibre. I mix it with coco chips to stuff my plastic grow poles, so that it doesn't all just fall out and goes a bit further (because it's quite expensive here too). I use it instead of coco coir in my aroid mix (bark, coco chips, tree fern, pumice, perlite, worm castings, charcoal) and I mix it with a dash of chunky perlite and charcoal for growing jewel orchids - a suggestion I came across in the Canadian Orchid Congress newsletter. They seem to love it. My absolute favourite use is mixed about 70/30 with perlite for germinating seeds, propagating stem cuttings, rehabbing plants, and growing baby Anthurium. It doesn't get as waterlogged as sphagnum when you wet it, and it stays very airy, so I don't worry about keeping constantly moist. Also it's way easier to pick off the roots! I've just started trialling a simple blend of fern fibre, bark, perlite and charcoal because I plan to up-pot my baby warocqueanum into it (she's in fern fibre and perlite only at the moment). I used it for a variegated Hoya fishtail that kept rotting in soil and it's growing the most insane roots now. I've also just put one of my Alocasias in it that was hating life in pon, and I can already see lots of new roots. You can just grow plants in pure tree fern but I like the extra aeration you get with the chunkier amendments.

[@nothin2656]

Watching how rough you were with the splendid felt like a horror film

[@2or4strokes14]

Fluval for prop is amazing it does loose moisture quiet quick but I rate it. ❤

[@EarthenCreep]

I just recently started using Fluval Stratum for my alocasia corms. They seem to really love it so far, a couple have already started opening up after just 2 weeks!

[@hennesseyme9112]

Just don't let it dry out. I killed six corms because I put the cup among bigger plants and forgot about it. Fluval was bone dry and killed my plants. Heard on a vid that it will suck moisture from your plants.

[@pchan8687]

I love using tree fern + perlite for Anthurium. They root like crazy!

[@roslyngoodridge9]

Glad you decided to put the splendid all around the pole❤

[@mindfulmadeline]

I have loved using tree fern fiber for rehabs, imports, and propagations, it has been amazing!!! I got a imported palidiflorum with two massive leaves, the bigger one was almost two feet long, but curled up from dehydration. I put it in water for a week (maybe longer 😬) and all the roots rotted off immediately. They werent super healthy to begin with tho. So I cut off pretty much every root, and put it into a tree fern fiber mixed with perllite, pon and a leca layer at the bottom (no drainage). It re-rooted soooo well, and extremely quickly, and i didnt lose either leaf! Im totallty sold now and have had other amazing results so far with other plants such as philodendron verrucosum, and several other anthuriums.

[@andyandbee]

I'm SO curious in these mediums, especially because of the nutrients (compared to perlite and moss). The most exciting thing is not having to rip off roots like with moss lol, *you might with tree fern fibre* but, you can leave it on (in soil, at least) when you pot it up. The only con I've heard of is the expense. (My husband wouldn't mind though, he's elated I've found a hobby, a *passion* and that I already spend a ton on planty things 😂 I'll just not buy a plant or something else planty that month. *Enough ranting about my life* Thanks for explaining more about them in this video!!!! 💚🪴🌿

[@julieoyundo]

I'm so excited for this video and can't wait to hear your results and thoughts. I don't know a lot about tree fern but I loooove fluval. I mean I Stan the shit. You have a corm to grow out put it in fluval. Have cutting to propgate put it in fluval. Have a root rotted plant put it in fluval. This is my shit. It's so easy to use. I mean I add water clear to the top. I have never rotted anything in it. I've tried mixing it 50/50 with small perlite. It works the same but stretches it out. Can you tell? I really love it 😂❤😂❤

[@od.vandeveer]

I have added coarse treefern fiber to spagnum in my moss pole and planted my monstera albo on it. Hope she likes it. I don't like the thought of those poles you put the splendid on, and how would you extend them?

[@latanyamckenzie277]

This was a good video. I think i would like the tree fern fiber but we will see with the experiment results.

[@PhoenixFyreRising]

I love using Fluval.

[@ninasuculentasymas]

Hello Emma from Puerto Rico!!! I love using both. The fluval a little pricey but the tree fern fiber I use from here in PR. My plants love it!!! 🌿🪴🙋🏼‍♀️💚🌱 Mu staghorn fern is planted in a tree fern fiber basket and doing very well. It’s been there for over a year and receives rain water.

[@NorthbertR]

Thank you for sharing the video. I was looking to gather info on those totems and they don't seem to do the best job for plants that like to root in moss-pole. I have the suspicion that they weave too tightly .... although pothos will attach themselves even to the wall :-)

[@KathyGallagher01]

I love using Stratum for props and tree fern fibre in pots the plants root like crazy, I’ve rooted Hoya in a matter of days using tree fern. Both are amazing substrates the tree fern would be so natural for the plants to grow on, the aroids root amazing on poles. T

[@Anni-Ka93]

I love the t-shirt ❤ would you be able to share where you got it from?

[@caitlin228]

Looking forward to updates on the tree fern fiber. It's still really expensive & hard to find in the US. My understanding is New Zealand has very strict conservation laws so moss/fern fiber from NZ is guaranteed to be sustainable.

[@sunshinecarnivores1919]

Never used tree fern fiber, but I have used fluval stratum for my red mangroves. Never used them for any other plants other than my red mangroves.

[@mikaheslop7928]

I am definitely interested in the tree fern fiber. I tried stratum, I like you, am an underwaterer. It dried out way too quick for me. I felt like once it dried out it literally sucked any moisture out of the plant. Just my experience. Everyone has their own journey. Good luck on both❤

[@sharonmcloughlin2931]

I've been wanting to put one of my Queen Anthurium on a pole but was afraid the sharp edges of the "D" pole might damage the leaves. The tree fern fiber pole looks like a great option. I can't wait to see the updates 🙂

[@carolstuff]

I use stratum for props & rehab. I’ve used tree fern fibre for my onion seeds & they did well. I’ve only just started using tree fern fiber mixed with perlite as a substrate, but too soon to tell. Looking fwd to your results Emma!

[@REIKIMASTER50]

Fluval is cheapest in the petschop , normal for aquariums. There is zeolite in it so roots will grow fast.

[@bre_the_b]

I so needed this video!

[@michaelkerley452]

I switched from a majority of my plants and about 90% of my Hoya into a mix of tree fern fiber, perlite and charcoal and I have seen massive root growth. All of my aroids and about 99% of the Hoya absolutely love the new mix. The few that do not like it really do not like it. I have not tried it in poles because I just cannot see how to keep the fiber from becoming water phobic. Oh the fiber can become water phobic it just depends on how dry you let it get.

[@hennesseyme9112]

Thanks for this video. I am propping my Albo cutting in a Fiber and Fluval mix, and they are loving it. Fluval is excellent for propping corms, Constellations and Albos. Just don't touch the bio fluval while wet with your bare hands. Ask me how I know not to do that?

[@yiacrazy]

Floral pins to attach the plant to the pole.... They come in different sizes though.

[@TheNetsrac]

very interesting video, thank you 👍🏻 I haven't tried any of those substrates myself... yet P.S. I love the shirt 😃

[@fosterfoster9913]

I’ve been trying tree fern fiber x Pon.

[@maxzytaruk8558]

Big fan of you, Big fan of free fern Fibre haha

[@plantswithsara]

I'm asking myself what to do when the plant reaches the top of the tree fern fiber totem...Can it be extended somehow? (Like securing it to a garden stake at the back?) I'm curious now

[@fabiennebovis-higgins7149]

Yes - Kate from Wildvine did a tutorial on fern fibre extension. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaKxmGaKebiUask . Starts at about 7:20.

[@Tarmantarmant]

Nice video

[@tdillonaniawhitaker1200]

I buy tree frin fiber in Canada..for 10l bag 60$ . It is worth it it is such a good substrate. Fluval is expensive here to like 50 bucks a bag but it is grate for props and corms.

[@GoodGrowing]

I personally wouldn't pay that much for it... but then again, I'm still getting used to it

[@tdillonaniawhitaker1200]

@GoodGrowing ya this morning I went looking for more tree firn fiber as I ordered 6 more plants from equgeneras show that's coming soon . BUT....I had a harder time finding it but this time I ordered a 40 L bag that hurt it was 245.00 ouch ,..but I won't run out for a while lol. It really is a game changer for me .

[@Connor37184]

Did you do anything specific to get that tropics narcotics T-shirt? I tried to order from the uk but it keeps changing to euros.

[@carolinebaines8735]

The tree fern fiber totems seem useless to me. They can’t be extended. I guess you could use them on a Thai Constellation or something similar that just needs support, but a cedar plank is so much cheaper. I love TFF in my moss poles. I’ve been using a mix of moss, TFF, and small orchid bark in my poles. They’re so much easier to keep moist and when I do forget (I am human after all) they’re easier to remoisten. The moss holds everything together. I’ve been testing TFF mixed with #4 perlite and pumice, orchid bark, and charcoal (or some mixture there of) as a substrate. I’m not totally won over. Time will tell. For the price of TFF, it will have to be as amazing as it is in a moss pole. I just paid $89 for 20L and that was $10 less than the cost on Amazon. I’d be thrilled to get it for $13/5L bag. I won’t be buying any more stratum. Moss & perlite works just as well, the perlite makes it easy enough remove the moss from the roots, and the stratum is messy. I’ve had a higher percentage of melted Alocasia corms in stratum vs other substrates. I’m going to use what I have left in my aquarium. Thanks for testing these things out and please keep us updated on your thoughts.

[@mindfulmadeline]

also the girls from @unplantparenthood and @youdontevengrowhere use finely chopped sphagnum and treee fern for poles, helps to keep[ it all together i think. havent tried it myself yet