Do Tree Ferns grow roots? YES! Watch this...Dicksonia Antarctica

In this video I answer the question, does #treefern #dicksonia #antarctica grow roots when they are planted and if so what do they look like? I have had 5 tree ferns in pots for some time, over 12 months, and I wondered if they had made roots. It has now come time to plant my tree ferns driectly into the ground and in the process of doing so I will be taking them out of their pots and examining their roots. You will see that the question is answered very clearly, yes, they do produce roots. #dicksoniaantarctica
Tree ferns like shady moist conditions and produce fronds from the top of the trunk. They should be watered and fed at the top of the trunk and the whole trunk should also be soaked. It is said that you cannot over water a tree fern. Also, whilst the tree fern is hardy in the UK climate it is worth protecting them over winter. You will find an entire video on my channel dedicated to tree fern winter protection.
#gardens #gardening #marksgardenuk #gardendesign
Please also visit my website: www.marksgardenUK.com
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[@santoshrai1020]

Hello Mark. Please don't work too hard in these hot weather. BTW thanks for uploading this interesting video again as always. Stay hydrated and Stay safe.

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Hi Santos. Thank you. I definitely will stay hydrated. In fact, I'm using the hot days to edit inside where it is cooler. Thank you for caring. Have a great day 😊

[@HaydnMowbray]

Great video Mark. I really like the way you braced them in the pots. It's worth adding mycorrhizal fungi to the root ball when you plant them in the ground as it helps them quickly establish. Some of mine have roots at least 5ft away from the trunk after 4 years in the ground. . Unless you feed the trunk direct the only place the plant can draw nutrition is from the roots in the ground so I think the roots play a far more important roll than just stabilising the plant. The roots in the earth also make the plants less susceptible to drying out. Keep up the great videos

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Thank you. Excellent comment and invaluable additional information. Great!! Thanks again. Mark

[@markborder906]

In my previous garden I used to protect my D a trunk over winter by building an open box of polystyrene and filling with straw and leaves. One spring as I was about to remove the protection I spotted a harvest mouse nest in the straw, so I left it. It stayed in the “box” all summer and the following winter. When I finally removed the protection the following spring I found the trunk had rooted horizontally into the straw/leaves, almost doubling the diameter of the trunk. Although the tips of the nee roots dies back, the trunk is still wide. As you say, they produce roots, masses and masses of them.

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Incredible. I'm tempted to try this myself. Mark

[@markborder906]

@@MarksHouseandGardenUK You have to put up with 18 odd months of them looking untidy, that’s the downside.

[@helenanders5532]

It's all looking good.

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Thanks Helen, I've now underplanted it. Results coming soon x

[@tonymulreid6347]

Thanks Mark, always find these videos very interesting even though I don't have any of these trees. Hope you're well.

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Thanks Tony. Thank you for watching and commenting. Mark

[@davidbrewster6834]

Thank you Mark!! I've wondered whether a cut tree fern will root and you have really nailed the answer. I'd thought of buying tree ferns raised from spores to be certain of roots but now I see you can take a cut fern and it will root. I'm sure if you can get your tree fern rooted into the ground it will do much better.

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Hi David. I have been informed several times now that getting them to root does indeed help their prospects. So you are absolutely correct. Best wishes. Mark

[@shuvadey4294]

Very informative and interesting video. I was curious about their root growth too. I have just planted mine in the ground two weeks after delivery. The ground has been frozen for the last 2-3 weeks. I got delivery on 9th January unseen from The Palm Centre. It's a 5 footer.

[@roberthamilton2334]

Interesting!! Always thought this part of the tree fern was dead, clearly not.

[@roberthamilton2334]

Hi Mark, do you feed your tree ferns to aid growth? Thanks.

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Hi Robert. I was surprised too. I'm still not sure if the root has any connection with the crown though. And yes, weekly liquid seaweed food during the summer. Nothing in the winter. Mark

[@roberthamilton2334]

Thanks, I'll spray crown and roots in spring to autumn.👍

[@rbrown9907]

I have a tree fern that is approximately 5 feet tall that fell over. I thought it was dead but now I see that new leaves are forming, even though it's laying on the ground. My question is, If I leave it on the ground, do you think it will produce roots there or should I lift it upright and place it back in the ground again and this time stabilize it? Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

I believe it will make roots wherever it touches the soil. If you watch my latest video, planting a bendy tree fern, you can see roots growing down from the side where it touches earth. I hope that helps. Mark

[@paulinecrispin121]

Thanks for an interesting video. By the way do you ever take a rest?

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Hi Pauline. Lol. Thanks for this it made me smile. I do rest actually. But you just get to see me at work mostly. Thank you 😊

[@jackdavid167]

The roots probably helps then stand up🤔

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Yes of course. You're absolutely right. 😊

[@jackdavid167]

@@MarksHouseandGardenUK good to know there not deep though

[@kateeveritt3292]

Yesterday I decided to give up on one of my tree ferns which was killed over winter 22/23. It’s been in the ground maybe 7-8 years and is about 4 feet tall. I simply rocked it back and forth and it toppled over. Absolutely no roots, although I know it had some when planted because it had been in a pot for 2-3 years. I’m thinking maybe the roots rotted away since it died ? We will probably remove the other 3 which we lost over the next few weeks so I’ll see if they are the same.

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Hi Kate. Can you bear to wait another 12 months before giving up on them? Lack of roots does not necessarily mean the plants are dead.

[@kateeveritt3292]

@@MarksHouseandGardenUK thankyou for replying. If there was no growth last year and no signs of anything now then surely they’re lost ? We had -12c in December 22 and all 4 have failed to show any signs of life since. Is it really possible that they might come back ? I would dearly love to think that they might ! Love your videos Mark.

[@kearabetswemo4918]

Is it possible to be propagated in the ground

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Hi there, I'm sorry I don't know much about propagating the tree fern. Mark

[@tedscott1478]

If they didn't have roots how would the spores grow?

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Hi ted, in the context of this video i mean the tree fern trunks which people purchase and plonk in the ground. You're correct though yes, the tiny plants would need roots to get going.