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Harvesting tree fern

Discussion in 'Everything Else Orchid' started by DaveH_SF, Dec 17, 2018.

  1. Dec 17, 2018 #1
    DaveH_SF

    DaveH_SF Member

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    I have a pretty large tree fern in my garden which recently died, and I'm interested in how to go about saving the trunk material for orchid mounts. Can I cut it down at any time, or should it "dry" first? How much of it can be used for mounts - just the center part, or further out towards the surface too? Any difference between the top part vs. the lower part of the trunk? The whole thing is about a foot in diameter and about 15 ft high.
     
  2. Dec 18, 2018 #2
    Foozil

    Foozil Active Member

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    Do you know which species it is? Some are useless for orchids...
     
  3. Dec 18, 2018 #3
    Ray

    Ray Orchid Iconoclast Supporting Member

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    As there is probably little experience among folks with DIY tree fern harvesting, I would take it down as close to the ground as possible to maximize the amount recovered, and simply make a go/no-go decision about its viability as I cut it up.
     
  4. Dec 18, 2018 #4
    DaveH_SF

    DaveH_SF Member

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    Thanks, Ray and Foozil. It's a Cyathea medullaris (Black Tree Fern). It has very large coarse frond stubs at the trunk, which might limit the usefulness of the outer part. But I guess I'll find out when it's cut.
     
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  5. Dec 18, 2018 #5
    Foozil

    Foozil Active Member

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    Perfect. I use the inner parts of the 'trunk', not the outer surface. Also it can be beneficial to soak the tree fern in a lime or dolomite/water mix to increase the PH as tree fern does go pretty acidic after a while. And apart from that I echo what Ray said above. :)
     
  6. Dec 19, 2018 #6
    DaveH_SF

    DaveH_SF Member

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    Thanks, Foozil. I hadn't thought about pH.