Anyone here use tree fern?

[varda.elentari]

I recently came across some information about using tree fern as an orchid medium. Supposedly it dries more evenly and decomposes more slowly than bark. I'd like to give it a try but all I can find in my area are rather pricey large bags so I'm concerned about spending on a lot of medium that might not work well for me in the end.

Please share your experience if you use or have used this medium. All I could find when searching the forum was that it was very popular in the past but nothing more specific. What genera do you grow? Do you use it on its own or in a mix? Does it retain more/less water, dry out faster/slower than bark for you? And does it actually dry more evenly throughout the pot?

Many thanks!

[camille1585]

Tree fern seems to have lost in popularity, but I think a lot of it has to do with the big question marks as to it's sustainability. Tree ferns are extremely slow growing, and many species are protected, yet over farmed to make tree fern products. NZ produces a lot of sustainably farmed tree fern from Dicksonia species (or so they say). Things may have changed, but I recall reading that most other tree fern production zones are harvested by clear cutting, with also no regard for the population status of the species in question.

[Paphluvr]

When I got into this hobby 50 years ago it was an easy thing to find, both as shredded fibers, slabs and poles. I don't recall that I used it much or had much luck with it in pots, but the slabs lasted very well with mounts and the poles were great for other plants such as philodendron. Gone the way of osmunda.

[varda.elentari]

Thanks for bringing that up, Camille. I'd rather not use something unsustainable. I'll see if I can look into how the product I've seen is sourced.

Paphluvr, does osmunda differ from tree fern? I thought they were different names for pretty much the same product.

[Paphluvr]

I think you're correct that they are both a type of tree fern, but osmunda was soft, somewhat fuzzy, and springy whereas what I refer to as tree fern was smooth, very rigid and wiry. The osmunda was always in chunks, the tree fern in individual strands of various lengths.

[varda.elentari]

I see. How're you finding the Osmunda?

[Paphluvr]

I don't use either anymore. I don't even know where you can buy osmunda. I threw an old bag out a few years ago, don't know how long I'd been holding on to it at that point.

[varda.elentari]

Well, the fact that no one else here seems to be using it doesn't speak very highly in it's favour. That's too bad. It sounded so promising.

[Roberta]

Osmunda used to be the "go to" medium long ago... before I got into orchids. So looonggg time ago. By the time I got into it, the stuff was completely unavailable - sustainability issue, the trees from which it came no longer existed, at least in any quantity. For awhile, coconut chunks were very popular - especially for orchids that need lots of moisture, like Cyms. But then the quality deteriorated. I think that was about the time of the tsunami in Indonesia. After that, a huge salt problem (no doubt from ocean contact but even the clean stuff broke down in a couple of years, where in the past it would last 5 or 6 years.)

Suggestion... work backwards from the characteristics that you need for the plants that you're repotting. Then you can look at what's available that gives you what you want. Semi-hydro uses inorganic media. Orchiata bark (from Pinus radiata...Kiwi Bark is the same thing but less available) has quite good lasting power. Then, there's plain old bark - which will vary depending on where you are... it's a byproduct of lumber production. Sphagnum goes in a different direction... tends to be water-retentive, but loosely packed in baskets or net pots may actually give excellent aeration. In short, no single right answer... and if you find what you like, be prepared for it to become unavailable at some point requiring yet another switch.

I recall a man who came to the various orchid club meetings... he would be wildly enthusiastic about a new medium, THIS was the answer he had been searching for, for years. About two years later, he would be wildly enthusiastic about something else. His enthusiasms became something of a joke. Of course, what he was seeing was the response of the plants to repotting into fresh medium. For a couple of years, no matter what it was, they did great. Then less great until they got repotted again, no mater WHAT they went into. He was a delightful gentleman, very entertaining... we all learned not to take what he said very seriously, however.

[Chris17]

I’ve used tree fern on Psychopsis and Masdevallia. It dries quickly and lasts a long time before breaking down. My Masdies in small pots of fine tree fern mixed with small perlite are watered about every 2 to 3 days. The roots seem to love it and grow quickly and luxuriantly. Tree fern works well on Psychopsis since it lasts a long time and the roots don’t like to be disturbed by repotting.