TREE-FERN FIBER: Mexifern

Culture Orchid Doctor

by Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler)

Originally published in The Orchid Doctor in 1980 and 1988

Posted by Sys Admin almost 8 years ago.

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Compared with the loose, coarse tree-fern; Mexifern is thinner, twiggier, of a lighter brown, with tiny branchlets which keep fibers separated, preventing compacting and sogginess which can happen with the finely shredded type. A61-13+; A75-606
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Tree Fern Comments
TREE FERN: Does it Decompose? It decays very slowly, depending on amounts of moisture applied, the prevailing temperature and the chemicals used as fertilizers, etc. A83-600 0
TREE FERN: Fertilize it or Not? Some growers do, some do not, and it can be treated like osmunda; it decays slowly and releases minute amounts of nutrients but lacks the wide array of organisims found in bark; a balanced fertilizer such as 18-18-18 should be used. A84-584 0
TREE-FERN FIBER: Hawaiian Also known as hapuu; it is getting scarce; a fertilizer to use with it or for plants mounted on it is a l0-10-10 ratio, used once a month, or one pound to 100 gals, for 400 sq.ft. A61-315 0
TREE-FERN FIBER: Hawaiian or Mexican Their nutrient requirements for plants are about the same as for fir bark; for a fertilizer use 30-10-10 at one rounded teaspoon in two gals, water every two or three weeks. A68-56 0
TREE-FERN FIBER: Mexican It can be re-used in potting if it is in good condition and after it has been steam sterilized in a pressure cooker to kill possible virus; there is no harm in its re-use. A66-765Potting techniques: if used in ground-up or finely shredded form, first fill the pot one-third with crock; a versatile material it can be used also as mounts, totems, diagonally-cut slabs, rectangular plaques, round balls, logs, etc.; illus. A64-307 0
TREE-FERN FIBER: The Root Part Is Different It is the thick coat of fibrous, matted roots surrounding the basal part of the slim hard core which is the trunk proper; these form conical masses three to eight feet in diameter; and are sold in already cut-up sizes and shapes; for much detail refer to A75-306 0
TREE FERN: Its Nitrogen Content It has little nitrogen, so use a bark fertilizer, such as 30-10-10. A81-27 0

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