Ferns... And Keeping Them Small

[Orion_metalhead]

Ive seen many accents with Ferns on them that were very small... how do you keep them so small?

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Buy dwarf varieties. You cannot keep a royal fern, or a cinnamon fern, or an ostrich fern that smalll.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Its all about the variety then? Got it.

 

[TomB]

The ferns I often use grow to 3 or 4 feet in the wild (I often collect seedlings). Containerisation keeps them small, for two or three years at least.

 

[RKatzin]

Once established in a pot I cut fronds that get too big. This generates new smaller fronds.

 

[parhamr]

Once established in a pot I cut fronds that get too big. This generates new smaller fronds.

This is what Ryan Neil does, too.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Once established in a pot I cut fronds that get too big. This generates new smaller fronds.

Is there a specific size at which you should remove a frond?

What soil mix do you use for your ferns? Same as your trees or with more organic matter?

 

[RKatzin]

Is there a specific size at which you should remove a frond?

What soil mix do you use for your ferns? Same as your trees or with more organic matter?

I usually trim once in the spring removing the old as the new emerge. Usually 5-6" is about when I cut them during summer. I grow them in the same mix as my trees, mostly pumice and turface.

 

[RKatzin]

I usually trim once in the spring removing the old as the new emerge. Usually 5-6" is about when I cut them during summer. I grow them in the same mix as my trees, mostly pumice and turface.

here you can see new fronds emerging where I removed an old frond. The frond to the right is about ready to be removed. It's about 6" now and won't get much bigger in this pot.