Plant Care Guides / Indoor / Advanced Care
The tree fern is the most dramatic plant on this list. It has a thick, fibrous trunk topped with a crown of enormous, arching, feathery fronds that can reach well over a metre long, giving it the look of a miniature prehistoric tree. Indoors, it needs a large space and the conditions to match, but for the right room, it is a showpiece like nothing else.
Tree ferns grow from the top, and the trunk is made of old root fibres, not wood. The trunk itself needs moisture, so misting the trunk as well as the fronds keeps the plant healthy. Never cut the top off a tree fern; unlike a normal tree, it cannot regrow from a topped trunk.
Medium to bright, indirect light. It naturally grows under a forest canopy, so filtered light is ideal. Avoid direct sun, which scorches the fronds, and deep shade, where it will struggle to produce new growth.
This is the most moisture-demanding plant on the list. Keep the soil consistently moist, mist the fronds and the trunk daily, and provide as much humidity as you can. In a dry room, it will brown and decline quickly. A large, naturally humid space like a covered veranda, a conservatory or a spacious, bright bathroom is ideal. If you are running heaters in winter, this plant will need constant attention to humidity.
Feed every two to three weeks through spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength. Ferns are sensitive, so do not overfeed.
Repot when it outgrows its container, which can take a while given the slow growth. Use a rich, moisture-retaining but free-draining mix: potting soil, peat or coco coir, perlite and some bark. A large, stable pot is essential.
Ask about availability. We keep a changing range of indoor plants. WhatsApp us to see what is in store, or pop in and we will help you choose.
