Tree Fern Fibre 10L

$25.00

Description
Details
Directions

A loose, fibrous growing medium that holds moisture without closing up around the roots. It’s a favourite for aroids, orchids, hoyas and anything you want climbing a pole.

Ships within Australia only, excluding WA. This is an unpasteurised natural product; see Directions before using indoors.

What it is: Salvaged tree fern fibre from Specialist Plant Supplies, in a 10L bag sized for trying it out on smaller plants and seedlings.
What it does: Gives roots air and moisture at the same time, and rewets easily even after drying out.
Best used: For aroids, orchids, hoyas and nepenthes, for raising tropical seedlings, and as the fill for a pole like the Propstick Forty.
How to use: Use it on its own or blend it into your mix. Pasteurise it first if it’s going indoors or into seed raising.

Air and moisture together. Fibre this coarse leaves plenty of air space around the roots, which promotes healthy root growth and reduces the risk of root rot. The strands still hold onto water, so the medium dries back gradually rather than all at once. That combination is what epiphytes and climbers want: roots in open, airy material that stays damp, not packed into something dense and wet. It also rewets easily. Some media turn water-repellent once they dry right out, but tree fern fibre takes water straight back up, so it forgives you if you leave it a little long between drinks. Water it the way you water anything else, by pot weight rather than the calendar.

Made for poles. This is the reason we stock it alongside the Propstick range. Fill the pole with tree fern fibre, keep it moist, and aerial roots have something worth gripping into.

Mix it your way. Use it straight for orchids and hoyas, or blend it through Aroid Mix to open the structure further. Its fine fibres also suit germinating tropical seeds and bringing on young roots.

A natural product, sold honestly. The fibre is salvaged rather than harvested for sale. It isn’t pasteurised, so it may contain the odd weed seed, bug or gnat. For outdoor use or a greenhouse, that usually doesn’t matter. Indoors, in enclosed setups or for seed raising, pasteurise it first. The Directions tab explains how.

Pairs with: Propstick Forty · Propstick Sixty · Aroid Mix

Volume: 10L · Supplier: Specialist Plant Supplies · Unpasteurised natural product · Ships within Australia only, excluding WA · No international shipping

If you’re using it indoors, in an enclosed environment or for seed raising, pasteurise it first: heat it to at least 70°C and hold it there for 30 minutes. Alternatively, let it dry out completely to deal with bugs and gnats.
Moisten the fibre before use.
Use it on its own, or blend it into your mix at whatever ratio suits the plant.
To fill a pole, pack it in firmly and keep it moist so aerial roots attach.
Water by pot weight, letting it dry back between waterings.

Tree Fern Fibre 10L

$25.00

FAQ

Why can’t you ship it everywhere?

It’s a natural plant product, so quarantine rules apply. We can only send it within Australia, and not to Western Australia. International orders including it will be cancelled or have the tree fern fibre removed.

Where does the fibre come from?

It’s salvaged tree fern fibre, supplied by Specialist Plant Supplies.

Is it pasteurised?

No. It may contain a few weed seeds, bugs or gnats. We recommend pasteurising it before using it indoors, in enclosed environments or for seed raising.

How do I pasteurise it?

Heat it to at least 70°C and hold it there for 30 minutes. That kills everything in it, good and bad. Letting it dry out completely has also worked well for us against bugs and gnats, though drying won’t deal with weed seeds.

Can I use it on its own?

Yes, for orchids, hoyas and pole fill. You can also blend it with other substrates to build your own mix.

What size is the bag?

10L, which is a good size for trying it out on seedlings and small plants. Its also ideal for filling a Propstick 40