Good‘s new gardening expert Zoe Carafice is ready and waiting to solve your dilemmas! Each question published on Zoe’s blog or in Good receives a fab prize from Tui Garden. This week: how to resurrect a dying ponga fern.
Email your gardening questions to [email protected] and every question answered in Good or on Zoe’s blog will receive a fab prize from Tui Garden Products!
Q: Three years ago I bought a ponga fern that had several established fronds but two years ago the fronds disappeared. I’ve tried repositioning the ponga, added sheep pellets and various other additives but to no avail. The ponga itself is in a shaded position and appears to be still alive but still lacks the foliage. Any ideas that you could throw my way would be much appreciated! –Andrew
A: Could it be that it dried out at some stage? In order for tree ferns to establish a good root system they need consistent, deep watering for the first six months and can also require watering during dry periods.
In any case you could keep on trying to revive the ponga or you could look at it as an opportunity to add a sculptural element to your garden by using it as a host for some interesting epiphytes; plants which grow on other plants or objects.
There are many beautiful New Zealand native epiphytic plants; a favourite of mine is carmine rata (Metrosideros carminea). Ferns such as Microsorum pustulatum and Pyrrosia eleagnifolia can be added to provide lush green foliage and you could even try your luck with some of our delicate native orchids such as Winika cunninghamii. Get in touch with your local native plant nursery and ask them what will grow in your area. Take this opportunity to introduce some national treasures into your garden!
–Zoe Carafice
Andrew has won a bucket of Debco Saturaid from Tui Garden Products! Saturaid is a granular soil wetter made from coir and other non-toxic ingredients. It channels water to the root zone where it is needed most.
Saturaid promotes even water distribution so there is less run-off and dry spots in potting mix and soils. It makes watering, rainfall and fertilisers more effective, even in sandy, clay or compacted soils.
Meet Good’s new gardening expert
Zoe Carafice is a landscape designer and photographer. She won gold at the Ellerslie Flower Show in 2007 and has a keen interest in sustainable design and organic gardening.
Email your gardening questions to [email protected] and every question answered in Good or on Zoe’s blog will receive a fab prize from Tui Garden Products!
One question will be featured in each magazine and in each Good Fortnightly e-newsletter. Don’t receive our newsletter? Sign up to get it here!
