Cyathea Tree Fern (Black Tree Fern)

[Onleme]

Hi All
Does anyone in OZ know where I can get my hands on slabs of cyathea tree fern, I am intending to mount what could be 50 Aussie Native Hybrid Dens or more and require slabs which I can put through the bench saw and cut into the required size mounts for them, also I will be looking for a supplier of live bush moss.
Steve

[tansyflower]

I googled tree fern slabs and a couple of Aussie suppliers came up. Fernworld and Hilltopnursery. There are probably more.

[Onleme]

Thanks Tansy
I googled but came up with nothing, can't have held my tongue right
Steve

[Julez]

The best place to get them in OZ is Australian Orchid Nursery down here in Victoria Australian Orchid Nursery - Dendrobiums I really like his as the wire hook it plastic coated and the small size is 6"x8" for $3.95

[Onleme]

Thanks Julez
Yeah I know about Australian Orchid Nursery, we bought most of our orchids from them. Also have an orchid from them mounted on their tree fern mount, very well made are'nt they
I was more after big slabs of tree fern so I can cut into many mounts myself but if i can't get it then we will probably have to use their mounts
Steve

[berniep]

G'Day Steve

I'm sure these people had some big hunks last time I was out there, even though its not in their cattledog Tinonee Orchids
Great bunch of blokes send them a email.

Cheers
Bernie

[Onleme]

Thanks Bernie
The orchid count is growing daily

[Andrew]

Given the cost of freight for that much treefern, have you tried a nursery closer to home like Woolf's or, if you like to drive, Cedarvale?

[Onleme]

mmmm did'nt think of woolfs
Thanks
Steve

[tansyflower]

I didn't think of postage.

Have you tried some normal nurseries in your area. I have a feeling that I have seen philodendrons and such for sale using tree fern posts (at the local markets where everything is super cheap), so that may suggest that they are available.

Try a ring-around, and ask the local nurseries who may stock them.

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by tansyflower

I
Have you tried some normal nurseries in your area. I have a feeling that I have seen philodendrons and such for sale using tree fern posts (at the local markets where everything is super cheap), so that may suggest that they are available.

Is the treefern Cyathea or Dicksonia? Dicksonia slabs are very easy to find but places that sell Cyathea seem to be few and far between. Cyathea is generally a better quality mount as it doesn't suffer from acidity problems to the same extent as Dicksonia.

[Onleme]

Thanks Tansy will have a looksy
Yes Andrew its the Cyathea I would prefer. Is the Dicksonia still Ok to use or will the Orchids not be happy.
Steve

[Andrew]

Old, weathered Dicksonia is supposed to be OK but often all you can find are the freshly cut brown mounts, which are apparently the most problematic. There is an article by Brian Milligan on the OSCOV site which suggests that periodically liming treefern mounts can overcome the increase in acidity over time.

Personally, I prefer to save myself the headache and use cork.

[Onleme]

Yeah cork would be good but the price of it is pretty hexy isn't it, How would the Aus Dens go on 8" lengths of melaleuca branch about 3" in Dia which we cut off to allow light into the shadehouse.
Steve

[Andrew]

I've used paperbark branches before and they work fine. Borers can be a problem but you get that with any wood.

[mgfree]

Easy orchids have boxes of black or brown for $119, not sure what the weight would be or postage for that matter.