Fernwood NZ Tree Fern Fibre - 5 Litre

"I'm an absolute convert, Fern Fibre is the BEST for propagation, I've had amazing results. Highly recommend!" Felicity

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Why is Fernwood Fern Fibre so good?

Fernwood is the brand to look for when you're buying fern fibre (that's this one). It's NZ made, so you're supporting local, but more importantly also sustainably harvested. Sourced from the tree fern Dicksonia fibrosa, from privately owned, reforested farmland in the Taranaki region.

What is Fern Fibre used for?

Fern Fibre is a popular plant substrate for everything from orchids to propagating houseplant cuttings and baby plants. There are a LOT of uses of fern fibre for indoor plants, both by itself or mixed in to improve your DIY potting mix.

For my own plants, fern fibre is my go-to for my hard-to-root cuttings, for my hoyas in particular (from cuttings to my mature hoyas, they absolutely love it), and for my mature orchids. I add it in when I make my own DIY aroid and hoya potting mix which I've used for all sorts from Anthurium to ZZ plants, Monstera, Pothos and many more. I love it for filling moss poles also (much easier maintenance than spagmoss). 

Bag size: 5 litres

This is for the 5 litre size. Ideal to store along with your indoor plant supplies and other substrates without taking up masses of room. One 5 litre bag measures roughly 33cms tall x 17cm wide x 8cm deep (as it's a natural product and measured by litres not weight or bag size, size will vary). 

"I use fern fibre in most of my indoor plants potting mixes & also on its own for propagating most indoor plants cuttings (they always thrive & when it dries, it doesn't affect the cuttings the way other medium may), great drainage & also great water retention, it also allows great air circulation (to avoid compaction in potting mix)." Clarisse Weber-Blair

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What is Fern Fibre?

Fern fibre is a natural, soft, airy, fibrous, long lasting material, and if it's the Fernwood brand, it's sustainably sourced from the Dicksonia fibrosa tree fern in NZ. Fern Fibre is a particular favourite with epiphytes like aroids and hoyas that naturally climb and grow up tree trunks. 

What are the benefits of using Fern Fibre?

☁️ FLUFFY

That's my word for it anyway, maybe a weird choice for describing substrate I know, but it really is soft and fluffy (for a substrate). Fern Fibre's fibrous nature means it provides excellent aeration, getting precious oxygen to roots, especially valued for plants that prefer free draining substrate, and for epiphytes that like to climb and are used to their roots, and aerial roots, getting plenty of air.

💧LESS FREQUENT WATERING

Fern fibre contains a lot of air, and can retain a lot of water. As it holds water for longer than many other free-draining substrates, you won't have to water as often. A great choice for the many indoor plants that prefer moist to lightly moist conditions and don't like to fully dry out, and for those of us prone to forgetting to water, or who tend to water inconsistently. The fibrous nature means more even moisture throughout the pot due to natural capillary action.

⚖️EASIER TO KNOW WHEN TO WATER

Fern Fibre is an easier substrate to judge when it's time to water again as it changes colour from a darker chocolate brown when moist, to a lighter reddish brown when dry.

🧪LESS FERTILISER NEEDED

Fern fibre retains nutrients really well, so cuts down on how much fertiliser you need to use. 

🪴LONGER LASTING = LESS FREQUENT REPOTTING 

If you adjust your watering and fertilising, Fern Fibre will last for many, many years. When you might need to repot a medium like bark every year due to it breaking down, fern fibre you might be looking at every 3 to 5 years. When you do repot, you can keep the old fern fibre and just gently adding some extra down the sides when potting up, no need to throw out and replace the substrate. 

🌱BETTER ROOT HEALTH

Not just healthier roots due to the fibres retaining more air - which also reduces the risk of root rot - but Fern Fibre also makes it much easier to check on root health, quality and size, as it's a more stable medium. You can easily slide a plant out of the pot with less disruption to the roots, and without the mess of usual airy substrate like bark. Great for the curious and worriers among us ;) An awesome combo with a clear nursery pot too. 

"About three years ago I conducted some trials for Fernwood... I selected seedlings that were of approximately the same size and divided them into three groups.  Equal numbers were re-potted into tubes of fibre, a mixture of fibre and bark, and bark alone."

"Evaluation after a year yielded very clear results.  The plants in fibre alone were well ahead of the other two groups.  Those in bark + fibre were ahead of those that were planted in bark alone... fibre is quite superior to bark."

Excerpts from An Insight Into Fern Fibre Culture in March 2020, Orchid News, by Selwyn Hatrick 

BIG ORDER? Please note once your total substrates in your order add to up over 15 litres, overweight or oversize shipping might apply. Find out more here > I will always pack well to avoid extra shipping if possible and will never incur a cost without your permission. I'll get in touch if I can't send your order under standard shipping rates.