Your Australian tree fern will not be too picky about how you choose to water it. As such, you can use just about any common watering tool to moisten this plant’s soil. Watering cans, hoses, and even cups will work just fine when it is time to water your Australian tree fern. Regardless of which watering tool you use, you should typically apply the water directly to the soil. In doing so, you should ensure that you moisten all soil areas equally to give all parts of the root system the water it needs. It can help to use filtered water, as tap water can contain particles that are harmful to plants. It is also beneficial to use water that is at or slightly above room temperature, as colder or hotter water can be somewhat shocking to the Australian tree fern. However, the Australian tree fern usually responds well to any kind of water you give it.

For outdoor plants, especially newly planted plants or plant seedlings, they can be prone to lack of watering. Remember that you need to keep watering enough for a few months when the tree is small or just planted. This is because once the roots are established, Australian tree fern can rely on rain most of the time. When your Australian tree fern is planted in pots, overwatering is often more likely to.When you accidentally overwater your Australian tree fern, you should be prepared to remedy the situation immediately. First, you should stop watering your plant right away to minimize the effect of your overwatering. After, you should consider removing your Australian tree fern from its pot to inspect its roots. If you find that none of the roots have developed root rot, it may be permissible to return your plant to its container. If you do discover signs of root rot, then you should trim away any roots that have been affected. You may also want to apply a fungicide to prevent further damage. Lastly, you should repot your Australian tree fern in soil that is well-draining. In the case of an underwatered Australian tree fern, simply water this plant more frequently. Underwatering is often an easy fix. If you underwater, the plant's leaves will tend to droop and dry out and fall off, and the leaves will quickly return to fullness after sufficient watering. Please correct your watering frequency as soon as underwatering occurs.

Most plants that grow naturally outdoors can be allowed to grow normally with rainfall. If your area lacks rainfall, consider giving your plants adequate watering every 2 weeks during the spring and fall. More frequent watering is needed in summer. In winter, when growth becomes slower and plants need less water, water more sparingly. Throughout the winter, you may not give it additional watering at all. If your Australian tree fern is young or newly planted, then you should water more frequently to help it establish, and mature and grow up to have more adaptable and drought tolerant plants. For potted plants, there are two main ways that you can determine how often to water your Australian tree fern. The first way is to set a predetermined watering schedule. If you choose this route, you should plan to water this plant about once every week or once every other week. However, this approach may not always work as it does not consider the unique conditions of the growing environment for your Australian tree fern . Your watering frequency can also change depending on the season. For instance, a predetermined watering schedule will likely not suffice during summer when this plant's water needs are highest. An alternative route is to set your watering frequency based on soil moisture. Typically, it is best to wait until the first two to four inches of soil, usually ⅓ to ½ depth of the pots, have dried out entirely before you give more water.

When it comes time to water your Australian tree fern, you may be surprised to find that this plant does not always need a high volume of water. Instead, if only a few inches of soil have dried since your last watering, you can support healthy growth in the Australian tree fern by giving it about five to ten ounces of water every time you water. You can also decide your water volume based on soil moisture. As mentioned above, you should note how many inches of soil have dried out between waterings. A surefire way to make sure your Australian tree fern gets the moisture it needs is to supply enough water to moisten all the soil layers that became dry since the last time you watered. If more than half of the soil has become dry, you should consider giving more water than usual. In those cases, continue adding water until you see excess water draining from your pot’s drainage holes. If your Australian tree fern is planted in an area that gets plenty of rain outdoors, it may not need additional watering. When the Australian tree fern is young or just getting established, make sure it gets 1-2 inches of rain per week. As it continues to grow and establish, it can survive entirely on rainwater and only when the weather is hot and there is no rainfall at all for 2-3 weeks, then consider giving your Australian tree fern a full watering to prevent them from suffering stress.

Overwatering is a far more common problem for the Australian tree fern, and there are several signs you should look for when this occurs. Generally, an overwatered Australian tree fern will have yellowing leaves and may even drop some leaves. Also, overwatering can cause the overall structure of your plant to shrivel and may also promote root rot. On the other hand, an underwatered Australian tree fern will also begin to wilt. It may also display leaves that are brown or brittle to the touch. Whether you see signs of overwatering or underwatering, you should be prepared to intervene and restore the health of your Australian tree fern.

When the Australian tree fern is very young, such as when it is in a seedling stage, you will need to give it more water than you would if it were at a mature age. During the early stages of this plant’s life, it is important to keep the soil consistently moist to encourage root development. The same is true for any Australian tree fern that you have transplanted to a new growing location. Also, the Australian tree fern can develop showy flowers and fruits when you give them the correct care. If your Australian tree fern is in a flowering or fruiting phase, you will likely need to give a bit more water than you usually would to support these plant structures.

The seasonal changes will affect how often you water your Australian tree fern. Mainly, during the hottest summer months, you will likely need to increase how much you water this plant, especially if it grows in an area that receives ample sunlight. Strong summer sunlight can cause soil to dry out much faster than usual, meaning that you’ll need to water more frequently. By contrast, your Australian tree fern will need much less water during the winter, as it will not be in an active growing phase. During winter, you can get by with watering once every 2 to 3 weeks or sometimes not at all. For those growing this plant indoors, you should be somewhat wary of appliances such as air conditioners, which can cause your plant to dry out more quickly, which also calls for more frequent watering.

In some cases, your Australian tree fern may not need any supplemental watering when it grows outside and will survive on rainwater alone. However, if you live in an area of little to no rain, you should water this plant about every two weeks. If you belong to the group of people who live out of this plant's natural hardiness zone, you should grow it indoors. In an indoor setting, you should monitor your plant's soil as it can dry out more quickly when it is in a container or when it is exposed to HVAC units such as air conditioners. Those drying factors will lead you to water this plant a bit more often than if you grew it outdoors.

Australian tree fern, like most other evergreen trees, absolutely need to be pruned in order for them to grow as happy, healthy trees. Of course, there are lots of reasons that pruning is important, so we’ll talk about those in greater detail. Pruning opens up the inner canopy to airflow and sunlight. Without keeping these pathways open, the inner canopy will be starved of sunlight and air. Therefore, pruning your Australian tree fern is not only advantageous, but it also weakens the impact of pests and infections by separating branches from one another. These benefits are far too easy to reap with Australian tree fern to neglect them. Aside from keeping your Australian tree fern happier and healthier, pruning just makes things look nice and tidy. Who doesn’t love a well-kept tree, anyway?

Australian tree fern can be pruned at different times depending on whether they’re grown indoors or outdoors. For outdoor trees, pruning and trimming should be done when the tree is not actively growing; this generally falls under the colder months of winter, but can vary depending on where you live. However, if you’re growing your Australian tree fern indoors, there are lots of different times of the year when it’s okay to trim lightly. For example, if you’re planning on trimming a bit off the top of just one or two smaller branches, then you can trim nearly anytime. For heavier pruning on indoor Australian tree fern, it’s best to wait until those same colder months when outdoor Australian tree fern wouldn’t normally be actively growing. Australian tree fern should be pruned as needed. Typically, these trees should be pruned to remove any damaged, yellowing, dying, or dead foliage. It is also necessary to prune this plant to remove any shoots that are congested or are crossing.

In order to keep your Australian tree fern growing strong, remove any branches or debris that landed at the base of the tree. Keeping the area clear can prevent weeds and underbrush from crowding out the tree, especially if it’s young. Another great tip is to use raw, organic honey to treat large open wounds on the Australian tree fern where branches were trimmed. The use of honey prevents any pathogens or potential pests from making their way in. It’s also a good idea to water a little extra after pruning for a week or two. Providing them with a little extra water helps them build natural calluses over the exposed core faster, so they can get back to growing into large, Australian tree fern!

While most of the Australian tree fern won’t need to be pruned until they develop some substantial height, sometimes their branches get a little carried away in the wrong direction. This is why this part of the Australian tree fern needs to be pruned in good time. Tools In order to prune your Australian tree fern properly, you’ll need the proper pruning tools. While smaller plant shears and garden scissors may not cut it (pun intended), handheld clippers, pruners and loppers will certainly help out. For very tall branches that are out of safe reach, use a pole saw with the necessary safety equipment. It’s also a good idea to wear gloves while pruning to avoid any splinters or cuts in general. How to Prune To prune your Australian tree fern, first cut away any dead, dying or diseased branches. Look for pests, irregular growth patterns, and brittle branches or leaves. Snip these off at the branch collar, where the branch intersection is, without scoring the main branch. Next, be on the lookout for extra long branches or leaves that may not be able to support a lot of weight. These branches or leaves will be too heavy and grow downwards, so this can be trimmed back if necessary. Try to find all of the branches that grow either directly up (that are not the primary trunk) and those that grow directly downward. These branches will become an issue because they can effectively block out light and air from inner branches. Trim these back to the branches they stem from as well. If there’s not much space within the canopy for light to reach the center of the tree, you can trim away some excess foliage to make windows for light to shine in.

Australian tree fern requires about 3-6 hours of direct sunlight each day to thrive. However, it also needs some shade during the hottest parts of the day to prevent sun damage. Morning sunlight is ideal for Australian tree fern, but it can also tolerate some afternoon sun if the temperature is not too hot. To provide the perfect balance of sunlight, try planting Australian tree fern in an area that gets partial sun, such as under a tree or on the east side of a building.

If Australian tree fern is exposed to too much direct sunlight, its leaves may turn yellow, dry out, or even burn. You may also notice that the plant wilts or becomes stunted. To prevent sun damage, make sure to give Australian tree fern some shade during the hottest parts of the day. You can use a shade cloth or plant Australian tree fern near taller plants that can provide some natural shade.

If Australian tree fern doesn't get enough sunlight, it may grow tall and lanky, with sparse foliage. The leaves may also turn yellow or pale green, indicating that the plant is not producing enough chlorophyll due to lack of sunlight. To remedy this, try moving Australian tree fern to a sunnier spot, or prune nearby foliage to allow more light to reach the plant.

The primary reason why Australian tree fern needs regular fertilization is that they have showy leaves that require a lot of energy to produce and maintain. The challenge is that your Australian tree fern must not only allot enough energy to keep its leaves in good shape, but it must also find enough energy to support the growth of its stems, branches, roots, and all its other vital structures. If you neglect fertilization, there are two outcomes that are likely to take place. The first is that the leaves of your Australian tree fern will begin to lose their natural color or texture while looking somewhat unhealthy overall, which detracts greatly from its ornamental appeal. The other outcome is that your Australian tree fern will begin to slow its growth overall or produce weak growth that could be prone to breakage.

Australian tree fern will benefit from occasionally feedings , which is why you do not need to set a standard feeding schedule upon planting one of these plants. One of the easiest ways to fertilize your Australian tree fern is to simply apply your fertilizer when you water this plant sometimes. During the growing season, your Australian tree fern will also need a decent amount of water. You could feed this plant once every two-three weeks. This feeding rate should continue during the entire time that your plant is producing new growth.

Throughout most of the year, it is permissible to maintain a regular fertilization schedule for your Australian tree fern. During the active growing season of spring, summer, and early fall. However, during the winter, this plant should not receive fertilizer at all. During winter, Australian tree fern will enter a dormant growth phase. In that phase, the plant will either put forth no new growth or very little new growth. That lack of active growth means that your Australian tree fern will be using less energy overall, which is why fertilization is not needed at that time.

The fertilizer for a Australian tree fern has a specific blend of nutrients, each of which is present in relatively low amounts. An ideal fertilizer will have an N-P-K ratio of 3-1-2. However, a general-purpose fertilizer that has an even blend of nutrients can work well in some cases. Still, even when using a balanced fertilizer, the ratio number representing the volume of each nutrient should be at 3 or lower. The fertilizer you use can be either granular or liquid based. If you choose to use a liquid-based fertilizer, it is often best to dilute the strength by half. While there is not much downside to granular fertilizer, it is often most sensible to use liquid fertilizer, especially if you feed your Australian tree fern while you supply water.

One of the easiest ways to fertilize a Australian tree fern is to feed it anytime that you water it. To perform this method, gather your fertilizer and a water container, such as a watering can. Then mix the fertilizer with water to dilute its strength. Then, simply pour the water with the fertilizer onto the soil and allow it to soak down to the roots. Alternatively, you could use a granular fertilizer. If you use a granular fertilizer, all you need to do is sprinkle some of the fertilizer on the soil in which your Australian tree fern lives. Granular fertilizers are usually slow-release fertilizers which means you won't need to fertilize as often as you would with a liquid fertilizer. In either case, it is beneficial to water while you feed your Australian tree fern.

The signs of improper fertilization for a Australian tree fern should become obvious relatively quickly. Overfertilization is specifically harmful to this plant, and it can cause several visible signs. The most common signs are browning leaf margins, yellowing leaves, wilting leaves, excess fertilizer build-up in the soil, and loss of foliage. Australian tree fern are also vulnerable to a complication known as fertilizer burn, in which a plant receives too many nutrients, which causes the roots to dry out and cease their main function. However, if you give your Australian tree fern water while you feed it, it is far less likely that fertilizer burn will occur.