You would hardly consider a 40’-foot tree fern possible for your living room.
But you’ll find the “hapu” or Fernwood containers made from its fibrous trunk most attractive for growing house plants.
The Cibotium tree fern, which grows in Hawaii’s rain forest, primarily on the high slopes of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, has a circumference of 4’ feet across.
Cross sections of the trunks are used in making jardinieres, and slabs are made into totem poles and trays.
Fibrous And Lightweight Fernwood Containers
Fernwood is fibrous and light in weight when dry.
It has a high water-holding capacity but provides good drainage because of its open nature.
Containers made of Fernwood will absorb water from an outside source and distribute it like a lamp wick.
This makes watering easy—just set the plants potted in fern-wood containers in a water tray for a few minutes.
Excess water will drain away when the plants are removed.
Hawaiian Tree Fern Characteristics
The fiber of the tree fern is tough and resistant to decay.
Natural walks made of sections of the trunks and laid in a Hawaiian forest 40 years ago are still usable today.
This long-lasting characteristic makes it valuable where permanent plantings are made.
Small pieces of fern trunks are sold as Fernwood chips to be used for potting plants.
The separated and milled fibers are marketed in various coarseness as potting mediums.
Fern-wood fiber is mildly acid and is suitable for growing orchids and anthuriums.