| Ferns |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-515 |
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Q: I received a large fern as a housewarming gift and don't want it to die. What do I need to do to keep it alive? A: (Walter Reeves, Ask DIY Gardening expert) Since you didn't tell me what type of fern you have, I'll show some of my favorites and give you a few tips that will be appropriate for just about any type of fern. - The maidenhair fern (figure A) likes humidity, but be sure to keep it away from drafts, both hot and cold.
- The bird's nest fern (figure B) is totally different-looking from the maidenhair fern. It's tall and straight and has big fronds. If you look in the middle, you can see a little "fiddlehead," which is really a new leaf (figure C). Eventually it will grow to look like the other mature fronds.
- The asparagus fern (figure D) isn't really a fern (you can tell by the type of leaves). It is a form of asparagus, though, although not an edible variety. This type of plant will grow and grow until it eventually overflows the pot.
- One of the most common and popular ferns is the Boston fern. This is a variety that can be divided with a knife, a handsaw or a pruning saw (figure E). After division, the resulting plants can be repotted in well-drained soil (mixing the potting soil with Perlite to improve soil drainage.
A word about humidity: Ferns don't like it as much as you might think. It's much better to let a fern dry out between waterings than to keep the soil damp. And don't use misters on the leaves -- they leave spots on the leaves, which may later lead to disease. A better way to keep a fern moist enough is to set the pot in a pebble-filled tray to which you've added water. Just let the pot rest on the pebbles, and the humidity level should stay constant.
RESOURCES :
Plants (Abbey Gardens & Cactus)
Abbey Gardens & Cactus
La Habra, CA 90632
Phone: 310-905-3520
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