| Fern Care |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-710 |
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Q: I received a large fern as a housewarming gift and I don't want it to die. What do I need to do to keep it alive? A: (Walter Reeves, DIY gardening and landscaping expert) Ornamental ferns (figure A) are great indoor plants. With the proper care, they can live for many years. Here are a few fern facts.
- A maiden-hair fern (figure B) is one of the most attractive of the popular indoor fern, and has delicate looking black stems. This fern likes a lot of humidity, so it's a good choice for placing in a bathroom. They do not like drafts, so keep them away from air-conditioner/heating vents, fans or the ceiling vent in your bathroom.
- The birds-nest fern has much larger, glossy fronds. The new fronds start as tiny "fiddle-heads" in the center of the fern (figure C).
- If your large-leafed fern has brown edging around a leaf (figure D), and the condition doesn't improve after a couple of waterings, you may want to cut the sick leaf off using a pair of scissors.
- A common mistake with keeping ferns is over-watering -- since many people think of them as swamp or jungle plants. In fact, over-watering kills many ferns since the roots don't thrive well if they are constantly wet. Use your finger as a gauge for when to water ferns. Press on the surface of the soil. If the end of your finger feels moisture when you press down, you don't need to water the fern just yet. Wait until the surface feels dry before you water again.
- The "asparagus fern" is not really a fern at all. It's actually an asparagus. The fact that it grows a central stem (figure E) is what identifies this plant as not being in the fern family. This fern-like plant grows well indoors, and can also grow outside as a perennial in warmer states.
- Perhaps the most commonly purchased fern is Nephrolepsis, commonly known as the Boston fern (figure F). These are full, lush ferns that work well in pots or hanging baskets.
- One of the attributes of the Boston fern is that it can easily be divided to create more potted ferns for your home. If you have an overgrown Boston fern, simply remove it from the pot and carefully divide the root ball using a pruning saw (figure G) or other sharp tool. Even a kitchen knife works well for this.
- Separate the roots and untangle the foliage, then place the newly divided fern into a new pot (figure H). Ferns like well-drained soil, so use loose, well-draining potting soil. You may want to add perlite -- the white pellets that aid in soil drainage.
- Tip: Ferns do like humidity, but using a plant-mister may cause brown spots on the fronds. A better method of providing humidity is placing the potted fern in a pebble-filled tray, and adding water into the tray until it just covers the pebbles (figure I). As the water evaporates, it will provide the necessary humidity to keep the fern healthy.
RESOURCES :
How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 Houseplants That Purify Your Home or Office
Model: 0140262431
Author: B.C. Wolverton
Successful Houseplants: Advice on Choosing, Displaying and Caring ...
Model: 0754808327
Author: Andrew Clinch
How Not to Kill Your Houseplants: The Foolproof Guide to Lush, Healthy Plants
Model: 0595192769
Author: Anne Pregosin
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